Car Magazine-Handling Tires-Cars24.in

Changing Tires

Unusual "spongy" vehicle handling? Most of the time a drastic loss of air in one tire is the reason for this. But also in case of a bursted tire: try to reach (with switched on warning lights and at walking speed) a somewhat safe parking spot. After all, changing tires on the side of the road which is facing traffic is not very safe!

Changing tires step by step :

	Secure vehicle.
	Apply parking brake and put on the first gear respectively put automatic lever on position "P".
	Take a quick look in the manual to see where the lifting jack is placed, how it works and on which points below the car it is to be placed. There are other special hints in the manual, e.g. if the car is equipped with a emergency wheel.
	Place tool kit and spare wheel ready.
	Take off hub cap if existent with the pointed end of the wheel wrench.
	At first release wheel nut only about 1/2 turn.
	Place lifting jack (pay attention to the warning sticker).
	Lift vehicle until mounting height for the spare wheel is reached.
	Screw off wheel nuts completely.
	Demount defective wheel and place under the vehicle.
	Mount spare wheel.
	Screw on tightly all wheel nuts.
	Take defective wheel which is under the car.
	Release the car.
	Tighten wheel nut over cross.
	Stow away lifting jack, tools and spare wheel.
	Stow away warning triangle.
	Place hub cap momentarily in the trunk.
	At the next gas station check air pressure and tighten again the wheel nuts and put on hub cap.
	On the next occasion check wheel nuts in the garage for correct starting torque.
	If changing metal rims to alloy rims and vice versa normally you have to use different wheel bolts and wheel nuts! Best keep them together with the on-board tools or in the glove compartment! The same counts for the rim wrenches for theft protection.