Savings on a roll
19.4.2018
Translation: machine translated
Forget the snow and put the fondue pot back on. Yes, it's high time to put on your summer tyres. Either you've already made an appointment at the garage, or you've decided to change the tyres yourself. Either way, we'll show you how.
It's the same story every winter: as soon as the first snow is announced, the garages are swarming with people looking to change their tyres. In summer, on the other hand, it's easy: you can choose your appointment a little more freely. Perhaps you'd like to do it yourself this year? Because it's really no big deal.
What you need
4 summer tyres (if you don't already have them)
1 jack
1 chalk for marking tyres (the remaining 19 will make the local children happy.)
1 cross key (there may be one in the boot.)
1 torque wrench
Saving money: the way forward
First and foremost, this job is within everyone's reach. Still, you have to do it properly, or risk ending up like this or else like this. Got it? So don't skimp on the torque spanner. And read the manual carefully too!
Preparatory work
- Consult your car's owner's manual to find out the lifting point under which to place the jack in order to avoid damaging the bodywork.
- Read the owner's manual to find out the tightening torque, in other words the rotational force at which the bolts should be tightened (usually around 100 nm).
- Check the tyre profiles. Legal minimum: 1.6 mm. Recommendations: summer tyres 3 mm, winter tyres 4 mm.
- Check the age of tyres using the DOT index located on the sidewall of the tyre (week of production and year of manufacture). For safety reasons, tyres should not be more than 8 years old, even if the tread depth is still sufficient.
- Mark the summer tyres with chalk: don't forget this step, as the wheels will need to be in the same position the following spring. For the front left wheel, write "AG" for example, and proceed as such for the others. It is possible to swap the front tyres with the rear tyres (if the rear tyres are more worn). It is forbidden to swap left-hand tyres with right-hand ones.
- Using the cross spanner - not the expensive torque spanner - loosen all the wheel bolts (loosening the wheel in contact with the ground is better).
- Place the jack under the car.
- Loosen the bolts completely using cross spanner.
- Remove the old wheel and replace it with the new one.
- Replace the bolts and tighten them slightly using cross spanner.
- Lower the jack until the wheel makes contact with the ground.
- Tighten the bolts one after the other crosswise - not clockwise (counterclockwise or not) - using the torque spanner provided.
- Remove the jack.
- Check the tyre pressure.
...Proceed in the same way with the other three tyres.
Don't forget: after a few journeys, retighten each bolt using the torque spanner as a safety precaution.
Expenses: how to proceed
Now that you're going to be saving money over the long term, you can therefore afford major purchases with a clear conscience. For example, with this piece of jewellery, where the only question is why you haven't got it yet!
Aurel Stevens
Chief Editor
aurel.stevens@digitecgalaxus.chI'm the master tamer at the flea circus that is the editorial team, a nine-to-five writer and 24/7 dad. Technology, computers and hi-fi make me tick. On top of that, I’m a rain-or-shine cyclist and generally in a good mood.
Arts and crafts
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Garden
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
Plants
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
17 comments
later