As soon as the temperatures rise and the sun shows up more and more often, many drivers face the same problem Question : When is it time to change the summer tires? The question arises every year and it is extremely important. Because the change of tyres serves to ensure the safety of the vehicle and its occupants.

When to change summer tires?

There are a few statements and tips that you can use as a guide when changing summer tires.

The O Rule

The ADAC created the so-called O-rule. Accordingly, you are always on the safe side if you put on the winter tires from October to Easter. Accordingly, Easter should be seen as the time when the Mounting the summer tires should be carried out.

Here is the optimala Time to change tires when the roads are really free of snow and ice. The temperatures should also be continuously above 7 degrees Celsius.

If you die summer tires then changed, it is important that you check the tire pressure and also think about the tread depth. Once the tires have been mounted, they should have a tread depth of 3 mm for wide tires and 2.5 mm for normal tires. Under no circumstances may the legally prescribed minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm be undershot.
Can I change the summer tires myself?

Of course, everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to Change tires yourself or would like to give his vehicle to a workshop for this purpose.

However, it is possible for everyone to have one change tires once he has dealt with the subject. Practice makes perfect here and it may well be that it doesn't really work out the first time. But next time it will be easier.

Tire change instructions

Before the actual tire change, some are safety precautions required that must be complied with. So you first have to pull the handbrake and engage first gear. This is the only way to protect the car from rolling away.

In addition, it is important that Vehicle is parked on firm, level ground . This is the only way the jack can be applied correctly and find the necessary support. Uneven or sandy floors must not be used under any circumstances. This could be dangerous because the jack could then give way.

Only then can you start with the actual first step of tire change begin. Before the car is lifted with the jack, the screws are loosened slightly. This happens crosswise.

For this you take the wheel wrench and loosen the first screw by one turn. Then the opposite screw is loosened. Then the screws are loosened, which are always opposite.

In the next step, the vehicle with the jack booted. It is also very important to pay attention to which jack you need for your own vehicle. Because under each vehicle there are pick-up points, which can vary from vehicle to vehicle.

Some jacks have one rail in which the vehicle rests, while others have been fitted with a plate. You can also read the relevant information about the choice of jack at any time in the operating manual of your own car.

The jack must now be accurate placed at the pick-up point become. The jack is then raised using a crank or a handwheel. The boar must be fixed.

It's perfectly sufficient for the car so far to go up so that you can put your flat hand under the corresponding tire. Now you can unscrew the screws completely. The socket wrench attachments are required for this. If you don't have it, you can use the wheel cross or the wheel wrench.

You should make sure that the rims are removed during this process not scratched . The screws should be carefully placed aside so that the thread is not damaged. It is best if you have a container ready to put the screws in.

It is important to loosen all the screws in the lower area first . If you did it the other way around, the weight of the rim would fall forward. This could result in damage or injury. With the last screw you should fix the rim by hand so that it does not fall against you.

Now you have the rim touch with both hands to be able to solve them. The tire is now removed. If you have difficulties and cannot get the tire off, you can use the rubber mallet.

That's how you hit two to three times only slightly against the tire. Before remounting a wheel, you now have the option of cleaning the wheel hub with a wire brush. This gives the rim that you put on a clean contact surface.

Now he will Mounted summer tires . The tire is placed on the wheel hub. The screws must line up exactly with the holes. You take the first screw and screw it in with the socket wrench attachment.

You just start and screw them screws not all fixed immediately. The following applies here again: Screw in the screws on opposite sides. Only when all the screws have been tightened are they hand-tightened with the wheel wrench. The car is then lowered with the jack until the tire just touches the ground.

Now take the torque wrench around the Tighten screws properly to be able to The correct torque can be found in the car's manual, as there may be differences between the vehicles.

The torque wrench must be fixed and then you tighten the screws crosswise until you hear a crack. Now the jack is lowered completely. You should then write on the tires with chalk to see whether they were placed on the front right or front left of the car.

It is also important to know that there are tires that directional are. This can be recognized by an arrow on the side of the tire. If this arrow points to the right, the tire may only be fitted on the right-hand side of the vehicle. This is the only way to ensure safe driving. After 50 km it is recommended to tighten the screws again.

Required tool

• Wheel wrench or wheel cross
• a jack
• a torque wrench
• the associated socket attachments
• a wire brush to clean the wheel hubs
• a rubber mallet if the tires are too tight

Conclusion

The change of tyres in the respective summer or winter season is required in any case. This is for your own safety and should not be neglected. You can of course give your car to a workshop, which will then be associated with the corresponding costs.

Or you does the tire change himself . This is not as difficult as some might think and only seems particularly difficult the first time. If you have changed tires more often, you also get the appropriate exercise. It'll be easier and won't take as long.

Sources:

text source