Experts gave recommendations on careful tire repair

If you have the basic tools and skills, self-tire installation can lead to unpleasant consequences. On March 14, experts from the SberAuto car purchase, maintenance and sale service (part of the Sber ecosystem for motorists) told Izvestia what risks exist and what is important to consider if the car owner decided to change the wheels on their own.

Speaking about the risks, they noted the incorrect mounting of the tire on the disc.

"It's worth changing only the wheel assemblies yourself — it's difficult to properly install the disc without experience and equipment," the service noted.

In addition, the experts stressed that the car must stand on a flat and solid surface, and the jack must be installed correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk that the car will lose stability and fall off the jack, which can lead to damage to the suspension or body.

There may also be difficulties with unscrewing the nuts. Over the winter, fasteners can stick, which makes them difficult to unscrew without special tools. Excessive force can cause the thread to break, and in case of failure, you will have to contact the service and call a tow truck.

"It's not enough to just replace the wheels — it's important to assess their condition. It is difficult for an inexperienced driver to determine critical wear, the presence of hernias or microcracks that may affect safety," the experts added.

Stretch the tires: it's too early to change tires, despite the March warming

By the end of the month, the temperature will drop to negative values, meteorologists warn.

In addition, they pointed out the lack of balancing. It is required every time the car is re-equipped, otherwise vibrations will appear at speed, the load on the suspension will increase, and handling will deteriorate.

"It is impossible to carry out this procedure on our own. And if an independent replacement is made with errors, you will have to pay for installation and disassembly when contacting the service," the experts said.

The service gave car owners some tips on how to replace the wheels themselves if there is no other option.

You should choose a flat area. The ideal option is a hard concrete or asphalt surface without a slope. It is necessary to install the jack safely: it must be placed in the places specified by the manufacturer, otherwise the bottom of the car may be damaged. To prevent rolling, it is better to put stops under the wheels, experts advised.

Fasteners should be unscrewed carefully. The bolts must be loosened before lifting the machine on the jack. If the fasteners are stuck, you can treat them with a penetrating lubricant, but you should not use excessive force.

Do not forget to check the condition of the tires.

"Before installation, it is important to inspect the tires for damage, check the tread depth (at least 3 mm) and make sure that there are no cracks or deformations," the service recommended.

The fasteners must be tightened evenly: after installing the wheel, the bolts are twisted crosswise to avoid misalignment. Then the tire pressure should be adjusted.

"After replacing the wheels, it is necessary to check the tire pressure and bring it to the recommended level," the service concluded.

Earlier, on February 27, Sergey Tselikov, director of the Autostat analytical agency, said that Russia had recorded a historical record for sales of new pickups in a year. By the end of last year, 29.2 thousand such cars were sold in the country, with an annual increase of 65%.