Hey guys,

So me and a few buddies at work are considering the purchase of a tire mounting and balancing machine. It appears a decent unit (not commercial grade) can be purchased for ~$1,200-$2,000. For reference: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-5-HP-Auto...wAAOSw9fRZ0umW

We have looked inside one and concluded that they are dead simple inside in-case anything fails, but they appear to sell quite well and have very positive reviews. Certainly they could hold up to swapping ~20 tire sets a year instead of a commercial machine that may do 1000+ sets.

Anyways my question is this: Does anyone here have their own machine? It appears to be a great way to save money on tire swapping and open up options to switch around tire sets at will. (For instance, if a class has no tire restriction I can swap on some old SM7's, if they do I stay with RS4's etc. )

 

Sub'd. Planning to at least get a mounting machine (I don't bother balancing my track stuff). Seems like good commercial-grade stuff isn't much more than that E-bay device.

 

The shop across the street from my house charges $25 a tire to mount and balance. It would take 76 tires mounted and balanced to pay for the machine. How long will it take you to do that many?

 

I'm doing ~20 tires per year. In addition to ROI, there is the time and convenience factor. It becomes a real hassle to take stuff to a shop. Especially when you drop stuff off and they decide they can't mount a 225 on a 9" rim and don't bother to call you until the whole day is shot. Add to that stupid stuff like not switching over the metal fill tubes, not getting the tire's heavy-spot aligned, etc. Personally, I'm just sick of it.

 

And it also ignores the income potential from club/HPDE guys in the area.

I'd be happy to pay a local $50 for a set of mount/balance wheels, then $100+ to a local shop.

 

Have our own. Bought it used for a song. Do recommend if you have the room for it.

 

Well **** all you guys. I guess I better get started on MKTires&Wheels

 

Not letting me upload a pic of ours. Bought an atlas set from Greg Smith equipment. I have been really been wanting to get the left and right assist arms but have been getting by with a clamp and roller. I consider it my side hustle, though it isn't a steady stream of income. I have paid back a chunk of what I invested.

 

 

The problem with a stiff sidewall is keeping the tire bead below the pointy part. That is where the wheel thingy comes in. Acts like a right assist arm (much cheaper) in keeping the bead from popping over.

 

This clamps attaches to the wheel and keeps the tire bead below the wheel seat. Critical if doing any low profile or stiff sidewall. Cheap substitute for a left assist arm. Previous to this, my big buddy would have to put most of his weight on the opposite side of the mount/demount arm to keep the tire bead down. Wasn't very effective.

 

Just the tire changing machine is ~$820 "shipped".

https://m.ebay.com/itm/Single-1-5HP-....c100408.m2460

That is...pretty amazing.

I also almost never balance my track stuff. I get a very good deal on tire mounting from my local place but I'm still dropping $60-80 each time just for mounting.

At this price I'd have my money back in two years...maybe less. Plus the convenience...


Good thing I don't have any extra money!

 

If you want it done right, do it yourself.

Get the machine(s).

 

Yes do it, I did and no regrets. CRaigs occasionally has them I paid 500 for a Corghi changer and 75 balancer and have seen similar deals in metropolitan areas. The changers are very durable and serviceable so try to get a used private party if you can.
That Blue Atlas is a Corghi italian machine (or copy) as are many of the "domestic" machines. Nice because the parts are available on Ebay. I run a junk series, a prototype and have street cars and trailer so it was paid off in about 2 months. Huge time savings and you can do your tires at midnight before trackday. Also gives option of clocking tires correctly once you figure out factory high point marking conventions for wheels and tires. You can make a air dryer and dilute out moisture. Most places do static balancing now and this is what started me on the quest. The only place that would do dynamic or dual plane balancing was far away and about 2 hrs of wait time. As well watched a local place try to dry mount my expensive tire and then pointed out the dynamic switch for balance because they had no idea, at least they were receptive. I balance track tires and trailer tires so I can perceive changes in stuff.

 

Instructing owners of fancy equipment about unknown features of said equipment? Been there, done that.

Also, I thought most all places did at least dynamic balancing (as that's the best my dad's old machine could do), if not road force balancing now too. Oh boy.

 

Skip Barber has some things for auction.

Here

 

I get old tires dismounted and new ones mounted for 10 apiece. Hard to justify unless my buddies start doing track days with me.

 

But your buddies aren't going to do track days with you until you get a tire machine.

 

They probably aren't going to do track days till they get their cars put back together, but I'd be happy to get a tire machine if I thought it would fix it immediately, lol.