All cars have tires. If you’re looking to take your private garage shop to the next level or are going to start working on passenger vehicles professionally, you need to set yourself up with the equipment to work with wheels and tires. Thankfully, all automotive equipment manufacturers understand that mounting and balancing tires happen at the same time and bundle the appropriate machinery together. All you have to do is decide which tire changer and wheel balancer combo fits into your garage. This guide is here to help you understand just how easy it is to narrow down your selection and give you suggestions on which setup belongs in your shop.
Tire changers and wheel balancers are serious machines that bring in a lot of money. It’s very important that you read into whatever you’re considering so that you know where your money is going. My selection is largely based on what’s available to the general public through easily accessible retailers, but I did take the time to research anything I’m highlighting to ensure it’ll serve the average consumer well. I made sure to research each of the listings to better understand what they bring to the table. That information, combined with the features each has to offer, allowed me to come up with a list that has something for everyone.
- Best Overall:
- Best Value:
- Honorable Mention:
- Easiest to Set Up:
Summary List
Best Overall: PL-1200 Semi-Automatic Swing Arm Tire Changer & PL-1120 Digital Baseline Entry Level Wheel Balancer Combo Package
Best Value: PL-1221IT Semi-Automatic Tilt Back Tower Tire Changer and PL-1150 Digital Baseline Entry Level Wheel Balancer Combo
Honorable Mention: U-256AT Fully-Automatic Tilt Back Tower Tire Changer and U-579 Self-Calibrating Computer Wheel Balancer Combo
Easiest to Set Up: G-22 Pro Line Semi-Automatic Tire Changer and G66 Guarder Wheel Balancer Combo
Best Tire Changer Wheel Balancer Combo Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall:PL-1200 Tire Changer & PL-1120 Wheel Balancer Combo
PL-1200 Semi-Automatic Swing Arm Tire Changer & PL-1120 Digital Baseline Entry Level Wheel Balancer Combo Package
The best deal on the market. Our best-selling tire changer matched with our best-selling wheel balancer creates the perfect combination to start up your wheel service shop. Buying the combo saves you hundreds of dollars off the normal price and makes you a full-service tire shop. The PL-1200 tire changer handles up to 26″ rims and is equipped with our Jet Blast Inflation System and a powerful bead breaker system. These are made for cars and light pickup trucks. The NTC-950 tire changer includes a metal and plastic demount head, plastic wheel clamp covers, tire iron, and lube bucket/brush. The PL-1120 Wheel Balancer includes a foot pedal wheel brake to hold the wheel in place while placing weight increasing accuracy. Includes plastic safety hood, quick-release wing nut, cone adapters, wheel weight hammer, and rim caliper. PL-1200 Inside Clamping Distance 15″ – 28″ Outside Clamping Distance 13″ – 26″ Max Wheel Width 15″ Max Tire Diameter 43″ PL-1120 Wheel Size Range 10″ – 28″ Max Tire Diameter 44″ Rim Width 1.5″ – 20″ These are made for cars and light pickup trucks.
Its ability to handle up to a 43-inch tire helps it to stand out to those with oversized tire swaps on its agenda. It’s also equipped with a user-friendly layout that makes everything from setup to operation easy for anyone. The price is competitive, and the quality is good enough for use in some professional shops. The deal is made even better with its 110-volt power dependence, which makes it possible to add this machine to any garage.
If there’s any issue to be aware of, it’s that replacement parts can be somewhat difficult to track down. Also, some units are reported damaged in shipping, so it’s worth inspecting yours upon arrival.
Best Value:PL-1221IT Tire Changer & PL-1150 Wheel Balancer Combo
PL-1221IT Semi-Automatic Tilt Back Tower Tire Changer and PL-1150 Digital Baseline Entry Level Wheel Balancer Combo
PL-1221IT Tire Changer – This model is a great machine for a small shop on a tight budget. All the features you demand at a price you can afford. PL-1150 Wheel Balancer – Top performing balancers at an affordable price. They have all the features of the big guys. Standard features include self-calibrating, dynamic, static, and alloy capability, and a speed nut. The quick keypad data entry system makes tire balancing fast and efficient. Comes standard with a hood.
Even as an affordable option, it covers all of the bases. This setup works with tires up to 35 inches in diameter and wheels with widths of up to 12 inches. The quality and performance are also in line with many machines that sit at higher prices, and even the one-year warranty you’ll typically find at a higher price is matched here.
Before you make the impulse decision to grab this combo, you should know that it is known to support low-profile wheels and tires.
Honorable Mention:U-256AT Tire Changer & U-579 Wheel Balancer Combo
It’s an easy-to-use setup that works with up to 38-inch tires. The machinery is rather simple but is equipped to make your life easy with a pressure regulator, water separator, and lubricator to help you get the job done and minimize maintenance. The integrated self-lubricating wheel balancer even has a self-diagnosing system that optimizes efficiency. A competitive price tag also helps the Nationwide combo capture the attention of many.
U-256AT Fully-Automatic Tilt Back Tower Tire Changer and U-579 Self-Calibrating Computer Wheel Balancer Combo
Unfortunately, this simply won’t work for some applications. It’s also expensive and simply won’t fit into many budgets， but it is suitable for specialist garage shops looking for efficiency.
Easiest to Set Up:G22 Tire Changer & G66 Wheel Balancer Combo
G-22 Pro Line Semi-Automatic tire changer with dual assist arm for tires with a rim from 14″ to 26″ (max. wheel diameter 1143 mm./45″, max. wheel width 406mm./16″). Suggested for high-mid volume tire shops, garages, and repair shops. Equipped with dual assist arm for easy mounting/demounting of the tire.
G66 Guarder Wheel Balancer,20 Languages available and accept more languages customized.17″ LCD Segment Display: Displaying and visualizing the operation interface for choosing balancing modes.Tool handle: Handing cones; Lifting the machine as handlers.Tool Box: Placing tools when operating the machine.Automatic width measuring scale: With automatic distance, diameter, and width measure scale, it can input data for the rim automatically.
It can handle up to a 45″(max. wheel diameter) tire and has a maximum weight capacity of 65 KG, but you can use it with normal street car tires as well. The Guarder name also delivers the product at a highly competitive price most will appreciate, with quality that surpasses expectations. And despite what the high price may suggest, a 2 years warranty is part of the deal.
Overall quality and performance put the U-256AT Fully-Automatic Tilt Back Tower Tire Changer and U-579 Self-Calibrating Computer Wheel Balancer Combo Package on the top of our list. However, the PL-1221IT Tire Changer & PL-1150 Wheel Balancer Combo is a great choices if you’re working with a tight budget. Of course, it’s important that you read through the specs of any tire changer and wheel balancer combo you’re considering to ensure it’ll work for you, regardless of what anyone has to say.