Mayflower Tire Changers: Choose Between 560, 980, 988 and 999
Mayflower’s current lineup ranges from a simple rim-clamp machine to assist-arm and tilt-back choices for more difficult tires. The right path depends on the wheel/tire envelope and the amount of bead-control help your shop actually needs.
Choose Mayflower by how much tire-handling assistance you need
Mayflower’s current lineup covers several price and workflow levels. The 560 is the straightforward rim-clamp path. The 980 with the 300 assist arm adds a much larger published tire envelope, bead-blast inflation and explicit low-profile/run-flat support. The 988 uses double assist arms, while the 999 moves to a tilt-back tower with an assist arm.
That makes the buying decision more useful than simply comparing horsepower. The current pages for all four machines publish 3.0 HP motors, but the clamping range, maximum tire size, assist layout and tower design are what change the work each machine is suited to handle.
Current Mayflower tire changers at a glance
| Model | Published wheel/tire range | Assist and bead seating | Best reason to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 560 | 10–18 in outside clamp; 12–21 in inside clamp; 35 in max tire diameter; 12 in max wheel width | Assist arm is sold separately; current 560 page does not present the machine as the assisted difficult-tire path | Lower-cost, simpler passenger-car rim-clamp work |
| 980 + 300 assist arm | 13–24 in outside clamp; 15–28 in inside clamp; 49 in max tire diameter; 13 in max wheel width | Single 300 assist arm, bead blast and explicit low-profile/run-flat support | Largest published tire envelope among these four current pages |
| 988 | 10–20 in outside clamp; 12–24 in inside clamp; 37 in max tire diameter; 12 in max wheel width | Double assist arms, bead blast and explicit low-profile/run-flat support | More bead control without moving to a tilt-back tower |
| 999 | 10–20 in outside clamp; 12–24 in inside clamp; 37 in max tire diameter; 12 in max wheel width | Single assist arm, bead blast and tilt-back tower; explicit low-profile/run-flat support | Faster wheel loading/unloading when the tilt-back layout suits the shop |
560 vs 980: the biggest capacity jump
The 560 and 980 are not just two prices for the same job. Mayflower publishes an 18-inch maximum outside clamp and 35-inch maximum tire diameter for the 560. The 980 with 300 assist arm moves to a 24-inch outside-clamp maximum and 49-inch maximum tire diameter, while also adding the bead-blast system and helper arm.
If your work stays inside ordinary passenger-car sizes and difficult tires are occasional, the 560 can be the more economical machine. If larger light-truck/SUV assemblies and low-profile or run-flat tires are normal work, the 980’s larger envelope and assist hardware are the more relevant differences.
Put the Mayflower 560 and 980 + 300 side by side
The exact-machine Compare tool makes the published clamp ranges, tire limits, shop air requirements and assist hardware easy to see together.
988 vs 999: double assist or tilt-back?
The current 988 and 999 pages publish the same 10–20 inch outside-clamp range, 12–24 inch inside-clamp range, 37-inch maximum tire diameter, 12-inch maximum wheel width, 110 V supply, 3.0 HP motor and 120–145 PSI operating pressure. The more meaningful difference is the machine layout.
The 988 keeps the swing-arm format and adds double assist arms. The 999 uses a tilt-back tower with an assist arm. Shops that want more bead-control hardware may prefer the 988 concept, while shops that value the loading clearance of a tilting tower may find the 999 workflow more natural.
Compressed air and freight belong in the purchase decision
Mayflower publishes 120–145 PSI operating pressure on these current machines. The 980, 988 and 999 also use an air reserve tank for bead-blast inflation. Before ordering, check that the shop compressor can deliver the required pressure at the machine and review the Tire Changer Air Supply Checker for the exact machines with enough published air data.
Mayflower’s current shipping policy also notes extra charges for residential delivery, farmland, construction sites, rural areas and lift-gate service. These machines weigh several hundred pounds, so unloading and placement should be included in the real installed cost rather than treated as an afterthought.
Packages can simplify ordering, but both machines still have to fit
Mayflower currently sells multiple changer-and-balancer packages built around the same machine families. A package may reduce shopping friction, but it does not make an undersized changer or balancer a better match. Use the Tire Equipment Package Matcher or the changer + balancer combo guide to evaluate the two sides separately.
Manufacturer sources
- Mayflower Single Tire Changers Current direct lineup and availability context.
- Mayflower 560 Current 560 clamping range, tire capacity, air requirement and motor specification.
- Mayflower 980 + 300 Assist Arm Current 980 capacity, assist-arm, bead-blast, power and freight information.
- Mayflower 988 Current double-assist specifications and published difficult-tire support.
- Mayflower 999 Current tilt-back layout, assist hardware, tire limits and shipping terms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the simplest current Mayflower tire changer path?
The 560 is the simpler current rim-clamp choice in this comparison. It publishes a 10–18 inch outside-clamp range, 12–21 inch inside-clamp range, 35-inch maximum tire diameter and 12-inch maximum wheel width.
Which Mayflower tire changer is the better fit for low-profile or run-flat work?
Mayflower explicitly describes the 980 with the 300 assist arm, the 988 double-assist machine and the 999 tilt-back assist machine for low-profile and run-flat work. The exact wheel and tire still need to be inside the machine’s published limits.
What is the main difference between the Mayflower 980 and 999?
The 980 with 300 assist arm emphasizes a larger published 13–24 inch outside-clamp range and 49-inch maximum tire diameter, while the 999 uses a tilt-back tower and publishes a 10–20 inch outside-clamp range with a 37-inch maximum tire diameter.
Can Mayflower tire changers be bought as changer and balancer packages?
Yes. Mayflower currently sells several changer-and-balancer combinations, including packages built around the 560, 980, 988 and 999. Evaluate the changer and balancer separately before choosing a package.