Step by step guide to changing a wheel on your car. How to change a wheel on the road?

Someone might say that changing a wheel is such a trivial task that it makes no sense to write and talk about it. Nothing more bad! During such a seemingly trivial action, many mistakes can be made, which sometimes end in reaming the screw or lead to the replacement of the hub. How to avoid trouble? Learn the steps to change wheels and know when to be especially vigilant. Read!

Changing a tire on a car - when is it necessary?

Unscrewing the wheel is necessary for many service work and when replacing elements in the car Every look at the condition of brake pads, discs and drums requires disassembly of the wheel. Replacing suspension components also involves removing the rim. In addition, a wheel change occurs when a tire punctures while driving, but most often it is carried out with the approach of winter or summer. Therefore, it is necessary to master the ability to properly remove and install wheels so as not to damage the bolts and threads.

Changing a wheel on a car - what can go wrong?

Performing repairs on unstable ground may cause the jack or jack to move and the vehicle may fall onto the hub. It is necessary to remember about the preparation of the base, because negligence can result not only in damage, but also in the loss of health of the person performing the repair.

Wheel replacement and mounting bolts

Replacing a wheel also involves the risk of breaking the mounting bolts. This situation usually occurs when unscrewing the elements, when they were screwed too much and additionally “caught” some corrosion. On the other hand, over-tightening very soft rims can damage the rim itself. Other notable cases of problems after a wheel is incorrectly installed include:

• the need for threaded holes and screws;
• crooked fit in the centering hole and wheel runout;
• the need to replace the hub due to the complete destruction of the thread.

Changing a wheel on a car step by step. Pull out the jack, wedge and wheel wrench!

So that you can avoid many of the complications mentioned above, we provide detailed instructions. Changing the wheel in accordance with these recommendations will ensure trouble-free driving. The condition is compliance with the instructions. Check out how to change a wheel in a car!

Park the vehicle on a suitable surface on the side of the road or in a parking lot and secure the wheels with wedges.

When we talk about a suitable surface, we always mean a hard and level surface. It is best to park the car on some fragment of a concrete platform, cobblestones or asphalt. It doesn't matter what substrate. It is important that the vehicle is not tilted to any side and that the jack or jack can bear the weight of the vehicle steadily without sinking into the ground. Leave the car in gear and additionally place unscrewed blocking wedges or solid blocks under the wheels, for example, in the form of bricks or stones. This is a must before you start changing the wheel. If you need to change a tire on a car on the side of the road, be sure to turn on your hazard warning lights and put up a warning triangle.

Loosen the bolts before lifting the vehicle.

This is of great importance, because they can be very strongly captured inside the threads. A wheel suspended in the air will spin. Leaving it on the handbrake or gearbox and trying to loosen the bolts can end badly. Therefore, it is best to loosen each screw before lifting the vehicle. To do this, prepare an impact wrench or a wrench recommended by the manufacturer and take an extension in the form of a steel pipe. It will be easier for you if you make a longer lever for unscrewing. Be careful when stepping on the wrench as you may damage the screw and tool!

Replacing the spare wheel - place a jack or jack under it and remove the bolts

Changing a wheel always requires lifting car.

1. On the threshold of the car, find a place prepared by the manufacturer to place the base of the jack. 
2. Try to place it in such a way that, after unscrewing, it is as close to a vertical position as possible.
3. As soon as you raise the car, stop when there is room between the tread and the ground to put your fingers in. 
4. Then unscrew the screws one at a time, leaving the last one at the very bottom or at the top. 
5. If, after disassembly, the wheel does not want to be removed from the center hole, lightly tap the tire on the profile and it will be removed.

Replacing a wheel in a car - cleaning and assembly

Before installing a new wheel, you should look at the mounting bolts. It is good to clean them with a wire brush, and if their condition is badly damaged, it is best to replace the screws with new ones. However, this is usually not necessary. For wheel replacement and reassembly, the element must be placed in the centering hole and adjusted. discs so that the screws can be screwed into the hub. The bottom line is to tighten the screws with your fingers in order to accurately feel the resistance as they rotate. By putting them on the key, it is difficult to feel whether the wheel is installed in a plane perpendicular to the hub, and therefore it is easy to miss the threads.

What is equally important here? 

1. Always tighten the screws crosswise in a straight line. Otherwise, you may damage the bolt or hub. 
2. Never tighten them all the way until you've screwed them all in place. Do it gradually.

Self-changing a wheel - final tightening

After the initial tightening of the bolts, when you can no longer tighten them with one hand, you can leave the car. Now you will need a wrench extension. Remember that a wheel change must be completed with proper wheel bolting to ensure safe driving. It is easy to overdo it here, especially if you take a very long pipe. Therefore, one 50 cm long is usually optimal. Tighten the screws crosswise until you feel a strong resistance.

Is it difficult to change a tire on a car?

If you are experienced enough, changing a wheel will take you less time than reading this text. It's very simple, but poor execution can cost you a lot of nerves. Many people have broken a screw when tightening or loosening it. Sometimes the car fell off the jack or rolled because it was not secured with wedges. Often, it is impossible to do without tightening the mounting screws after improper assembly. Therefore, it is better to follow our instructions and, most importantly, do the work carefully and calmly.

You may not be using our wheel replacement tips right now, but in the event of a puncture, knowledge can be important. Remember the most important rules. Also make sure your spare tire is inflated and that you have a warning triangle, a set of wrenches and a jack in the trunk of your car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the wheels on my car myself?

Of course! This is not a difficult task - you just need to follow a few basic steps and have the right tools. Park the vehicle on a level surface and use the jack to raise it to the desired height. Then, using an impact wrench and extension, remove the wheel, put on a new one, tighten the bolts properly, lower the car to the ground, tighten the rims. Repeat these steps for each wheel.

How much does it cost to change tires 2022?

In the case of rims up to 16 inches in diameter, the cost of replacing and balancing wheels is between 65 and 10 euros per set. The cost of replacing tires with wheel balancing (with steel rims with a diameter of 19 inches) is between 80 and 12 euros.

How long does it take to change wheels?

A standard wheel replacement (without damage and the need to replace other components) takes about half an hour.