The tire-changing machine for fitting and removing vehicle wheels comprises a base frame for supporting gripping and rotating means for a vehicle wheel with a rim and a tire to be fitted/removed, an operating head operatively associated with the base frame and having at least a fitting/removal tool, operating means or actuators suitable for positioning the operating head in a work configuration in which the tool is arranged in contact against the tire substantially near the flange of the rim. The actuators are responsive to a processing and control unit which positions the operating head in the work configuration, so that the fitting/removal tools can fit, and/or remove, a tire from the rim of a vehicle wheel.