Robot technology is moving into the service bay.

Detroit-based robotics and automation company RoboTire reports that it’s first robot tire changing system has been installed in a working service bay.

The Discount Tire store in Fountain Hills, Arizona, is now the first location in North America to install and operate a RoboTire tire changing system.

U.S. retailer Discount Tire has more than 1,100 stores in the U.S. and is an investor in RoboTire.

“At Discount Tire, our priority is to continually innovate on the services we offer to give the best possible experience to our customers,” said Tom Williams, chief experience officer at Discount Tire.

“We are excited to be the first to market in our space with RoboTire’s technology. With our Discount Tire expert people operating RoboTire systems, we will make the workplace safer and the experience easier as we hope to continue to reduce customer wait times and take care of more and more customers.”   

RoboTire installed the fourth generation of its tire changing system at the Discount Tire store.

Systems from RoboTire, which are manufactured in the U.S., use machine learning, artificial intelligence, high-definition cameras, proprietary software, and advanced robotics to change four tires on a passenger vehicle in less than 25 minutes.

RoboTire can be integrated into tire shop operations, and RoboTire provides operator training for a service center’s current tire technicians.

Information from RoboTire says the system will help to reduce technician injuries that can occur with repetitive heavy lifting.

Earlier statements from RoboTire indicate the systems running about $250,000 USD, putting it squarely in the realm of high volume tire shops.

Victor Darolfi, RoboTire founder and chief executive officer, said, “Discount Tire has been a proven leader in the tire and wheel industry for more than 60 years. We are excited to expand our partnership with them to enhance safety and efficiency in their stores and help increase the number of customers that can be serviced on any given day. RoboTire’s systems will drastically change how tire stores and service centers like Discount Tire approach changing tires, employee and vehicle safety, and customer satisfaction.”

Discount Tire is an investor in RoboTire, which closed its Series A in late 2021. RoboTire is ramping up manufacturing at its Plymouth, Michigan, headquarters and will be scaling the delivery of systems throughout North America in the coming months.

For more information, visit robotire.com.

Steve Greenfield, CEO/Founder at Automotive Ventures, LLC, also an investor in RoboTire, posted a video of the system in operation on LinkeIn. Watch it HERE