Changing a car wheel is often a difficult task for drivers, not only because we are not used to doing it, but also because it is important to have the right reflexes from the start. Don’t forget to always have the necessary equipment in the trunk of your car, so you will always be prepared when you get a flat tire.
We give you all the advice you need to succeed safely during your next puncture. To follow the operation illustrated by technical photos,
Secure the vehicle
First of all, it is important to secure the location of your vehicle. This is the sine qua noncondition for you to be able to change a car wheel with complete confidence. You must therefore park your vehicle as far away from traffic as possible, and on stable and flat ground.
Tighten your handbrake and, if necessary, put it into gear. Then, put on your reflective vest and place your warning triangle 30 meters from your vehicle.
Wheel installation and removal
To change a car wheel, you will need the essential tools:
- the spare wheel
- the wheel wrench
- a jack
- a crank
- of limes
Locate the tire that is diagonally opposite the wheel to be changed. Then, place the shims at the front and rear of this tire and prepare to remove the wheel. Start by unscrewing the system in the center of the spare wheel with the wheel wrench. Pull sharply to remove the hubcaps from the wheel to be changed and then loosen the nuts, making at least one turn of loosening.
Then place the jack under the wheel to be changed on the jack point, which is located behind the front wheel and therefore in front of the rear wheel. It can be recognized by a small notch under the car. Then turn the crank clockwise, and you will see that the car lifts to make it easier for you to change the wheel. It is a question of respecting a distance of 5 cm above the ground to change a car wheel.
Once you have reached this height, you can use the wheel wrench again to completely loosen the nuts this time.
If you need to change two wheels,
Refit the spare wheel
Be careful not to lose the nuts you have just removed. Make sure to place the tightening holes directly opposite each other, then start tightening the nuts by hand. You will then be able to do the opposite with the jack and lower the wheel. Then tighten the nuts with the wrench.
We recommend that you start by tightening one bolt, then tighten the opposite bolt diagonally, and so on. This is called a star tightening. This is the best way to change a car wheel and to ensure that it is perfectly held in place. And there you have it, the operation is now almost complete: all you have to do is replace the hubcaps and be careful to remove the shims.
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