Tyre vulcaniser
Also known as: tyre mender, tyre repairer, tyre technician, tire mender, tyre vulcanizer, tire vulcanizer
About this occupation
Tyre vulcanisers repair tears and holes in castings and treads of tyres by using handtools or machines.
A specialisation of rubber products machine operator.
Essential skills and knowledge
- ensure equipment availability
- apply rubber patches
- balance tyres
- wear appropriate protective gear
- clean tyres
- inspect worn tyres
- adjust vulcanizing machine
- rebuff tyre
- coat inside of tyres
- types of tyres
- prepare tyres for vulcanization
- clamp tyre into mould
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Tire Repairers and Changers (O*NET 49-3093.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Unbolt and remove wheels from vehicles, using lug wrenches or other hand or power tools.
- Place wheels on balancing machines to determine counterweights required to balance wheels.
- Identify tire size and ply and inflate tires accordingly.
- Raise vehicles, using hydraulic jacks.
- Reassemble tires onto wheels.
- Glue tire patches over ruptures in tire casings, using rubber cement.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Time Management, Active Listening, Service Orientation, Speaking, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control
US median pay: US$37,710 a year (2025), 108,410 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalVery important (4.0)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.3)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Tire Builders
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
- Motorcycle Mechanics
- Rail Car Repairers
- Bicycle Repairers
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
- Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.