APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FITTING AND REMOVING A TYRE

An apparatus (1) for fitting and removing a tyre (2) to and from a corresponding rim (3) of a wheel (4) for a vehicle, comprises a wheel-holder unit (6) rotating about a first axis (A) which is vertically oriented, a column (8), having a vertical guide (10), a carriage (11), coupled to the vertical guide (10) to slide vertically, an arm (15) connected to the carriage (11); the apparatus (1) also comprises an operating head (16), pivotally connected to the arm (15), to rotate around a second axis (8), transversal to the first axis (A), and provided with a plurality of tools (18); each tool is operatively inserted between a bead of the tyre (2) and an annular edge of the rim (3) in a working position; the tools (18) are alternatively selectable by rotating the operating head (16) in respective operating configurations in which the tools (18) are positioned in the working position; the arm (15) is movably connected to the carriage (11) so that it can be moved between an active position, wherein the arm is oriented towards the first axis (A), and an inactive position, spaced from the active position away from the first axis (A).