Tire Changer Maintenance Checklist: Daily, Weekly & Annual Tasks

Keeping your tire changer in top condition doesn’t require a shop full of engineers. It requires consistency, attention, and a few minutes a day. Whether you run a single-location garage or manage a growing network of service bays, proper tire changer maintenance directly affects uptime, technician efficiency, and your bottom line. 

If your tire changer goes down, the entire workflow can bottleneck fast. Fortunately, a basic checklist can help you avoid costly breakdowns and ensure your machine runs like it should—day in and day out. 

 

Why Tire Changer Maintenance Matters 

Let’s start with what you already know: your tire changer is one of the most used machines in your shop. From passenger cars to light trucks and SUVs, every tire service flows through it. That heavy-duty workload adds up fast—especially in high-volume operations. 

A well-maintained tire changer: 

• Extends machine life 

• Reduces costly downtime 

• Prevents technician injury 

• Protects customer wheels from damage 

• Keeps your business moving without delays 

 

Coats Maxx Series tire changers, for example, are engineered for heavy cycles, built to deliver consistent performance, and designed with easy access to service points. But even the most rugged equipment needs attention. 

 

Daily Tire Changer Maintenance Checklist 

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just build daily habits into your open-and-close routine. Here’s what should be checked every day: 

• Clean the work area: Wipe down the machine to remove debris, old rubber, and any spilled fluids. 

• Inspect the clamps and duckhead: Look for cracks, warping, or wear that could lead to rim damage. 

• Check air supply and hoses: Ensure connections are secure, and hoses are free of cracks or leaks. 

• Lubricate key contact points:  

• APS3000 and 9028: Fill the lubricator bowl with air tool oil as needed—don’t just add a few drops. 

• Maxx Series: Fill the oil reservoir completely. 

• All Models: Grease turntable and tower slides if your model requires it. 

• Verify safety functions: Check that foot pedals return fully and operate smoothly. If you’re using a heavy-duty tire changer, test the emergency stop. Most car and light truck models do not include an e-stop, so this step applies only to HD units. 

 

These quick checks take 5–10 minutes and can prevent an hour of lost revenue later in the week. 

 

Weekly Tire Changer Maintenance Checklist 

Once a week, carve out a little more time—about 20 minutes—for a deeper look. 

• Drain the shop air compressor and external water trap: Moisture in the air supply can wreak havoc on pneumatic components. These are not part of the tire changer itself, but they directly affect its performance. 

• Check all moving parts for wear: Look at the bead breaker blade, arm bushings, and tower pivot points. 

• Inspect the electric motor (if applicable): Listen for abnormal noise or vibration. 

• Inspect air pressure regulator settings: Make sure PSI is within spec—too high or too low and you risk damaging the equipment or underpowering key functions. 

• Clean the filter-regulator-lubricator (FRL): If dirty, it can restrict airflow or fail to lubricate properly. 

 

Make this a routine—preferably at week’s end or before your busiest days. 

 

Annual Tire Changer Maintenance Tasks 

Even the most durable machines—like the Coats Maxx Series, designed to withstand thousands of tire-changing cycles—need annual care to protect long-term performance. This is where preventive maintenance pays off. 

Schedule these once per year: 

• Full inspection of all moving assemblies: Especially tower alignment, arm locking systems, and spindle shaft wear. 

• Replace worn parts proactively: Look at clamp pads, seals, o-rings, and plastic or rubber protection covers. 

• Flush and replace lubricator oil (if applicable): Keeps internal components protected. 

• Train (or retrain) your team: Coats offers on-site and virtual training through Coats College™ to keep your techs sharp. 

 

Bonus: With Coats Connect Service, you can schedule a technician to do all of the above and more—our service pros live and work in your community, and our goal is to keep your shop up and running. 

 

Pro Tip for Multi-Outlet Owners 

If you manage multiple locations, the key is consistency. Standardizing tire changer models and setting a shared maintenance schedule across shops means: 

• Simplified technician training 

• Easier inventory of spare parts 

• Fewer unplanned interruptions 

• Predictable equipment life cycles 

 

Coats Maxx Series tire changers are built with standardized processes and serviceability in mind. That means whether you’re working out of St. Louis or Spokane, your techs use the same steps, and your support network knows exactly what to expect. 

 

What Happens When You Skip Maintenance? 

Tire changer failures don’t happen out of nowhere. They creep in: 

• A sticky pedal leads to partial arm retraction. 

• A bead breaker fails mid-job. 

• A clamp loses grip and damages a high-end rim. 

 

And now you’re refunding a job, waiting on parts, or losing time—and technician trust. Not to mention, if you’re using an older machine without rim protection options, a simple oversight can cause permanent damage to expensive customer wheels. 

 

Durable by Design—But Built to Be Maintained 

Coats Maxx Series changers are engineered for relentless use, with replaceable wear parts, corrosion-resistant finishes, and premium power units. But smart shop owners know that reliability isn’t set-and-forget. It’s built through routine care. 

That’s why we design every Coats system to be easy to inspect, simple to service, and fast to troubleshoot—with parts and support available through Coats Connect nationwide. 

 

Final Thoughts: The Checklist Is Your Best Tool 

Whether you’re an independent shop owner trying to maximize ROI or a multi-store operator pushing for standardized uptime, daily tire changer maintenance is one of the smartest habits you can build. 

Quick recap: 

• Daily: Clean, inspect, lubricate, and check air systems. 

• Weekly: Drain compressor, inspect moving parts, clean FRL. 

• Annually: Full inspection, replace wear items, train team, or schedule Coats Certified service. 

 

Because OK isn’t good enough when it comes to tires. Keep your shop performing like it should. Keep your team moving. And keep your customers rolling safely out the door. 

 

Want help setting up your shop’s maintenance program? Coats Connect Service is ready to assist—from scheduled inspections to technician training. Let’s keep your tire changer (and everything else) running right.