Club news

Changing your wheels yourself

Winter tyres are generally used between October and Easter, but the right time depends above all on the weather. Changing wheels takes a bit of experience. If you are unsure, leave the job to a specialist workshop. Otherwise, here is how to go about it.

Before you start: check your tyres

Take the opportunity to check:

The tread: 1.6 mm is the legal minimum, but ACL recommends at least 3 mm in summer and 4 mm in winter.
The age: look for the “DOT” code on the sidewall. A summer tyre loses effectiveness after about 6 years, a winter tyre after about 5.
Damage: cuts, bulges, uneven wear. A damaged tyre must be replaced.

Equipment

Stable jack
Wheel brace
Locking wheel nut key (if needed)
Wire brush
Special grease
Torque wrench
Air compressor

The steps


1	Park the vehicle on firm, level ground. Apply the handbrake and engage 1st gear (or put the selector in “P” on an automatic).
2	Remove the wheel trims if necessary, then slightly loosen the wheel bolts or nuts while the vehicle is still on the ground.
3	Position the jack at the lifting points specified by the manufacturer (see the owner’s manual).
4	Raise the vehicle until the wheel is clear, fully unscrew the bolts or nuts and remove the wheel. Place it under the vehicle as a safety precaution.
5	Clean the mounting surface with a wire brush and apply a very thin layer of grease. The brake disc must stay free of grease. Do not grease the wheel bolts.
6	Fit the new wheel and tighten by hand, with the tapered end towards the rim. Remove the old wheel from under the car, then lower the jack.
7	Tighten in a crisscross pattern with the torque wrench, to the torque specified in the vehicle manual. Refit the wheel trims.

Please note: winter tyres are often directional. An arrow on the sidewall indicates the rotation direction. Fit the tyres with the most tread on the rear axle, unless the sizes differ between front and rear.

Important: make sure all wheels are properly tightened.

After the change

Adjust the tyre pressure (shown on the sticker on the driver’s door pillar, inside the fuel flap or in the manual) and reset the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) if your vehicle has one.
Check the pressure at least every three weeks.
As a precaution, re-tighten the wheels after about fifty kilometres.

Storing your wheels

Wash the complete wheels to remove brake dust.
Inflate them slightly and stack them flat, or hang them on the wall. Tyres without rims should be stored upright and “turned” from time to time.
Choose a dry, dark room, free from frost and oil, away from any heating.
Mark each wheel (front left, rear right, etc.) so you know where to refit it.