1. How To Install Tires Yourself
With the change in seasons, you have to change the tires on your vehicle too. When the cold season is over, it’s time to change your winter tires with summer tires because they offer better grip and traction in dry conditions and rains. Later, when the weather changes from summer to winter, the tires have to be replaced again to cope with the changing conditions and terrain.
Tools Required To Change Your Car Tire
2. Step 1
To remove the wheels, start with loosening the lug nuts before raising the vehicle.
3. Step 2
Place the floor jack under your vehicle and lift the car gently. Support the vehicle on jack stands if necessary. Ensure the jack stands are rested on a flat and even surface. Remove the lug nuts and the wheels.
4. Step 3
Rest the wheel on the ground and unscrew the valve stem core to deflate the tire or pull the valve stem out if you are replacing it.
5. Step 4
Remove the tires from the rim using a tire changing machine. Take the deflated tire off the rim by placing it on the bed of the machine and break the beads of the tire from its seat. This is called “breaking the bead” and is done by a foot pedal on the machine. Move the tire and break the beads on the other side of the wheel.
6. Step 5
Once the beads are loose, place the wheel on the turntable of the machine. Lower the mount/demount head, also known as the Duckhead, to the rim’s edge and remove the tire from the rim completely.
7. Step 6
Check the rim for rough patches and rust. Use abrasive pads to smoothen out any irregularities on the inside and the lip of the rim.
8. Step 7
Insert a new valve stem on the rim by applying a little lubricant. Pull the stem gently from the other side to ensure it has been seated properly.
9. Step 8
Lubricate the bead on the new tire and the rim for easy installation. Ensure that the lube is applied properly to the top and bottom portions of the tire bead and the entire edge of the rim.
10. Step 9
Lay the rim flat on the turntable of the machine and secure it by engaging the hydraulic press. Place the tire on the rim and lower the Duckhead of the machine under the bead. Rotate the rim to get the upper lip of the tire inside the rim and repeat the same on the other side to install the tire completely.
11. Step 10
Remove the wheel from the machine and attach the air compressor hose to the valve stem to inflate the tire to the recommended air pressure value. Be sure to keep your fingers away from the beads as it inflates.
12. Step 11
Once the tire is inflated, mount it back on the wheel studs using the lug nuts and lower the vehicle.
If you love to work on your vehicle and prefer to carry out repair and maintenance yourself, then you should go with this method while replacing the tires on your vehicle. Changing the tires on your own is very cheap and can be carried out with the help of machines or pry bars using hands. Using pry bars requires caution and one should be very careful while using them. Therefore, it’s more convenient to get a cheap manual car tire changing machine to change your car tire easily and quickly. After replacing your tires, you can also choose to get the alignment done so they do not wear out unevenly. Tires play an important part in the safety and reliability of your vehicle and keeping them maintained is very important.
