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 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
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. Buy it
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. Without them, it’s a frustrating paperweight
This is where cheap changers fail, but the Companion HDTC excels. The foot-operated bead breaker has a long handle that provides significant mechanical advantage. Breaking beads on P265 tires (SUVs) requires some effort, but it’s manageable. For tractor or skid-steer tires, it’s genuinely impressive.