Tire Changer & Wheel Balancer Combo

What is in each package

• Hofmann COMBO monty 1270 + geodyna 7100 (HOFCOMBO1) - swing-arm changer plus semi-automatic balancer with digital display.
• Ranger R80EX and LS45DS Wheel Service Combo Deal (RG-5140440) - one R80EX 220V dual-tower assist tilt-back changer, one LS45DS 220V Sonar 3D laser-spot balancer, and a 1,400-piece roll set of black and silver adhesive steel tape weights.
• APEX AT26 and AB28 Combo (AP-5140921) - swing-arm changer plus digital balancer.
• APEX AT26A and AB28 Combo (AP-5140920) - the same AB28 balancer with the AT26A changer, which adds a pneumatic assist tower.

The APEX packages are listed as backed by BendPak engineering. The Ranger machines carry a BendPak/Ranger warranty, and BendPak charges sales tax in California on both the Ranger and APEX packages. The Hofmann package is listed but is not set up for online checkout, so call to confirm availability before planning around it.

The variants, and what changes between them

Swing-arm changers: monty 1270, AT26, AT26A

Three of the four changers are swing-arm machines: the tower swings to the side instead of tilting back, which is why the Hofmann listing notes the monty 1270 can be installed directly next to a wall. The monty 1270 keeps it simple, with an on-floor, pedal-operated side-shovel bead breaker and self-centering jaws on 115V single-phase 60 Hz power.

The APEX AT26 steps up to a high-torque electric turntable with reversible direction, an oversized pneumatic bead-breaking cylinder, a multi-axis adjustable bead breaker blade, a brushless AC motor and a sealed maintenance-free gearbox. It ships with both hardened steel and polymer mount and demount heads, plus plastic clamp covers so metal never touches a finished wheel. The AT26A is the same machine plus a pneumatic assist tower that steadies stiff, low-profile and heavy assemblies and holds the bead in the drop center during installation. Their published spec tables are otherwise identical.

Tilt-back dual-tower assist: Ranger R80EX

The R80EX is a different class of machine. The tower tilts back, and it carries two power assist towers, left and right, with an upper bead assist roller, a dual power-drop and a traveling drop-center hold-down device. Bead breaking is bi-lateral and power-controlled from a single lever on the shovel handle, with dual pneumatic cylinders on the table clamping. Standard equipment includes a Turbo-Blast bead seating system, an inflation gauge with air dump valve, a pressure regulator and limiter, a wheel centering and inflation restraint device, and a water filter and lubricator. Motorcycle turntable clamps are an option, not standard. Sound is rated under 70 dB.

Balancers: how wheel data gets in, and how weight goes on

The Hofmann geodyna 7100 is a compact semi-automatic balancer with an LED display and touchpad controls built into the weight tray. Its gauge arm uses easyALU assisted rim measurement, so touching the rim enters the dimensions and selects the balancing mode; the listing calls this 2D SAPE data entry. It adds Quickbal, which varies the number of revolutions per wheel, a Quick nut wheel clamp, a split weight mode, and a wheel cover.

The APEX AB28 is a digital balancer with multi-directional quartz piezoelectric load sensors, a direct-axis drive, an average seven-second cycle, LED rolling weight placement indicators, automatic weight optimization, automatic braking, a no-mar Quick-Nut system and a 36 mm hardened steel shaft. Three standard cones and one truck cone are included. Modes are dynamic, static, alloy and one hidden. Increments are 0.25 oz. (5 g), stated accuracy 0.035 oz. (plus or minus 1 g), rotational speed 260 RPM, noise under 50 dB.

The Ranger LS45DS is the most automated of the three: 3D auto data entry, Laser-Spot technology that shows where the weight goes, a side-position brake that holds the wheel at 12 or 6 o'clock, tiered indicators for split-weight and behind-the-spoke placement, an open-side hood, low-RPM balancing, a 7-second cycle, self-calibration, a 40 mm hardened-steel shaft with quick-release hub nut, and a side shelf that dispenses Ranger Quick-Peel adhesive tape weight bulk rolls. Increments are 0.01 oz. (0.25 g), against 0.25 oz. (5 g) on the AB28; the geodyna 7100 listing does not publish a balancing increment. Modes are dynamic, static, aluminum and HID (hidden).

Capacity: what each machine will take

Rim clamping range is the first filter. The Ranger R80EX clamps 13 to 34 in. internally and 10 to 30 in. externally, with a maximum tire diameter of 47 in., a maximum rim width of 15 in., and a bead breaker demounting width capacity of 1.5 to 15 in. The APEX AT26 and AT26A clamp 12 to 24 in. inside and 10 to 22 in. outside, with a maximum tire diameter of 47 in., tire width of 13 in., rim width at the head of 15 in., and a 14 in. bead breaker width. The monty 1270 is the most compact: maximum rim diameter 20 in., rim width 12 in., tire width 13 in., wheel diameter 39 in.

On the balancer side, the APEX AB28 covers rim diameters of 12 to 28 in. and widths of 4 to 15 in., with a 44 in. tire diameter and a 145 lb. maximum wheel weight. The Ranger LS45DS covers wheel diameters of 12 to 24 in. and widths of 4 to 24 in., with a maximum tire diameter of 43 in. and a 145 lb. maximum tire weight. The geodyna 7100 has the widest rim-diameter span here: 8 to 25 in. with semi-automatic data entry, 8 to 32 in. entered manually, widths of 1 to 20 in., a 38 in. maximum wheel diameter, and the highest maximum wheel weight of the three at 154 lb.

Two published figures need care. The AB28 feature list says it handles wheels up to 44 in. in diameter, while its own spec table lists 44 in. as tire diameter and 12 to 28 in. as the wheel diameter range; plan around the spec table. In the AT26 and AT26A tables the two clamping-range rows print millimeter figures that belong to the next size up (10-22 in. shown as 305-610 mm, 12-24 in. shown as 356-660 mm); the rest of the table converts correctly. Treat the inch figures as the reference.

What your shop needs before the truck arrives

Power. The Hofmann pair is the only 115V package here; both machines are listed at 115V, single phase, 60 Hz. The APEX AT26 and AT26A run a 1.5 HP motor at 110 or 208-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, and the AB28 is listed at 115-230V, 50/60 Hz, single phase, with other voltage options available on request. The Ranger package is 220V on both machines: the R80EX motor is 230 VAC, 60 Hz, single phase, 2.2 kW, with a power cord of about 137.79 in. (11 ft 6-1/4 in.), and the LS45DS drive motor is 220 VAC, 7A, 50/60 Hz, single phase, 0.55 kW.

Air. Every changer here needs shop air; none of the three balancers lists an air requirement. The R80EX, AT26 and AT26A all call for 140-165 PSI, and the monty 1270 for 116-174 PSI (8-12 bar). Compressor capacity is not stated on these listings.

Space and ceiling. The monty 1270 measures 68 x 47 x 49 in. (H x W x D), the geodyna 7100 59 x 51.5 x 52 in. (H x W x L). The LS45DS is 54 in. wide, 39 in. deep with the cover up and 40 in. with it down, and 53 in. tall with the guard down but 75 in. with the guard up, so plan clearance for the raised hood; shipping weight is 398 lb. The AT26, AT26A and AB28 listings do not publish overall dimensions, so consult the model spec sheet before committing to a bay layout. The LS45DS working temperature range prints Fahrenheit and Celsius figures that do not correspond, so confirm it in the manual if your bay is unheated.

Delivery. All four packages are listed with free shipping. The Ranger and APEX listings state that unloading the freight is the buyer's responsibility, so have a forklift or a lift gate arranged, and both note that sales tax is charged in California.

Certifications declared on these listings

These product pages declare no ALI, ETL, OSHA or ASME certification for any of the four packages. If a certification is a requirement for your facility, ask before ordering and we will confirm it with the manufacturer. What the listings do carry is a California Prop 65 warning on the Ranger and APEX packages and on the R80EX, LS45DS, AT26, AT26A and AB28 pages.

Machine-by-machine comparison

The four packages side by side

Frequently asked questions

Does a package cost less than buying the two machines separately?

At the prices listed on this site today, yes, on all four. The AT26 ($3,195) plus the AB28 ($2,695) totals $5,890 against a package price of $5,495. The AT26A ($3,595) plus the AB28 totals $6,290 against $5,995. The R80EX ($11,095) plus the LS45DS ($6,095) totals $17,190 against $16,795, and that package also includes the tape weight roll set. The monty 1270 and geodyna 7100 are each listed at $4,778.74, or $9,557.48 for the pair, against a package listing of $6,701.52. Check the product pages before ordering, since listed prices change.

Do I need a 220V circuit for a tire machine and balancer combo?

Only for the Ranger package. The R80EX is listed at 230 VAC and the LS45DS at 220 VAC, so that combo needs a 220V single-phase supply. The monty 1270 and geodyna 7100 are both 115V. The AT26 and AT26A accept 110 or 208-240 VAC and the AB28 is listed at 115-230V, so the APEX packages suit a shop without a 220V circuit ready.

What size wheels will these combos handle?

Match the changer and the balancer separately, because their ranges differ. The R80EX clamps rims from 13 to 34 in. internally, but the LS45DS covers 12 to 24 in., so 24 in. is the practical ceiling for that package as shipped. The APEX packages clamp 12 to 24 in. inside on the changer and balance 12 to 28 in. on the AB28. The monty 1270 tops out at a 20 in. rim, while the geodyna 7100 takes 8 to 32 in. rims entered manually.

What is the difference between the APEX AT26 and the AT26A?

The AT26A adds a pneumatic assist tower that steadies stiff, low-profile and heavy tire assemblies and holds the bead in the drop center while the tire goes on. Both share the same 1.5 HP motor, 140-165 PSI air requirement, four-clamp internal and external clamping, dual pneumatic cylinder table clamping and published capacities. If the work is mostly low-profile performance tires or heavy light-truck rubber, the assist arm is the reason to step up.

Which balancer places weight most precisely?

The LS45DS reads in 0.01 oz. (0.25 g) increments and adds Laser-Spot placement plus tiered indicators for split-weight and behind-the-spoke work. The AB28 reads in 0.25 oz. (5 g) increments with a stated accuracy of 0.035 oz. and LED rolling indicators. The geodyna 7100 offers a split weight mode for hiding weight behind spokes.

Is shipping included, and who unloads the machines?

All four packages are listed with free shipping. On the Ranger and APEX packages the listings state that unloading the freight at your location is the buyer's responsibility, so arrange a forklift or request a lift-gate delivery; the Hofmann listing does not state a delivery condition, so confirm it when you call. Call 800-562-4791 and we will match the changer and balancer to the wheel sizes, voltage and floor space you actually have.