Tyre Technician Kaiwhakamau Taea

Tyre technicians remove, repair and fit tyres for all types of vehicles. They also advise customers on different types of tyres, and check and adjust vehicle wheel alignment.

Tyre technicians may do some or all of the following:

  • assess tyre damage and wear
  • advise customers on tyres
  • drive vehicles onto hoists or jacks in preparation for tyre removal and repair
  • change, repair or fit tyres
  • balance and pressure-test tyres
  • align wheels
  • test-drive vehicles to diagnose problems and make sure they've been fixed
  • check and safely shelve new and retread tyres.

Physical Requirements

Tyre technicians need to be reasonably fit, healthy and strong as they spend a lot of time lifting tyres and working under and around vehicles.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for tyre technicians includes:

  • work with vehicles
  • general mechanical work
  • tyre retailing
  • customer service.

Personal Qualities

Tyre technicians need to be:

  • able to work well in a team or alone
  • good at customer service
  • practical
  • honest and reliable
  • motivated and good at solving problems.

Skills

Tyre technicians need to have knowledge of:

  • different types of tyres, tubes, rims and accessories
  • the construction of tyres
  • tyre removal and fitting techniques
  • vehicle parts
  • operating machinery and manual working tools such as a hoist, grinder and compressor
  • New Zealand Transport Agency regulations
  • health and safety regulations.

Conditions

Tyre technicians:

  • usually work regular business hours but may do shift work, weekend work, and attend emergency call-outs
  • work in tyre-fitting workshops and may work from a service vehicle to attend breakdowns.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a tyre technician. However, maths, English and construction and mechanical technologies are useful.

Tyre Technicians can earn around $22-$26 per hour.

Pay for tyre technicians varies depending on experience, but they usually earn between $22 and $26 an hour.

Source: Automotive Employment NZ Ltd, 2020.

Tyre technicians usually start out fitting tyres, then progress into wheel alignment work as they gain experience.

Tyre technicians may also move into supervisory or managerial roles.

Years Of Training

There are no specific requirements to become a tyre technician as you gain skills on the job. However, most employers require you to have a driver's licence.

Tyre Technician