Avoiding bad drivers on the road can be a tough task; avoiding them in bad weather conditions is even more nerve wracking. Proper tires are required to perform your avoidance maneuvers, but installing them is far less challenging than putting them to use. The process is also unlikely to leave your memory once you learn how to install your snow tires, provided that you learn to do it the right way.
Step 1
Visit a tire store and consult with a specialist. Certain tires are better than others depending on what kind of car you drive. Consult your driver's manual before you visit to confirm the size of your tires. Look for studded snow tires especially.
Step 2
Make sure your vehicle is on a flat grade. Then, find your car's lug wrench; it's probably in a side panel in the back of your car. Unscrew the lug nuts of the tire you are replacing. Start with one tire and do not unscrew all four tires at once. Keep the lug nuts in a location where they will not be lost.
Step 3
Place a jack underneath the base of the car near the tire being replaced. Consult your car's manual to ensure that the jack is in the proper place. Remove the hubcaps and elevate the car until the wheel is well off the ground.
Step 4
Take off the old tire. Insert the snow tire onto the shafts and screw the lug nuts on. Replace the hubcap and lower the car back down to the ground via car jack.
Step 5
Repeat the process for each remaining tire. Be sure that your new tires are properly inflated as well, especially in cold weather. This can be measured by using a simple pressure gauge.
Tips and Warnings
- Change your tires in the fall before winter comes so that the process is easier and you can break them in.
Things You'll Need
- Lug wrench
- Snow tires
- Car jack
