Every two years, it’s time to change the tires and wheels, get the tools out, and loosen the wheel nuts. Following the season, you must also install winter or summer tires. If you’re unsure when to change your tires, the experts advise sticking to the tried-and-true “O-to-E” method (October to Easter). This is a simple approach to ensure that you’re doing it correctly.
This places Easter as the official start of the summer tire season. At this time of year, the temperatures start to moderate. When the weather is consistently over seven degrees Celsius, the experts advise installing your summer tires. It’s time to switch to winter tires with the best car tire inflator starting in October.
Garages have extensive waiting lists for car gadgets during the busy season. But if you schedule a meeting in advance, you can take advantage of the knowledge that experts have to share.
Consult a garage for guidance if you are unaware of the suitable method for installing tires. Anyone who knows how to change tires can do it independently, as the professionals will detail in their step-by-step instructions.
You’ll Need These Tools to Change a Tire and Wheel
This equipment, which ranges from torque wrenches to impact wrenches, makes it simpler to change tires in your garage at home:
Auto Jack
A car jack is a necessary piece of your basic tire-changing kit. A car jack that can support at least two tonnes of weight is usually sufficient for tire changes at home. Here, the maximum lifting height is also critical. When you extend the jack fully, you get the actual height from the ground.
How come this is so crucial when changing tires? Short jacking of the car may result from using a jack with a lifting height that is too low for you. The result: Removing the tires and wheels is not possible. Before you purchase a car jack, you may locate the ideal lifting height for your automobile in the owner’s manual.
The Angled Wrench
The cross wrench is an additional essential tool for changing tires. After changing the tires and wheels, retighten the wheel nuts with the cross wrench. Cross wrenches for cars often have spanner widths corresponding to the most popular wheel nut sizes. Before purchasing, be sure the cross wrench is the right size for your wheel nuts.
Using a Torque Wrench
You will need a torque wrench if you want to change tires and wheels. It enables you to evaluate the tight fastening of the wheel bolts (or wheel nuts). This is crucial for both the wheel grip and the sitting. For each type of car, you can establish a specified torque value.
This is often between 110 Nm and 120 Nm, depending on the vehicle type, rims, and the number of bolts. The vehicle manual will tell you which value is ideal for your wheels. You cannot loosen wheel bolts; you can only tighten them using a torque wrench. It could damage the mechanism if you misuse it.
Metal Brush
You clean the wheel hub, and the axle using a wire brush to eliminate any loose rust and debris.
Grease Pencil
Mark the original placements of your tires and wheels with the grease pencil. When storing your winter or summer tires, keep this in mind. It’s preferable to use these acronyms:
Front Left: FL
Front Right: FR
Rear Left: RL
R = Right Rear
Gloves
Wear gloves whenever you change a tire and wheel. They will improve your grip on the tools. Also, prevent tenacious brake dust from getting under your fingernails and your hands.
Tire Replacement Using Tire Pressure Sensors
In some circumstances, it is best to get a mechanic in a garage who will change the tires. Suppose your vehicle has a direct tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). In this instance, automakers have embedded sensitive sensors into your tires. These sensors detect the actual air pressure and transmit the readings straight to the control unit.
The system will alert you when to adjust the air pressure if it is too low. Only a professional should change your tires if you have a direct TPMS on board. They will ensure you use fresh wheels and check the sensors in the tires and wheels.
A TPMS system allows you to replace your tires even if you drive without sensors. All that you need to do in this circumstance is to adhere to the user manual’s instructions. Following these recommendations, you may change your tires without any issues.
However, having a professional do this is a good idea. This is since you cannot balance the tires in a home garage. You must also identify whether your tires are symmetric or asymmetric in structure. This will affect how you should mount them. If unsure, consulting a knowledgeable garage is a good idea for tire and wheel-related worries.
Also Read: What You Need To Know About Automotive Parts Cleaning?