Category: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have some unaswered questions? Do you want to know the correct way to repair a tyre, or how to use adhesive weights? What’s the latest TPMS information?

At Tyre Bay Direct we always like to keep our customers up to date with the latest information from the Tyre Industry as well as some articles to give those starting out a good grounding in the process of Tyre Fitting.

Our Knowledge base continually grows with more and more information available so please feel free to contact us if the information you require isn’t here, you too can add to our knowledge base.

Wheel Balancer Fault Finding

If your are experiencing wheel balancer problems then some of these points will enable you to identify the issue. Obviously if you have one of our wheel balancers and are experiencing problems then please call our technical team.

Digital display is flashing on start up?

Off set distance ruler is not in place properly. Return to home position and carry out calibration.

Wheel will not spin.

Is the hood down? If yes press the green start button. If the wheel spins on button press machine requires a new micro switch.

I have added the weight it said but the wheel balancer says it hasn’t balanced.

Check position of the weights applied. They must be at the exact 12 o’ clock position when the indicator lights are fully lit. If this is the case calibrate the machine before trying again.

Half way through spin/readings the wheel balancer switches off?

Make sure you hold the hood down and wait for the wheel to completely stop before lifting.

Why does my reading say OFF OFF OFF?

The machine has not completed the task and must have been opened half way through the spin. Restart the process and make sure you hold the hood down and wait for the wheel to completely stop before lifting.

The machine just keeps telling me to add weight?

Calibrate the machine, build up the weights gradually to build up the balance not all in one go for a single wheel. If this does not resolve the problem please call for technical assistance.

Tyre Changer Fault Finding: Your Troubleshooting Guide

If you have a tyre changer issue then this quick guide may help you identify the problem. If you encounter a snag, there is sometimes a textbook solution. Read our tyre changer troubleshooting guide to find out more.

If you have one of our Tyre Changers and you have an issue, don’t hesitate to give our team a call.

Turntable only turns one way

Check the pedal is clear to make the full movement. If so, you may be encountering rotation switch issues. We recommend disconnecting from the electric and opening the machine to check for loose wires. If all wires are intact and connected, call for technical support.

Tyre machine won’t spin

If the tyre machine has stopped spinning altogether it could mean that you need to replace the motor – especially if you’ve had the machine for a long time. First, check for physical damages and inspect the wiring connections.

If the motor is turning just fine with your hands and you’re hearing a noise coming from the unit, then you are not experiencing power issues. If the motor unit is completely worn out, you can install a replacement or upgrade your tyre changing machine.

Breaker won’t break bead?

If your tyre machine bead breaker isn’t working, check that the tyre has been fully deflated and the valve core removed. Check pressure of the incoming air supply is at 8bar minimum. Follow routine maintenance regarding oil top-up to ensure the life of the bead breaker seals is optimised.

Machine is scratching rims

If your machine is scratching, remove the existing steel mounting head and replace it with a plastic head. We always recommend using plastic clamping jaw covers and bead breaker covers, especially on alloy rims.

Turntable buzzing but not turning?

If the power supply is OK but the turntable is not turning, it’s possible you have an issue with connections on the capacitor. Disconnect from the electric and open machine to check for loose wires. If all wires are intact and connected, call for technical support.

Turntable is very slow and makes a grinding noise

If the turntable is very slow or makes suspect noises, it can be a sign of a motor or gearbox fault. In this instance, it’s best to call for technical assistance. Ensure completion of routine maintenance to prolong the life of all mechanical components.

Tyre machine leaking air or pedals not operating properly

If you suspect an air leak from the pistons connecting the pedals, disconnect from the electric and air supply and open the machine to check for loose connections on the foot plate. If all pipes are intact and connected, call for technical support.

Digital inflation gauge not displaying anything

Assuming power and air are being fed to the machine, we recommend replacing the battery in the gauge.

This is a rough guide to some common technical problems. Please feel free to contact our team of experts if there is anything further you need.

What is Wheel Alignment?

Wheel Alignment from the industry leaders, Hofmann Megaplan.

Wheel alignment, sometimes referred to as breaking or tracking, is part of standard automobile maintenance that consists of adjusting the angles of wheels so that they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. The meaning of wheel alignment can often be confused, as the term is misleading.

Rather than referring to your car’s wheels, wheel alignment is related to the suspension. Disruptions to the car’s suspension can cause some components to be knocked off-kilter, causing the wheels to sit at improper angles. Wheel alignment ensures that the wheels are set straight again, avoiding further problems to the vehicle.

Main causes of wheel misalignment

  • Sudden jarring or heavy impact caused by hitting something, such as a pothole, bumping a curb, or a road accident.
  • Worn parts caused by wear and tear. Over time, parts such as suspension springs can become worn and slack, leading to a shift in the wheel alignment. In this case, prevention is more effective than cure; so regular service checks are necessary.
  • Height modification, when suspension has not been changed to suit. Car suspension is designed to work at a certain height, and if you adjust the height of your vehicle without also adjusting the suspension, your car will probably suffer from wheel misalignment.

Common signs of wheel misalignment

  • Tyres wearing abnormally/unevenly
  • Car drifts to one side when driving
  • Steering wheel does not return easily after a turn
  • Steering wheel is crooked or vibrates
  • There is a squealing noise coming from your tyres

How do you adjust wheel alignment?

Setting a car’s wheel alignment accurately requires the use of a specialist machine. These sophisticated pieces of equipment utilise laser beams and sensors to record a car’s camber, caster, toe (and other settings) with pinpoint accuracy, allowing adjustments to be made quickly and easily. Although it’s possible to align a vehicle without the use of a dedicated wheel alignment machine, it’s a very time-consuming process – these machines can literally save hours of work!

Here at Tyre Bay Direct, you’ll find a comprehensive selection of alignment equipment and accessories from top brands like Atlas Platinum. Browse the full lineup today and order your alignment machine online.

What Tyre Machine Do I Need For Start-up Business?

Picking Your Tyre Fitting Equipment

With so many different tyre machine combinations it can be a little confusing when setting up a tyre fitting business. Here at Tyre Bay Direct we want to make choosing the best tyre equipment for your needs as simple as possible.

Atlas Equipment Logo

With over 50 years of experience in the tyre industry, we have accumulated valuable knowledge and technical expertise. We have helped customers across the UK start up their new tyre business. No matter what you are looking for, we can help.

Tyre machine packages – Which should I choose?

Tyre machine packages are created by us to offer extra savings when buying multiple machines. Our brands include Redback, Atlas and Atlas Platinum, of which we are the exclusive suppliers in the UK and Ireland. Warranty varies with brand but all spare parts are stocked in our warehouse in England. With close working relationships with our manufacturers, all machines contain European components and are built to our specification. Each machine is hand built and tested in-house before dispatch.

We also have an experienced technical team and engineering base. They cover the whole of the UK, so you can rest assured that these tyre machine packages will not only get you started but will provide you with long term support.

Best machine for tyre fitting business start-up?

With a range of tyre machine packages including a tyre changer, wheel balancer and a wide range of tyre consumable items, we are sure to find the best machines for you.

Complete Start Package by Redback

If you are starting up in tyres as a mobile tyre fitter on a limited budget, we can recommend the Complete Start Package. Including both a 24″ Fully Automatic and Semi Automatic Tyre Changers, these smaller sized machines help you to maximise a limited working space. It comes with everything you need to kit out a smaller workshop.

Atlas or Redback Run-Flat Package

One of our most popular tyre shop start-up packages is the Atlas or Redback run-flat package, which features a 24″ Fully Automatic Tyre Changer with 3 Way Assist Arm and a 24″ 2D Motorised Wheel Balancer.

This package will allow you to easily mount, demount and balance nearly every passenger car wheel and tyre combination on the road today. With the pneumatic assist arm, it will also make those difficult low profile and run-flat tyres a quick and simple job. All tyre machine packages come with an impressive variety of tyre consumables including tyre valves, balancing weights, repair materials, hand tools, vulcanising chemicals and much more.

Tailored solutions for your tyre-fitting business

Most tyre machine packages on our website are perfectly suited to individual customer needs. However, we can mix and match the machine combinations to suit you. We also do complete tyre shop start-up packages which include everything needed to start: Tyre changers, wheel balancers, tyre consumables, budget tyre packs, compressors and even Nitrogen Inflation Systems.

There are finance and pay later options available to help make payments more manageable and affordable.

Shop the full range of Tyre Machines online at Tyre Bay Direct today.

 

Using Patch Plug Combination Repair Materials

Puncture repair using patch and plug combination repair materials

 

We have a wide range of tyre repair materials such as patch and plug combos, universal patches, tube patches, radial patches and cross ply patches.  These are used on motorcycle tyres, passenger car tyres, LGVs tyre and even truck and agricultural tyres. The most common repair patches for passenger car tyres are the patch and plug combinations. With varying stem diameters from 4mm, 6mm, 9mm and 10mm, these patch and plug combinations are suitable for motorcycle tyres (4mm stem), passenger car tyres (6mm stem) and even LGV tyres (9mm+ stem). It is illegal to repair a passenger car tyre puncture that is larger that 6mm.

 

The first step to repairing a puncture and selecting the correct repair material is to find where it is, this should be fairly easy if the puncture is a large hole caused by a nail for example. If a flat tyre is the cause of a slow puncture there are tools available such as tyre baths and leak finders which are designed to make finding the cause of a slow puncture a simple process.

Mark a cross over the effected area using tyre marking chalk. Then using a carbide cutter or hand rasp, make the puncture into a clean hole. The area then needs to be buffed and cleaned using Liquid Rubber Buffer Cleaner (Buffing Soltution). You can then use buffing accessories such as a Buffing Stone or Grit Flat Wheel. This creates a rough surface to enable the vulcanising solution, or glue, to bond with the rubber of the tyre. Once these steps have been use the vulcanising solution, applied to the hole using a spiral cement tool.

All patch and plug combos have a metal pin in the end. This enables you to easily guide the plug through the hole and then pull through to create a perfect seal. Use a stitch roller and inner liner sealant over the patch and the repair is complete. All left to do it cut the plug down to size and mount the tyre back onto the wheel.