What is the most important thing about our car? Of course the tires, because they are the only thing that is in contact with the road. That is why we should not only make sure that they are of good quality, but we should also make sure that both winter and, ideally, summer versions are used. In this case, the main thing to think about is regular tire replacement dates.
Today, most tire repair shops on our market offer this service. But they can often be busy, regardless of the fact that they can charge considerable amounts of money. That's why we can handle the exchange by ourselves. How to do it?
The key is buying the right wheels
The first thing to do is to buy the right wheels. We find out the size that fits our car by looking at our technical certificate, where the approved options are listed. It is also possible to buy a new set according to the dimensions indicated on the existing one. In the same way, it is necessary to focus on whether we will buy a summer or winter set before buying. Also remember that today we only buy the tires themselves, i.e. no metal or aluminum discs. These must be purchased separately if necessary.
How do I put the wheels on the discs?
It should be noted here that this part is so difficult that it is always better to go to the service center. If you have two full sets of discs, it is ideal to take one of them, add new tires and head to the service. Here, a fairly quick process will take place, which is associated with the fact that the current rubber is removed from the disc. Everything will basically happen automatically, within the framework of special machines that can handle it.
Subsequently, the disc itself is treated with a special preparation, which also allows for easier fitting of a new tire . This procedure is also completely automatic, fast and every car repair shop can handle it in a few seconds. Subsequently, it also happens that the tire is also inflated.
Balance is important
But the procedure associated with changing a disc tire does not end there. The next important step is also necessary balancing. And this is so that the tire and the disc rotate evenly. In the case of sheet metal discs, special weights are used. When it comes to aluminum discs, a special weight in the form of stickers is used. Here, everything is basically semi-automatic, when the device determines which weights and where to place them. Subsequently, a specific person places them on the disk and it is thus ready for use.
How to replace tires in a classic way?
If you already have tires on specific discs, this is a step associated with the fact that you can start the actual replacement. First, all the bolts on the existing tires need to be slightly loosened. It goes without saying that the car should be standing on a flat, firm surface, with the engine off, the gear in gear and the handbrake applied. Once we have the screws loose, it is possible to take a pry bar and they will always lift the specific part of the car where we want to change the tire.
Once the tire is in the air, the screws need to be loosened more thoroughly and removed. Of course, in some cases we may encounter a solution where we do not use screws, but nuts are used. The procedure is of course the same and there is no difference.
We will replace the wheel with a new one
Once the bolts or nuts are removed, the wheel itself can be removed with a simple movement. This should be relatively easy as there is basically nothing holding it in place. Once that happens, we can put it aside and prepare a new round. Of course with a disc. First of all, it is good to use Vaseline or a similar substance, which we lubricate the screws themselves. Not only do we eliminate their rusting, but we are also sure that they will loosen much more easily afterwards.
Once we have everything ready, we can put on a new wheel, which needs to be fixed with screws or specific nuts. Remember here that you should always tighten opposite sides one after the other. A slight tightening is all that is needed to fix the wheel in the desired place. Once that's done, we can slowly lower the car off the jack.
The final tightening follows
Once all the wheels have been replaced in this way, it is possible to start the final adjustment. Here we are already talking about the fact that it is necessary to exert enough force, but the wheel was definitely tightened tightly, because this is the only way we will not risk its loosening. At the same time, we do not forget the fact that all screws should be placed and tightened. Older smaller cars can have three as well as four. A minimum of five screws is already standard for many current cars. Once we have everything installed, there is nothing stopping us from hitting the road.
However, we won't clean the wheel wrench just yet, as changing the tires requires one more follow-up check, ideally after 10 kilometers of driving. We will check again for proper tightening. If everything is in order, we can put on the lids in the case of tin disks and go into normal operation without any problems.
What to focus on during the exchange?
It is important to add a few more interesting tips. At the time you have the original wheel removed, you need to check how it is worn. Whether regular flats do not appear, or whether the bike does not go to one side. If we come up with something similar, we can detect a defect connected to the shock absorbers, as well as the geometry of the car. In this case, it is a good idea to visit a service center.
After removing the wheel, it is also a good idea to check the condition of the brake pads or brake discs. If we find that they need to be replaced, it is better to return the bike again and postpone everything until the time when we have new plates and discs available. Since their replacement also requires disassembling the wheel, we can handle everything at once. This will save not only a lot of time, but also a lot of our physical strength and worries.
