Tyre fitter

Tyre fitters inspect, maintain, repair and fit tyres to vehicles. They advise clients on different tyre and wheel types. Furthermore they balance the tyres, verify that the wheels are aligned correctly and ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.

Tyre fitters advise customers on which tyres may need replacing. They suggest the most suitable type of tyre for their vehicle, and then fit the new tyre.

To change a tyre, they lift up the vehicle, using a jack, take off the wheel and remove the old tyre from the wheel.

Then they fit a new tyre, pump it to the correct air pressure and replace the wheel on the vehicle, tightening the wheel nuts with a wheel brace or air powered machine. 

Their other tasks could be:

• repairing punctures
• changing filters, lubricating parts, and performing other basic road safety checks
• carrying out wheel alighnment and tracking adjustments. This involves making sure the tyres are fitted at exactly the correct angle, down to the nearest hundreth of a millimeter
• washing car windows and vacuuming and polishing car interiors, before the car is handed back to the customer
• selling tyres to customers
• ordering new stock

The following job titles also refer to tyre fitter:

tyre inspector
wheel machinist
fitter and turner
wheel fitter
machinist
garage assistant

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a tyre fitter. Experience is usually acquired on-the-job.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Tyre fitter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to tyre fitter.

tyre vulcaniser
automotive brake technician
tyre builder
bicycle assembler
foam rubber mixer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of tyre fitter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of tyre fitter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

water conservation technician supervisor
desalination technician
metal production supervisor
product development engineering technician
rolling stock engine tester

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of tyre fitter.

• Types of tyres: Different types of rubber coverings and inflated tubes used for specific vehicles and weather conditions such as winter and summer tyres, performance tyres, truck or tractor tyres.

These skills are necessary for the role of tyre fitter.

• Replace tyres: Replace worn out or broken tyres of motor vehicles by using hand and power tools. Choose new tyres according to customer requirements and motor vehicle model.
• Balance tyres: Measure the static and dynamic balance of tyres using sensors, bubble balancers and spin balancers, and adjust by fitting weights on the wheel to correct any unbalance and avoid vibrations, noise and ocillations.
• Inspect worn tyres: Evaluate the worn tyres and check at possible damages (cuts, cracks, etc) in order to determine possible retread.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Inspect repaired tyres: Inspect the rebuffed and fully vulcanized tyres in order to detect if any flaws are still present.
• Clean tyres: Clean the completed tyres in order to prepare them for painting.
• Sell tyres: Identify the customer’s needs. Advise them on the right type of tyres and process payments.
• Maintain technical equipment: Maintain an inventory of cultivation equipment and supplies. Order additional materials as needed.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of tyre fitter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Car controls: The functioning of specific car equipment such as how to operate and handle the clutch, throttle, lighting, instrumentation, transmission and the brakes.
• Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of tyre fitter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• Coat inside of tyres: Coat the broken tyres on the inside by using rubber cement.
• Paint tyres: Paint the completed and cleaned tyres in order to obtain the finished product.
• Adapt to new technology used in cars: Adapt to new technology integrated in cars; understand systems operation and provide troubleshooting.
• Order inventories of car care supplies: Order and store car maintenance supplies such as lubricants, filters and gases.
• Clamp tyre into mould: Clamp the tyre already placed in the mould, making sure the tyre remains clamped until the end of the vulcanization process.
• Prepare tyres for vulcanization: Prepare tyres for vulcanization by building semi-raw rubber treads onto the already buffed tyre casings.
• Rebuff tyre: Use abrasive tools to grind the old tyre and to remove the worn tread, brush or spray a rubber solution to join the new and the old material, and fix the new tread or piece of tread.
• Store goods: Arrange and store goods in areas outside of customers display.
• Adjust bag inside tyres: Adjust the pressure of the air bag inside the tyres.
• Maintain warehouse database: Keep digital warehouse database up-to-date and multi-accessible.
• Apply rubber patches: Apply the already shaped rubber patches onto the broken part of the tire by using a handroller and the correct rubber cement.
• Write records for repairs: Write records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.

7231 – Motor vehicle mechanics and repairers

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References

1. Tyre fitter – ESCO
2. Tyre Fitter – Job Role – Careers Wales
3. Featured image: Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels