Wheel replacement

1. A wheel wrench of an appropriate size matching the wheel nuts. This tool is necessary for stable fixation and tightening of nuts. 2. The jack. A gear for lifting the car and providing access to the wheel. 3. A special adapter on wheels against thieves. This component allows you to cope with the installed protective mechanisms. 4. A screwdriver for wheel covers. It is necessary to remove cover elements before replacing the wheel. 5. An aerosol to unlock rusted joints. It is especially relevant when the wheel has not been replaced for a long time. 6. Wheel chocks elements for the support. In the absence of such elements, you can use bars or bricks to ensure safety when lifting the car. 7. A tire inflator. It is necessary for the correct inflation of the tire after replacement. And, of course, do not forget about the spare wheel, which should always be in the luggage compartment of your car.

Step 1: Get ready. Make sure that your car is parked on a flat and safe surface. Before removing the wheel, carefully get out the jack from the trunk. Place a warning triangle. Step 2: Loosen the bolts (nuts). Do not remove the bolts or nuts completely at this stage, keep them slightly screwed on. If there are locking bolts on your wheels, use the appropriate wrench to unlock them. If there are bolted wheel covers, carefully remove them using a cordless driver or a screwdriver. Step 3: Lift the car. Place the jack under the car near the place where you want to remove the wheel. Pay attention to the signs indicating the place for lifting the car. Gradually lift the car using the jack until the wheel leaves the ground. Step 4: Remove the wheel. Using the wrench, start turning the wheel nuts in turn in the direction opposite to the clockwise direction (turn to the left). Carefully remove the wheel from the bolts and put it in a safe place.

1. Park on the side of the road It is important to remember about safety and follow the following steps: Do not continue driving on a flat tire, but do not stop in the middle of the road. Find a flat spot on the side of the road to stop. It is advisable to park away from moving cars so as not to create emergency situations and not put yourself in danger. If your car has a mechanical transmission, set the first gear, and for automatic transmission, put the lever in the "P" position (parking). Be sure to put a handbrake on. 2. Install the warning triangle and prepare the tools. Turn on hazard warning lights, place the warning triangle. In populated areas, place the triangle 20 meters behind the car, on the highway – 40 meters away. Get the spare tire and the jack with the wheel wrench out of the trunk. These tools are usually stored in a special niche under the trunk shelf, which can be accessed by lifting the bottom panel. 3. Remove the wheel Ask all passengers to get out of the car, even if the weather is bad outside. Install additional chocks under the wheels. Stones or pieces of bricks would be suitable for this purpose. If you replace the rear wheel, install chocks on both sides of the front wheels, and vice versa. Remove the plastic cover on the wheel, if it is installed, and use the wheel wrench to loosen the bolts. Do not remove them completely at this stage. Then jack up the car. It is important to install the jack only in reinforced places on the bottom of the car, which are usually located behind the front wheels or in front of the rear wheels and are marked with triangles or notches. Lift the car rotating the jack handle clockwise. Make sure that the jack rises smoothly without tilting. If the jack falls into the ground due to the weight of the car, put something solid under it. Do not lift the wheel too high. It is usually enough to lift it 5 cm from the ground. To be on safe side, put a spare wheel under the rocker of the car. Then completely unscrew the bolts and remove the flat tire. 4. Install and check the spare wheel Replace the flat tire with the spare one. Turn the bolts by hand, tightening them completely. Please note that the nuts securing the wheels to the hub must be installed with the semicircular side facing the wheel, not outwards. Remove the flat tire from under the car, lower the jack and tighten the bolts completely. 5. The final step Check each nut again and make sure that they are securely tightened. If you have a small-sized spare tire, known as a “donut”, remember its limitations: usually you can drive it no more than 80 km/h covering a distance no more than 100 kilometers.