Thinking about getting an old post-type tire changer that was offered to me. No price yet but it will probably be a couple hundred. I have used these many times before and they work great. My only concern is if it will handle the 18" wheels on my Ram. I don't have the details but I suspect it is like the Coats 20-20 or 40-40. Has anyone changed an 18 incher on one of these old machines?

I looked a long time to get a used 20/20 or 40/40 Coats machine. The cheapest are around $600 and they are pretty rough.

So I ended up on eBay where I found a NEW Chinese tire machine and balancer for $1060 with FREE shipping. I think it can do up to a 26" rim.

Has worked great so far.

I paid $400 for this 40/40 6-7 years ago. Even the older Euro changers are getting cheap. Got this old Hoffmann for free because the motor was bad.

Wow that is cheap

That is what I would like if it can do a modern 18" wheel. What is the largest you have done on it?

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/

I bought my changer from this company and am very happy with it. We have done several hundred changes on it and it has performed flawlessly. We got rid of an older Coats to go to this one.

Just a word of caution, and no insult intended: remember many aluminum rims don't like the post type tire machines when you use the tapered cone to secure the rim.

One good example is the Cragar SS or Keystone rims; a post type will typically break the collar that the cap goes around. They do make mag wheel adapters, but I don't see them come up for sale very often.

Another risk is the angle the bead breaker is in to deal with a larger rim. It may not even swing up out/high enough to clear the tire.

I'd looked for some time thinking the same thing you are, but ultimately bought an imported rim clamp machine. I've not regretted it once, although I've not tried 18" rims on it.

A lesser quality tire machine can raise havoc with aluminum wheels and peel the paint right off the rim edge of a nicely finished wheel in a flash. Be careful.

hi gss,dont even try a 18". it will do ANYTHING else ... ronnie

I have a vintage Coates 10-10. The man gave it to me but I felt obligated to get him a $100 Home Depot card!

Peabody/Sxr, Hey thanks for the heads up, my racing partner acquired one (I'll take a pic tomorrow) & that's good to know if I have some mags to do (& likely I will in the future).

I toyed with the idea of a tire machine, but upon further reflection, felt my money is better invested in a quality balancer, based on I often like to rebalance tires during their useful lifespan, the cost to pay someone else to balance them, the odds of it being balanced well, by a person who will never ride in my car vs buying a tire machine, that has risks, that are assumed by the person/shop I can pay, and can watch.

Ive used them all the way up to 20" but they do scar up the rim lips especially on aluminum thats why tire shops dont really want them anymore we were scrapping rims so worked for us we didnt care if rims were damaged but i bet you do id lend my vote to a rim clamp never used the ebay ones but thought about it good to know some have had good experience with them

x2, Someone is losing their ass on shipping, that thing must weigh a ton.

http://www.completehydraulic.com/

I bought my rim clamp from these folks about 5 years ago. Been happy with the machine. Does everything I need. Quality is pretty decent for the price paid. No problems scraping rims and the bead breaker works well.

Often rims I do have old old tires on them; you know, the old Cragar SS's that were sitting in someone's shed for the last 15 years. Really stiff and tough to dismount, so sometimes I have to help the turn table a bit when going to derail the tire. Lubing up the bead area helps a lot. Not a big issue but worth mentioning.

Personally I'd look for a rim clamp machine. Regardless of machine type...if you start doing late model stuff you need to be very mindful of TPMS sensor type and locations. Start busting up sensors and you won't be "saving" any money by owning your own machine.

I agree 👍, have tire machine and balancer, works great for the occasional user.
Payed about $500 for each.

One great thing about working at a new car dealership I have all the newest and up to date equipment I need everyday.
Gus

Shipping was free to a trucking hub. Home delivery would have been $150. It fits on 1 pallet stacked on top of each other.

I have a coats 40-40a and have done 18" aluminum wheels after cutting off part of the arm which will allow another 1/2"to inch of reach. I would suggest a different kind of machine for 18". I had to disassemble the bead breaker part of the machine to mount the new tires. I also had to break the bead on each side, by flipping the wheels over. not worth the trouble..when a friend has a rim clamp machine.