Tyre Fitter and Repairer - Career Advice - Transport and Travel

Tyre fitters and repairers fit, replace and repair tyres on worn and damaged tyres on vehicles and diagnose faults in tyre wear.

Tyre fitters repair damage to tyres and fit and balance new tyres to vehicles. They inspect a vehicle's tyres and the related components, checking for signs of damage and wear, such as nails, stones and cracks in the rubber. Where possible they will repair the tyre, which may involve activities such as patching holes or replacing inner tubes. In other cases the whole tyre will need to be replaced. In these cases they will talk with the vehicle's owner, and may offer advice, to determine the type of replacement tyre. Once new tyres have been fitted, the wheel alignment is checked and balanced and road testing is carried out.

Tyre Fitter at work
(Source: Personal Photo)

ANZSCO ID: 899415

Alternative names: Tire Fitter & Repairer, Tyre & Rim Fitter, Tyre Re-treader Fitter,

Specialisations:

Wheel Aligner - identifies faults in vehicle stability and tyre wear. This involves checking and servicing the steering system and suspension, identifying and interpreting tyre and rim regulations, balancing wheels and making adjustments and doing post-alignment checks and road testing.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

enjoy practical and manual activities
no allergic reactions to petrol, grease, oil or other chemicals
interested in motor vehicles and motor vehicle components
good mechanical skills
to be able to work with electric and hand tools
to be able to follow checklists and safety procedures
good physical fitness
current drivers' licence.

Removing rim
(Source: Your Career)

Duties and Tasks

inspect tyres to determine the extent of damage or wear. This inspection enables which repair action to implement. Also repairs punctures in tubes and tubeless tyres
operates air driven equipment to remove and refit tyres and tubes on vehicles
select appropriate tyres and rims for particular vehicles
balance tyres and wheels using specialised testing equipment such as static and electronic equipment
follow a checklist to ensure tyre fitting and safety procedures are followed correctly
road test vehicles

Did You Know?

Devulcanisation involves breaking the bonds that hold the individual polymer chains together and create a network. There are different methods to breaking the bonds, including using chemicals or microwaves, and biological and ultrasonic methods

(Source: The Conversation)

Working conditions

You would normally work standard industry hours, Monday to Friday. You may be on a roster system if the workshop is open on weekends. You may also need to work overtime to meet deadlines at busy times. Part-time work may be possible. Tyre fitters and repairers mainly work indoors.

Most tyre fitters & repairers work in workshops or repair shops attached to tyre repairers, wheel alignment specialists or service stations. You might also work for a company that owns, or services, car or other vehicle fleets. The work can be dirty and greasy, and you would wear overalls and other protective clothing.

Tyre fitters work at specialist tyre centres, mechanical workshops, automotive dealers or organisations maintaining a large fleet of vehicles. Workshops can be noisy, dirty and hot, though they are usually well ventilated. Tyre fitters may also spend some time talking to customers in shop fronts or display rooms attached to the workshop. The work involves heavy lifting and standing for long periods. Most tyre fitters work standard business hours during the week, with many workshops also open on Saturdays.

Tools and technologies

Tyre fitters use hydraulic car lifts, jacks and wheel braces to lift and secure vehicles. They use specialised equipment such as air-operated tyre changers and tyre retreading machines, as well as a number of standard hand and power tools for removing, attaching and repairing tyres.

They also use specialised measuring and testing equipment to ensure that tyres have been fitted properly, including wheel balances and wheel alignment machines. Tyre fitters that deal directly with customers may also use computers, cash registers and EFTPOS machines.

Essential equipment and tools:

Tyre changing and balancing machines: These are the core machines for demounting and mounting tires and ensuring they are properly balanced for smooth driving.
Impact and torque wrenches: Used to quickly remove wheel nuts and then tighten them to the correct specifications.
Tyre inflator and compressor: Essential for inflating tires to the correct pressure.
Tyre irons and pry bars: Manual tools for prying the tire bead over the rim, especially when fitting or removing tires.
Jacks and axle stands: Used to lift and safely support the vehicle.

Repair and maintenance tools

Puncture repair kits: These kits can include plugs, patches, reamers, and insertion tools for repairing minor punctures.
Valve stem tools: Used for removing and replacing the valve core to repair or replace valve stems.
Bead breaker: A tool to break the seal between the tyre bead and the wheel rim.
Tyre pressure gauges: Used for accurately checking the air pressure in a tire.
Tyre repair rollers: Tools like press-on rollers are used to ensure a good bond when applying repair patches.
Tread cutters and probes: Used to prepare the puncture site and insert the repair plug.

Advanced technologies

Wheel alignment systems: Electronic systems that measure and adjust the angles of all the wheels to meet manufacturer specifications, ensuring proper tire wear and handling.
TPMS tools: Diagnostic tools to service and maintain the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors on modern vehicles

Learning the tools
(Source: Jobs & Skills WA)

Education and training/entrance requirements

No Formal Qualifications On The Job Training Apprenticeship Traineeship Year 10 Preferred Licence

You can work as a tyre fitter and repairer without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job.

Your employment prospects may be improved with a VET qualification in Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology. You can also become a tyre fitter and repairer through an apprenticeship or traineeship in Automotive Underbody Technology or Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology.

The Certificate II in Automotive Tyre Servicing Technology is offered at TAFE colleges and other registered training organisations in Australia

Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10.

You would usually require a current drivers' licence.

In workshop
(Source: Your Career)

Additional Information

A drivers licence is desirable.

To work as a tyre fitter and repairer in NSW, you may need to be certified by NSW Fair Trading. To work as a tyre fitter and repairer in the ACT, you must have a motor vehicle repair licence, or work under the supervision of a licensed repairer. Contact the ACT Office of Regulatory Services for further information.

Once you are employed, you may be able to develop, and have recognised, additional skills under the Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair Training Package that will expand your career opportunities within this industry.

Employment Opportunities

Employment of tyre fitters & repairers is projected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations.

The number of vehicles in use continues to rise, and tyre wear and tear will mean continuing opportunities for those with these skills and qualifications.

Tyre fitters and repairers and wheel aligners are mostly employed by tyre centres and wheel alignment specialists.