What Do Tire Repairers and Changers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Tire Repairers and Changers repair and replace tires. They also raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.

Other tasks include:

• Remount wheels onto vehicles.
• Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
• Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.
• Identify tire size and ply and inflate tires accordingly.
• Replace valve stems and remove puncturing objects.
• Hammer required counterweights onto rims of wheels.

We asked Tire Repairers and Changers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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67% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 52% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Tire Repairers and Changers clean and tidy up the shop. They inspect tire casings for defects, such as holes or tears.

A typical day for a Tire Repairer and Changer will also include:

• Remount wheels onto vehicles.
• Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.
• Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
• Raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.
• Separate tubed tires from wheels, using rubber mallets and metal bars or mechanical tire changers.

We asked some Tire Repairers and Changers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	60% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	64% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	73% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	36% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	69% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Tire Repairers and Changers also place tire casings and tread rubber assemblies in tire molds for the vulcanization process and exert pressure to ensure good adhesion. They may also inflate inner tubes and immerse them in water to locate leaks.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Tire Repairers and Changers Apply rubber cement to buffed tire casings prior to vulcanization process. They might also Patch tubes with adhesive rubber patches or seal rubber patches to tubes, using hot vulcanizing plates.

In addition, they Drive automobile or service trucks to industrial sites to provide services or respond to emergency calls.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Prepare rims and wheel drums for reassembly by scraping, grinding, or sandblasting.

To some Tire Repairers and Changers, it is also their responsibility to Seal punctures in tubeless tires by inserting adhesive material and expanding rubber plugs into punctures, using hand tools.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Tire Repairer and Changer, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493093.htm