Change your tires like a PRO
Step by step guide to changing your tires and beating the potential frustration that comes with the task!
Step 1: Put on your TEGERA safety gloves.
A pair of TEGERA safety gloves protects your hands from cuts and blistering. They also provide better grip.
Step 2: Secure the location.
Make sure that the ground is solid and flat. You don't want to run after a rolling unmanned car.
Step 3: Apply the parking brakes.
You should also put your car in 1st gear or reverse for manual transmission or “Park” if you have an automatic transmission.
Step 4: Take out the tools.
Get the tools (lug wrench and jack) and the tires you´re changing to. The jack should only make contact with the metal parts near the tire that you need to change and NOT the plastic moldings. If you're not sure of the position, check the owner’s manual.
Step 5: Raise the jack until it supports the car.
Don't lift the car off the ground yet. You don't need the wheel to be turning instead of the nuts.
Step 6: Loosen the nuts (counter-clockwise).
This is the tricky part. Remember that when your wheels were put in place, they were tightened thoroughly for your safety. It’s important that you exert an extra force onto the lug wrench to jerk its tightness.
Are things not going as smooth as you had hoped? Frustrated? Ok, take a break and go to your inner happy place. Breath in, breath out……
Still frustrated? Well, Buddha probably never had to change any tires.
Don´t worry, try the lug wrench again. Sometimes it takes a while to loosen the nuts.
Step 8: Lift the car and remove the tire carefully.
The car should be just high enough to remove the tire. The wheel might stick to the hub due to dirt or rust. You can either use a rubber mallet or your fist to jerk the wheel off.
Step 9: Install the new tire.
The tire should align with the hub perfectly. Once everything’s in place, put the lug nuts back.
Step 10: Tighten the nuts until snug.
You can do this by hand and through a star pattern (the next nut should be the one across). Take note, however, that you don't have to tighten the nuts fully while the jack is still up.
Step 11: Lower the jack and then tighten the nuts.
It's important that the car's weight is on the ground when you're doing this. Tighten the nuts like your life depends on it. You don’t want to endanger lives due to recklessness.
