Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Tire Technician
What tire technicians actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a tire technician?
Open the bays. From there, the day usually includes mount and dismount tires, balance wheels, and repair punctures. Full time, including Saturdays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a tire technician working full time.
- Open the bays.
- Mount four tires.
- Patch a punctured tire.
- Balance wheels.
- Reset TPMS sensors.
- Run a road service call on a truck.
- Clean the shop.
Where tire technicians work
Technicians work in tire shops, dealerships and on the road.
Hours and schedule
Full time, including Saturdays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Mount and dismount tires
- Balance wheels
- Repair punctures
- Rotate tires
- Check tread and pressure
- Reset TPMS sensors
- Torque lug nuts
Tools you’ll use every day
- Tire changers
- Wheel balancers
- Impact wrenches
- Torque wrenches
- TPMS tools
- Lifts
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Short training
- Many openings
- Active work
- Entry to auto careers
What’s hard
- Low pay
- Physical work
- Heat and cold
- Repetitive tasks
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I like hands-on work
- I’m strong and active
- I want short training
- I like cars
- I work fast
- I want to start an auto career
Not sure? Take the free Tire Technician fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use inflation cages for large tires
- Use lifts correctly
- Wear eye and hearing protection
- Lift safely