While attending the 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Autosphere had the opportunity to stop by and visit with the team at Hunter Engineering Company. As always Hunter had an impressive display on the lower level of the South Hall, within the sprawling Las Vegas Convention Center complex.

Hunter constantly strives to look for innovative solutions to help tire shops, service centres and collision repairers. The TCX51 Table-Top Professional Tire Changer is a prime example.  The heaviest model in its class, the TCX51 is designed to offer ease of use, high efficiency and a long service life, enabling fast, efficient tire removal and installation in minutes.

At SEMA, Hunter’s Pete Bridges delivered an on-site demonstration, highlighting the TCX51’s class leading side shovel power and three-way adjustability. It also features a push-button, power out control function. The tabletop itself has capacity for 10-through-26-inch rims and features built-in diameter marks, so technicians don’t make mistakes when clamping wheels on the changer, plus high grip wheel protectors minimize any potential rim damage while changing tires.

An available 220-volt two speed power system enables fine wheel control and fast operation functions. Further enhancing accuracy and ease of use, are the heavy-duty swing arm and the polymer and optional steel heads incorporate a large de-mount contour to ensure the tire beads track properly when removing the tire.

The TCX51’s press foot incorporates an integrated lifting hook to make it easier to position the tire whether removing or installing it.

A key aspect to the TCX51’s flexibility is Hunter’s patented Wing Mount Head which automatically ensures tires track properly during the tire changing process. Additionally, it can work with more challenging wheel types, including plaid and raised-spoke designs, while the bead press design ensures that more difficult tires remain in the drop centre during installation. Once the tire is mounted on the wheel, the TCX51features powerful blast nozzles that enable fast and correct tire inflation, even for larger tires.