Manual Tire Changer

Who a manual tire changer actually fits

Three situations come up over and over with these machines.

The shop that keeps turning away small tire work. The CH-22 listing frames it as the machine that lets a shop stop turning away small tire and wheel business. It is described as designed for lawn and garden and motor sport wheels, and as accommodating most wheels including open hub and bearing wheels.

The mobile operator, and the working garage with no spare circuit, no compressor, or no room. None of the five listings specifies an electrical supply, a voltage, or a compressed air requirement. The Ranger RWS-3TC is described on its listing as portable, with a base of 15 in. x 18 in. (381 mm x 457 mm), a footprint you can carry to the wheel rather than bring the wheel to it.

The specialist wheel. The CH-22 listing states that it accommodates most wheels including open hub and bearing wheels.

The two machines, and how they differ

Ranger RWS-3TC Manual Tire Changer

The RWS-3TC is the one listing in this category that publishes a numeric size range. Its specification table gives a tire capacity of 8 in. to 7.5 in. x 16 in. (203 mm to 191 mm x 406 mm) and a wheel plate diameter of 7.5 in. (191 mm), on a 15 in. x 18 in. (381 mm x 457 mm) base. The description states that it performs both mounting and bead breaking operations, so bead breaking is built into this unit rather than added on. Construction is described as heavy steel. The Ranger RWS-3TC listing describes efficient operation at a fraction of the cost. Shipping weight is listed at 40 lbs. (18 kg) and shipping dimensions at 38 in. x 9 in. x 9 in. (965 mm x 229 mm x 229 mm), so it arrives as a long, narrow package.

Two practical notes carried on that listing: it is marked with a California Proposition 65 warning, and Ranger charges sales tax in California. The listing also states that unloading the freight at the delivery location is the buyer's responsibility. Of the five items in this category, the Ranger RWS-3TC is the only one flagged for free shipping on its product record; the four TSI items are not, so budget freight separately for those.

TSI CH-22 Manual Tire Changer

The CH-22 takes the opposite approach. It does not publish a rim diameter range. Instead the listing sets its boundary in words, and it is a hard one: not for passenger tires or larger. It is described as designed for lawn and garden and motor sport wheels, and it ships with the patented CH-4 Mongoose tire tool. Its specification table gives a weight of 26 lbs. and dimensions of 24 in. x 20 in. x 4 in.

The CH-22 is published at 24 in. x 20 in. x 4 in. Its listing offers the CH-23 stand and the 6192 floor plate as optional accessories, sold separately, and the CH-23 listing says either unit mounts on top of it for a complete tire changing station.

One discrepancy is worth knowing. The CH-22 specification table states 26 lbs., while the catalog weight field on the same product reads 28 lbs. The listing does not explain the difference, so confirm the figure with us before booking freight.

Building the CH-22 into a complete tire changing station

The CH-22 by itself is a changer. The three accessories in this category are how it becomes a workstation, and each one adds a specific capability rather than just convenience.

CH-23 Stand for CH-22 (26 in. x 18 in. x 12 in., 46 lbs.). This is the important one, and the reason is easy to miss. The CH-23 listing states that the stand includes a bead breaker for breaking difficult tire beads, along with a leverage bar for the bead breaking attachment. The CH-22 listing itself does not list a bead breaker. So if you are buying the CH-22 and you expect to break beads, the bead breaker arrives with the CH-23 stand, not with the changer. The stand adds storage areas and, per its listing, takes either unit mounted on top for a complete tire changing station. Its published dimensions are 26 in. x 18 in. x 12 in.; no working height is published, so confirm it against the model's own manual if bench height matters.

6192 CH-23 Floor Plate (40 in. x 28 in. x 2 in., 40 lbs.). Sold on its own as a floor plate accessory for the CH-23.

CH-22 ACC Accessory Package (49 in. x 4 in. x 28 in., 47 lbs.). A three-part kit. It includes a non-skid floor plate described as 2 ft. x 2 1/2 ft., which the listing says the CH-23 mounts onto for a compact tire changing station, and it specifically states there is no need to anchor the plate to the floor. It includes a Mini Mongoose kit, a smaller version of the standard Mongoose plus a shorter center post, for mounting and demounting smaller tube type or tubeless tires such as the 4 in. And it includes two wheel protectors, one for mounting and one for demounting, for use with the standard Mongoose tire tool.

Note that the ACC kit's plate and the standalone 6192 plate are described at different sizes, 2 ft. x 2 1/2 ft. for the kit versus 40 in. x 28 in. x 2 in. for the 6192. They are not the same part, so order by model number rather than by the words "floor plate."

The only numeric machine capacity published in this category is the Ranger RWS-3TC, at 8 in. to 7.5 in. x 16 in. Separately, the CH-22 ACC kit's Mini Mongoose is described for smaller tube type or tubeless tires such as the 4 in.; that is an example given on the kit listing, not a published minimum for the category.

Specification comparison

Prices reflect the listings as published; the current figure is always the one shown on the individual product page.

What you need to install and run one

Power and air: not published. No listing in this category specifies a voltage, a circuit, or a compressed air supply. These are described as manual, hand-operated machines, but if your installation depends on a utility requirement, confirm it against the model's own manual before ordering.

Floor: the only anchoring statement published in this category is on the CH-22 ACC kit, which says its non-skid plate does not need to be anchored to the floor. The Ranger RWS-3TC lists a 15 in. x 18 in. base but does not publish an anchoring requirement, and the CH-23 stand does not publish one either. If your installation depends on whether a unit bolts down, confirm it against the model's own manual before ordering.

Space and working height: plan around the footprints above, plus clear swing room for the arc of the lever. The CH-22 is published at 24 in. x 20 in. x 4 in., and its listing offers the CH-23 stand and the 6192 floor plate as optional accessories, sold separately; no working height is published for any item in this category.

Documentation: the Ranger RWS-3TC listing carries a downloadable manual. The CH-22 carries a manual and a flyer. The CH-23 carries two downloads, a parts and assembly document and a manual. Neither the CH-22 ACC accessory package nor the 6192 floor plate lists a download.

Certifications, warranty and freight

Be clear about what is and is not claimed here. None of these five listings declares ALI, ETL, ASME or OSHA certification. The one regulatory notice published in this category is the California Proposition 65 warning on the Ranger RWS-3TC. Confirm any certification requirement in writing for your specific model before purchase.

Warranty terms are published and differ by brand. The four TSI items carry a standard one year limited manufacturer warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, for the original purchaser, with TSI repairing or replacing at its option. TSI covers shipping to and from its facility when a claim is approved in advance and confirmed as covered, and the purchaser covers shipping otherwise. Claims require proof of purchase showing the model number on an original dated sales receipt.

The Ranger RWS-3TC falls under the BendPak/Ranger shop equipment warranty, issued by BendPak/Ranger of Santa Paula, California, to the original purchaser. As published on the listing it runs twelve months on equipment structure, twelve months on operating components, and twelve months of covered ground freight charges related to warranty performance, starting from the date of purchase or twelve months from date of shipment, whichever comes first. It excludes damage from operating beyond rated capacity, and normal maintenance items.

On tax and delivery: Ranger charges sales tax in California. TSI charges sales tax in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota and Arizona. The Ranger listing states that unloading freight at the delivery location is the buyer's responsibility, which is worth arranging in advance even on a 40 lb. package.

Frequently asked questions

Can a manual tire changer handle passenger car tires?

Not across this category. The TSI CH-22 listing states directly that it is not for passenger tires or larger. The Ranger RWS-3TC publishes a capacity of 8 in. to 7.5 in. x 16 in., so a small rim can fall inside its published range. Its listing describes it as suited to home or shop use. For steady, high-volume passenger work, the Swing Arm Tire Changer or Tilt Back Tire Changer category is the place to look.

Do I need the CH-23 stand if I buy the CH-22?

The CH-23 is listed as an optional accessory, not a requirement. What it does add is a bead breaker and its leverage bar, which the CH-22 listing does not include. If bead breaking is part of your work and you are building around the CH-22, the stand is the part that supplies it.

What is the difference between the CH-22 ACC package and the 6192 floor plate?

The 6192 is a floor plate on its own. The CH-22 ACC is a three-part kit: a non-skid plate described as 2 ft. x 2 1/2 ft. that needs no floor anchoring, a Mini Mongoose kit with a shorter center post for smaller tube type or tubeless tires such as the 4 in., and two wheel protectors, one for mounting and one for demounting, for use with the standard Mongoose. If you want the smaller-tire capability, the ACC kit carries it.

Does any of this equipment need electricity or shop air?

No listing in this category specifies an electrical or compressed air requirement. These are hand-operated machines, which is why they suit mobile service and shops without spare circuits or compressor capacity.

What is the Mongoose tire tool?

The Mongoose is the patented CH-4 tire tool included with the TSI CH-22. The CH-22 ACC package adds a Mini Mongoose, described as a smaller version with a shorter post for smaller tube type or tubeless tires such as the 4 in., plus two wheel protectors, one for mounting and one for demounting, to be used with the standard Mongoose tire tool.

Is anything here suitable for truck or agricultural wheels?

No. The published limits in this category top out at a 16 in. rim on the Ranger RWS-3TC, and the CH-22 is bounded below passenger size. Heavy duty truck, bus and agricultural work belongs to the Heavy Duty Tire Changers category. If you are unsure which machine matches the wheels you service, send us the rim diameter, rim width and tire sizes you handle most often and we will point you to the right equipment.