Skip to main content

Tire Changer Safety Awareness Guide

Cornell Repair Shop Safety

Tire Changer Safety Awareness Guide

Tire Changer

Minimum Required PPE

  • Eye Protection

  • Ear Protection
  • Safety Toe Work Shoe
Safety Eye and Ear Protection and Safety Toe Work Shoe.

Hazards & Controls

  • Thoroughly review and understand the information provided in the tire inflation and changer operator’s manuals with particular attention given to descriptions of safety procedures.

  • Rotating parts leave potential for entanglement hazards with loose clothing, hair, or jewelry. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry in the shop. Tie long hair up and back.
  • Tires shall not be inflated beyond the manufacturer’s recommendation or a maximum of 40 psi when seating beads. Always inspect beads for proper seating at 20 psi intervals.
  • Prior to inflating a tire, the correct rim shall be matched to the correct tire.
  • Tires shall be completely deflated before adjusting the tire, rim, or wheel components.
  • Never stand within the trajectory of the tire, rim, or wheel components during the inflation process.
  • Always use the proper tool for the type of rim or wheel being serviced.
  • Never apply heat to a wheel or wheel component that is mounted to an inflated tire.
  • Mount or dismount tires from the narrow ledge side of the wheel. Avoid damaging tire beads when mounting tires.
  • Only mount tires on compatible wheels of matching bead diameter and width.
  • Do not attempt to correct the seating of side and lock rings by hammering, striking, or forcing the components while the tire is pressurized.
  • Remove and dispose of any bent, corroded, broken, or cracked rim, wheel, or rim or wheel component.
  • Always replace damaged or leaky valves.
  • Rim flanges, rim gutters, rings, bead seating surfaces, and bead areas of tires shall be free of any dirt, surface rust, and loose or flaked rubber build-up prior to mounting and inflation.
  • Always use a safety cage when inflating tires with locking rings on the rim.

Limitations

  • Only use the machine to change tires that fall within manufacturer size guidelines (e.g. no rim diameter larger than 24 inches due to rim clamping ability).

Machine Guarding

*Note: All Machine Guards Must be in Place and/or Properly Adjusted Before Use.

  •  Do Not Modify or Remove any Manufacturer Safety Devices.

Other Precautions

  • Thoroughly review and understand the information provided in the tire inflation and changer operator’s manuals with particular attention given to descriptions of safety procedures. Before using, always inspect the tire inflation and changer for damage or disrepair and assure hoses are intact and functioning properly.
  • If the Tire Inflation or Changer Fails the Pre-Use Inspection, Notify Your Supervisor and Remove the Inflation or changer equipment from service by attaching a red tag that states, “Do Not Use.” Complete red tag with appropriate information.