Demounting, mounting and inflating tires may seem to be essential for shops performing tire services, but when NOT performed properly, those basic skills can cause the most grief. When those gorgeous new rims get scratched during installation, you’re in for a customer-service headache.

Unnoticed low tire pressure can result in tire damage and blowouts, which can result in the dangerous loss of vehicle control. To address this concern, Congress passed the TREAD Act in 2008, requiring tire-pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in all new passenger vehicles.

For a tire to hold its inflation, a clean, smooth rim surface is essential. Environmental factors, salt, lubricants, water and other contaminants can cause damage to the rim’s surface area over time.

Safety is a top concern on the shop floor. Even something as routine and repeated as the demounting, mounting and inflation of tires can shift unexpectedly into a dangerous situation.

The workhorse of today’s modern tire shop is the tire changer. Tire-changing technology can range from basic to automatic and nearly autonomous. Most are built for specific shop needs, based on things such as repair volume, tire size and types of vehicles serviced.