Companion Hdtc Today

The unit comes with a heavy-gauge steel base plate and a solid central post. When bolted to a concrete floor (or a thick piece of plywood for portable use), it feels remarkably rigid. The bead breaker arm is cast iron and, so far, has handled rusted-on pickup truck tires without bending.

The center cone and three adjustable arms do a decent job holding a steel wheel, but clamping an aluminum/alloy wheel is nerve-wracking. The metal clamps can scratch soft alloys. You will need plastic rim protectors (sold separately) to avoid cosmetic damage. companion hdtc

Buy it. But also buy a set of tire spoons, rim protectors, and a bottle of Ru-Glyde lubricant. With those additions, the Companion HDTC will serve you for a decade. Without them, it’s a frustrating paperweight. The unit comes with a heavy-gauge steel base

Because you turn the wheel by hand using the pry bar, you have total feel for what the rubber and rim are doing. You won't accidentally gouge an alloy wheel with a power arm. For steel wheels, it’s practically foolproof. The Bad (Cons) 1. The "Duck's Head" is Clunky The tool uses a traditional "duck's head" (the wedge that goes between the tire and rim) attached to a long pry bar. It works, but it requires significant upper body strength. Mounting low-profile tires (45-series or less) on this machine is an act of willpower—and sometimes a few choice words. The center cone and three adjustable arms do