COATS RC55E Electric Motorcycle Tire Changer w/ RoBo Arm

The RC55E uses a 115V, 1 HP electric motor to drive the turntable, while the air model (part number 85609950) uses a 1.5 HP pneumatic motor operating at 110-175 PSI. Both configurations are identical in rim capacity, tire diameter range, footprint, Robo-Arm capability, and bead sealing system. The RC55E is the better choice when shop layout makes routing a high-pressure air drive line to the changer station inconvenient, or when the shop wants to minimize compressor load. Note that shop air is still required on the RC55E for the bead loosener, rim clamps, bead sealing jets, and inflation system - only the turntable drive motor is electric.

The RC55E requires a dedicated 115V, 60Hz, 15-amp single-phase circuit. This is a standard North American outlet voltage, so most shops will not need to upgrade their electrical panel. The circuit should be dedicated to the machine - sharing it with other equipment can cause nuisance tripping under motor load. A licensed electrician should install and verify the supply before the machine is placed in service. The machine's part number for the electric configuration is 85609950 01.

Yes. The electric motor on the RC55E drives only the turntable rotation. Shop compressed air is still required to operate the foot-controlled bead loosening cylinder, the four-point air cylinder rim clamps, the built-in bead sealing jets, and the 3.4-gallon bead seating reservoir in the tower. The air supply must be clean and dry - the onboard water filter/lubricator must be maintained regularly, and failures caused by air contamination are not covered under warranty.

The RC Robo-Arm is a power-assist attachment that holds the upper tire bead in the wheel's drop center during mounting, so the technician does not need to manually maintain bead position while guiding the mount/demount tool around the rim. It is essential for low-profile tires (45-series and below) and run-flat tires, which have stiff sidewalls that resist seating in the drop center. Because a large and growing share of OE vehicles now come equipped with these tire types, the Robo-Arm is a practical daily-use feature rather than a specialty add-on.

The RC55E handles external rim diameters from 6" to 24", internal rim diameters from 10" to 27", rim widths up to 10.5" (267 mm), and a maximum overall tire diameter of 50" (1,270 mm). This range covers the full spectrum of passenger car and light truck tires, including modern SUV and crossover fitments with larger diameter wheels. It is not rated for medium or heavy-duty commercial truck tires - those applications require a dedicated heavy-duty tire changer.

The RC55E has a chassis footprint of 35" wide by 44" deep, with a height of 70". This is notably more compact than many competing full-size changers that exceed 50" in width and depth. In addition to the machine's own footprint, allow adequate clearance on all sides for technician movement and for the manual swing arm to rotate freely - a minimum of 36" of open clearance on the working side is recommended. The floor surface must be level and capable of supporting the machine's operating weight.

The RC55E is covered by Coats' RC Series Limited Warranty: 1 year on parts, 6 months on labor and on-site service charges, and a 5-year pro-rated transmission warranty (full coverage years 1-3; customer pays 60% of list part price in years 3-4 and 80% in years 4-5). The warranty is non-transferable, applies to the original purchaser only, and covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use. It does not cover misuse, abuse, neglect, unauthorized modifications, air contamination damage, or wear items. For warranty service, contact Coats at 1-800-688-9240.

The RC55E ships as a complete, ready-to-operate unit including the RC Robo-Arm assembly, Coats Duckhead mount/demount tool, built-in bead sealing jets, 3.4-gallon bead seating reservoir, integrated inflation gauge (0-60 PSI with pressure limiter), air supply gauge (0-300 PSI), water filter/lubricator, tire bar, and operator's manual. Optional accessories including protective clamp covers, bead loosener socks, and nylon mount/demount heads are available separately and are recommended for shops servicing alloy wheels.

The RC55E ships via LTL freight to commercial addresses in the 48 contiguous United States at no additional charge. The machine weighs 620 lbs and requires a forklift or loading dock at the delivery location for safe unloading - liftgate service is not included in standard free freight. Curbside delivery is standard. Inspect all cartons carefully for freight damage before signing the bill of lading and note any visible damage on the delivery receipt before the driver departs. Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, and international addresses are excluded from free freight.

The primary difference between the RC55E and the RC45E is external rim diameter capacity. The RC45E handles external rim diameters up to 21", while the RC55E extends that range to 24" - making the RC55E the better choice for shops that regularly service larger light truck and SUV wheel packages. Both share the same compact 35" x 44" chassis footprint, 115V electric motor, RC Robo-Arm capability, and built-in bead sealing jet system. For shops whose mix is primarily standard passenger car sizes up to 21", the RC45E is a cost-effective option; for broader coverage including oversized wheel fitments, the RC55E is the recommended choice.

Yes. The RC55E's integrated inflation system includes a pressure limiter on the 60 PSI inflation gauge, which helps prevent over-inflation that can damage TPMS sensors or trigger fault codes. The four-point rim clamping system and adjustable manual swing arm allow technicians to position the Duckhead tool away from sensor locations on the rim. Coats offers compatible wheel protectors as optional accessories for additional safeguarding against metal-to-metal contact near sensor mounting positions. Technicians should reference the vehicle's TPMS sensor placement before beginning each procedure.

Routine maintenance includes draining and inspecting the onboard water filter/lubricator regularly, lubricating the bead loosener pivot and swing arm pivot points, inspecting the drive belt for wear, and cleaning the turntable and clamp surfaces. The water filter is particularly important on the RC55E - contaminated air is a leading cause of pneumatic component failure and is not covered under warranty. Wear items including clamp inserts, bead loosener pads, nylon mount/demount heads, and wheel protectors should be inspected periodically and replaced as needed. Refer to the RC45/RC55 Operation Manual for the full recommended maintenance schedule.