Car wheel: operation, maintenance and price

The wheels of your vehicle are in contact with the road. They are made up of different elements: rims, caps, hubs, valves, counterweights and tires. Your car has different types of car wheels: drive and steer. You can also have a spare tire.

🚗 What is a car wheel made of?

Your car's wheels are the part of your car that is in contact with the road. Thanks to the engine and mechanical system of the car, they allow it to move forward and move. A car wheel consists of the following components:

• Wheel disks : they are also called rims. This is the part to which all other parts are attached. The rims are mostly metal and come in a variety of shapes.
• . caps : This part is not on all cars, because its main function is to make your wheels more beautiful. Caps make it possible, for example, to hide screws or nuts.
• Le hub : it is located in the middle of the rim and allows the connection of the wheel and the motor axle.
• La valve : Maintains the tire pressure at an optimal level. It is through the valve that nitrogen and air pass.
• Counterweights : the task of counterweights is to balance the wheels so that the driver does not feel all the vibrations while driving. Lead counterweights; you will find them on the rims of your wheels.
• Le tire : Tires provide a connection between the wheel and the ground. To find out all about your car tires, we invite you to check out our article on car tires.

🔎 How does a car wheel work?

The car is equipped with different types of wheels:

• Driving wheels;
• Steering wheels;
• Spare wheel optional.

One Drive wheel the wheel to which the engine power is transmitted. It is this wheel that keeps your car moving. The drive wheels are placed either at the front (front-wheel drive vehicles) or at the rear (rear-wheel drive vehicles).

In some cars, all four wheels are driven: these cars are then called four-wheel drive.

. steering wheels not directly connected to the engine, but to the flywheel. Thus, the steered wheels allow you to transfer the direction that the driver sets them by turning the steering wheel. Most often, the steered wheels are located at the front of the car.

La spare wheel, as the name suggests, is designed to help motorists in the event of an accident on one of the other wheels while driving. The spare wheel is usually found in the trunk of your car.

⚙️ What is the torque of the car wheel?

For the correct installation of the car wheel, it is important that the bolts are tightened with an accurate torque: this is called Torque... Therefore, when you are about to tighten the wheel bolt on the hub so that it is properly locked, the force you apply to the bolt will depend on the tightening torque that will be applied to the nut.

The tightening torque is expressed in Newton meter (Nm)... Simply put, the ideal tightening torque will be determined based on the size of the bolt, but also on the materials used to assemble the various parts.

There are data that can be applied in most cases to steel rims, which are the most common:

• For bolt 10 mm : tightening torque = 60 Nm about.
• For bolt 12 mm : tightening torque = 80 Nm about.
• For bolt 14 mm : tightening torque = 110 Nm about.

🔧 How to change a car wheel?

In the event of a puncture, you can change the wheel of the car yourself in order to start again. This will allow you to continue driving to the garage without getting stuck on the side of the road. Changing a wheel is done using a special wrench, which is usually included with the spare wheel.

Required material:

• Spare wheel
• socket
• Key

Step 1. Install the car

Stop in an open and, above all, safe place. Do not change a car wheel, for example, on the side of a motorway. Engage the handbrake, put on your yellow vest, and position the safety triangle upstream to alert other motorists.

Slide the jack next to the wheel to be replaced where there is a mark on your body. Raise the car.

Step 2: remove the wheel

Using the wrench supplied with the spare wheel, loosen the nuts by turning them counterclockwise. You can use your leg for more strength.

We recommend that you start unscrewing the nuts on the ground before raising the vehicle, and then finish removing them after the vehicle has been jacked up. Finish removing the nuts and remove the wheel.

Step 3: Install the new wheel

Place the new wheel on its axle and tighten the nuts with a wrench until they stop, this time clockwise. Lower the vehicle with the jack and complete the tightening as soon as the vehicle is on the ground.

💰 What is the cost of replacing a car wheel?

The cost of replacing a wheel depends on which part of the wheel you need to replace. In some cases it will be necessary to replace the tire, but it could also be a wheel hub, wheel bearing, etc.

All of these interventions have different costs depending on the make and model of your vehicle. On average, count 75 € on a new tire. To replace the wheel hub, count From 100 to 300 €... For a wheel bearing, the price can go from 50 to 80 € about.

So you know everything about your car wheel! If this is a part well known to motorists, you will realize that it is actually made up of different elements. To replace one of your car's wheels, feel free to use our garage comparator!