Tire Repairers and Changers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
A typical job starts by raising the vehicle on a hydraulic jack, unbolting the wheel with a lug wrench, and taking it off. You identify tire size and ply, inflate to the right pressure, replace valve stems, pull out puncturing objects, and reassemble the tire on the wheel. Wheels go on a balancing machine so you can see which counterweights to hammer onto the rim, then the wheel goes back on the vehicle. The work is physical, repetitive, and paced by incoming jobs. It suits people who like a clear sequence of hands-on steps, keeping jobs moving, and talking with customers as work comes in.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$37'710
Median Wage Market Position
$37'710
What you might do
- Raise vehicles and unbolt the wheels
- Take tires off rims and remount them
- Check tire size and ply, then inflate
- Remove puncturing objects and replace valve stems
- Balance wheels and hammer on counterweights
- Bolt the finished wheels back onto vehicles
Skills that matter
- Listening to drivers about tire trouble
- Telling customers what the tire needs
- Matching tire size, ply, and pressure
- Pulling wheels and seating new tires
- Wheel balance and counterweight placement
- Finding punctures and swapping valve stems
AI & the future of this role
Mounting and balancing tires is physical, safety-critical work done bay-side with tools and torque checks. Diagnostics and inventory apps could speed parts lookup, yet proper seating, pressure, and on-vehicle handling still depend on human skill.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details