How to set up a mobile tyre fitting business
According to the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (BTMA), around 50 million new tyres are supplied in the UK each year for use on cars, vans, trucks and buses, with tyre shops reporting a rise in demand for mobile tyre fitting services during the pandemic.
If you’re thinking of setting up a tyre fitting business, once you have the right vehicle, your main investment will be the equipment, and that’s where PCL can help. As the global leader in the design and manufacture of the most advanced and comprehensive portfolio of tyre inflation and compressed air products on the market, we can advise on the best and most cost-effective equipment used in tyre fitting at a customer’s home or business.
Who to target for mobile tyre fitting
But first, you will need to decide who your customers will be and the type of application. You may want to concentrate on emergency call outs or regular tyre replacements at homes or workplaces. Or you might want to offer a commercial tyre fitting service covering a range of industrial markets, from companies with fleets to those in remote locations, for example agriculture.
An on-site tyre fitting service could prove invaluable in industries such as construction, where vehicles can’t be driven to a workshop, or where taking the tyre fitter service to a forklift truck or digger could save invaluable time and money.
Other target customers could include bike enthusiasts for their motorcycles and scooters, businesses using trailers, horse boxes and caravanners.
You may also want to offer a winter tyre fitting service, replacing customers’ tyres for ones that are better equipped to tackle colder weather and icy roads.
You will therefore need access to a comprehensive range of specialist tyres, so building relationships with wholesale tyre companies will ensure you have access to the right products.
Once you’ve established your target market, you will need to source the right equipment to fit their tyres. Below is a summary of equipment needed to set up a professional tyre fitting service.
Fixed equipment needed for a mobile tyre fitting van
Generally, a mobile tyre fitting van will need a pneumatic car jack and the following fixed equipment:
- A PTO (Power Take Off) compressor built into the vehicle, which removes the need for a separate engine and associated maintenance, whilst freeing up valuable space. Depending upon the make of van, you may be able to order one from the manufacturer, or have a bespoke one retro fitted.
- Alternatively, if the initial cost is the determining factor, you could opt for a petrol or diesel driven compressor which can be used anywhere as no power source is required.
- Tyre fitting machine suitable for your customers’ applications
- Wheel balancer suitable for specific requirements
- Tyre inflators
What type of tyre inflator do I need?
There are two types of inflators you could choose from, fixed and manual. It may be that a combination of a fixed and manual inflator is the best choice to cost-effectively meet the varying demands.
- Fixed - where the operator pre-sets the pressure then the inflator recognises when the set level is reached.
- Manual - where the operator determines both the required pressure and when the final pressure is reached.
More information can be found here.
What kind of fixed tyre inflator is best for mobile tyre fitting?
We would recommend PCL’s QUBE6 fixed 12v model as the best tyre inflator for mobile tyre fitting due to its:
- Space-saving design
- Pre-set function which enables the operator to carry out other tasks during the inflation process
- Fast inflation with guaranteed accuracy up to +/- 0.5% of full-scale reading
- Simplicity of use with touch screen technology
- Bead Seating (OPS) and Nitrogen (N2) purge modes
In short, PCL’s QUBE6 will save you time and money by providing accuracy, increased efficiency, uptime, and safety, whilst reducing effort and fatigue - especially when inflating large, high-pressure tyres from flat.
Watch a demonstration of the ACCURA QUBE in action
The best handheld manual inflators for mobile tyre fitting
PCL offers the highest quality and most reliable and cost-effective equipment for fast and accurate, handheld tyre inflation, with a vast range of digital, linear and dial inflators for a variety of applications, including car and truck tyres.
We recommend our ‘Premium’ range of tyre inflators which boast industry-standard BS EN 12645:2014 approvals and certifications for accuracy, reliability and robustness.
These high-performance inflators are highly durable and ideal for high usage, and therefore suitable for tyre shops and mobile tyre fitting:
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Each of these ranges also features a truck/high pressure model suitable for commercial vehicles.
Another option is PCL’s ‘Premium’ ACCURA® MK4 Digital Tyre Inflator. This higher pressure inflator is ideal for multiple applications (including trucks), and offers the ease of use of a digital inflator and the robustness of the toughest analogue.
Watch a demonstration of the ACCURA MK4 Digital Tyre Inflator in action
All inflators in PCL’s ‘Premium’ range are available with a wide choice of tyre valve connectors and hose lengths to suit your requirements.
Hose assemblies for mobile tyre fitting
A mobile tyre fitting van would ideally be equipped with a twin hose reel or loose hose, and PCL offers a selection of high quality compressed air hose assemblies, with or without fittings, in convenient cut lengths between 10m and 30m.
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FRL and FR for air tools and inflation
One hose should be connected to an FRL for air tools, with the other – an FR (no lubrication) - used for inflation. PCL’s range of FRLs offers excellent value for money for professional users. Our Air Treatment series of FRLs (Filters, Regulators and Lubricators) includes combination units with ¼" and ½" inlet ports, all supplied complete with wall brackets and pressure gauges.
High performance air tools for mobile tyre fitting
First of all you will need racking to store tyres and tools. Once you have this installed you will need to equip them with some durable and reliable kit. PCL’s air tools are designed to tackle any job at any scale. A mobile tyre fitter’s toolbox should include the following air tools and miscellaneous items:
- ½” ‘Prestige’ impact wrenches, which are suitable for most applications and provide adequate power and precision for working with regular-sized vehicles; whereas ¾” and 1” ‘Prestige’ impact wrenches will be needed for commercial and large tyre applications.
- 10mm reversible drill, die grinder, tyre plugs and patches for repairs
- Hand tools such as tyre bars, bead blaster, air hammers and craft knives
- Valves, valve cores and tyre paste for fitting new tyres
Whilst mobile tyre fitting is a competitive market, there is increasing demand - so ensuring you have the most cost-effective, reliable equipment for safety, accuracy and efficiency will help you stay ahead of the game.
For advice on PCL’s high-performance tyre inflation equipment for mobile tyre fitting, please contact us.
