ST. LOUIS — Hunter Engineering Co. has developed a "top-side blast inflation" system called FastBlast that the shop equipment maker said is optimized to seat even the most difficult tires in a matter of seconds.
The new system debuts on a pair of tabletop tire changers, the TCX58 and TCX59, that Hunter is adding to its range of changers deigned to handle light truck and SUV tires, which typically are larger and heavier and often harder to mount.
The new system uses a 6.5-gallon air tank and "specially designed" inflation blaster to help seat the beads on these larger tires. The system operates hands-free, Hunter said, for safety and operator convenience.
"You can say goodbye to lifting heavy tires and rims over nozzles," Jim Hudson, tire changer product manager, said. "No more risky handheld tanks or 5-plus minute, two-technician inflation projects."
Traditional jaw blast inflation is also standard for traditional tires, Hunter said.
The TCX58 and TCX59 feature Hunter's bead-breaking shovel system and automatic swing arm along with a simplified, single-bead press arm and a lower locking disk that comes standard on the two tire changers. An optional wheel lift adds more safety and labor savings to the package.
The TCX58 and TCX59 are built on Hunter's 220V two-speed chassis for ample power and speed. Hunter's table-top models are designed to handle tires with rim diameters ranging from 10 to 26 inches and with outside diameters up to 46 inches.
Hunter did not disclose pricing for the models, which complement the company's existing table-top model TCX5x.