Mostly Resilient
Last Update: 7/31/2026
AI Resilience Score for Tire Repairers & Changers:
64.3%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
High
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forTire Repairers and Changers
$37,710 median salary•15,300 annual openings•SOC Code: 49-3093.00
Tire Repairers and Changers are somewhat more resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Tire repairing and changing is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because AI is changing how the work gets done rather than eliminating the need for humans altogether. New robotic systems like SmartBay can speed up routine tire swaps, but a human technician still needs to oversee the process, handle tricky or unusual vehicles, and make judgment calls that a machine cannot.
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Tire repairing and changing is labeled "Mostly Resilient" because AI is changing how the work gets done rather than eliminating the need for humans altogether. New robotic systems like SmartBay can speed up routine tire swaps, but a human technician still needs to oversee the process, handle tricky or unusual vehicles, and make judgment calls that a machine cannot.
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Tire Repairers & Changers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Tire Repairers & Changers jobs?
The biggest change in tire service hit the industry just this week. On May 12, 2026, a startup called Automated Tire, Inc. unveiled SmartBay, an AI-powered robotic platform that automates tire changes and vehicle inspections [1] using computer vision and machine learning. Unlike a traditional tire change, SmartBay leaves the wheel on the car [2], dismounting the tire directly from the rim — skipping the lug-nut step that takes the most labor.
Tire Business reports that the system could allow one tech to manage three service bays simultaneously [3], cutting a four-tire job from roughly an hour down to 30 minutes. Right now this is augmentation more than full automation: a human operator still removes the used tire, loads the new one, connects the air line, and mounts the balance weights [1]. Beyond the robot itself, dealerships are also adopting software AI for tire-tread inspection, inventory forecasting, and customer service — Modern Tire Dealer notes that AI adoption in tire retailing is moving faster than past tech waves [4] like online parts ordering.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Tire Repairers & Changers?
Adoption pressure is high because shops can't find enough workers. ATI points to a shortage of at least 37,000 new automotive technicians annually [5], and an industry recruiter notes the tire-tech gap is fueled by an aging workforce, low awareness of the career, and physically demanding conditions [6]. EVs are accelerating demand too, since electric vehicles wear through tires up to 30% faster [2].
Still, full adoption will take years: SmartBay just emerged from stealth, an earlier rival, RoboTire, filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy [1], and most independent shops can't afford new robotic bays overnight. The good news for young people: the human role is shifting toward overseeing machines, handling tricky vehicles, and doing higher-skill diagnostic work — ATI's CEO says the goal is to let technicians focus on more complicated vehicles and problems [5]. Hands-on judgment, customer trust, and mechanical curiosity remain very much in demand.
Sources
Will AI replace Tire Repairers & Changers?
No. We don't think AI will replace Tire Repairers and Changers, though we do expect the job to change.
The most visible shift arrived in May 2026, when Automated Tire, Inc. unveiled SmartBay, a robotic platform that can handle tire changes and vehicle inspections while letting one technician manage three bays at once [3]. That sounds alarming, but a human still loads tires, connects the air line, and mounts balance weights [1]. This is augmentation, not replacement. An earlier competitor, RoboTire, already filed for bankruptcy, which tells you full automation in this trade is harder and slower than headlines suggest.
What keeps this role standing is real, steady demand. The industry faces a shortage of at least 37,000 new automotive technicians every year [5], and electric vehicles wear through tires up to 30% faster than conventional cars [2], adding more work to the queue. That labor gap is exactly why our scorecard gives this career a 64.3% AI Resilience Score.
The honest picture: the job is shifting toward overseeing machines, handling tricky vehicles, and doing higher-skill diagnostic work [5]. Hands-on judgment and mechanical curiosity are not going away. If you are considering this path, learning to work alongside new tools is the move, not avoiding the field entirely.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Tire Repairers & Changers
As AI technology advances, articles highlight its potential to transform tire repair careers. For instance, robots that change and balance tires faster can enhance service efficiency, suggesting that traditional roles may evolve rather than disappear. While concerns about job loss exist, embracing AI tools can lead to improved customer interactions and opportunities for tire repairers to focus on more complex tasks. By adapting to these changes, aspiring professionals can build a resilient career in the automotive industry.
Tire Changing AI Robot Sparks Fears Over Blue-Collar Jobs
autos.yahoo.com • 5/17/2026
AI-powered tire-changing robots are raising fears over job losses in the automotive industry. ATI's new SmartBay system can reportedly...
A $4,900 Per Month AI Robot Is Coming For The $17-An-Hour Guy Who Changes Your Tires
www.carscoops.com • 5/16/2026
A new robotic tire system promises faster service and could reshape repair shops.
AI robot can change your tires in half the time
www.axios.com • 5/14/2026
AI is coming for one of America's dirtiest jobs: changing tires.
AI robot changes your tires and balances them too
cyberguy.com • 5/12/2026
An AI robot changes and balances tires while the wheel stays on the car, helping service visits move faster and safer.
Field service turns to AI to give technicians more time with customers
www.customerexperiencedive.com • 3/30/2026
AAA Roadside Assistance sped up its response time to customers by 5 minutes after deploying Salesforce's field service management software.
More Career Info
Career: Tire Repairers and Changers
They fix or replace car tires to ensure vehicles run smoothly and safely on the road.
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Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$37,710
Jobs (2024)
113,400
Growth (2024-34)
+5.7%
Annual Openings
15,300
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Glue tire patches over ruptures in tire casings, using rubber cement.
2
Seal punctures in tubeless tires by inserting adhesive material and expanding rubber plugs into punctures, using hand tools.
3
Separate tubed tires from wheels, using rubber mallets and metal bars or mechanical tire changers.
4
Clean and tidy up the shop.
5
Place tire casings and tread rubber assemblies in tire molds for the vulcanization process and exert pressure to ensure good adhesion.
6
Reassemble tires onto wheels.
7
Rotate tires to different positions on vehicles, using hand tools.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
