[Mark07]

If you haven't changed a tyre before, this video is really useful.

But, i'm sure that our community can offer some of their wisdom from years of motoring experience.

I'll go first... the first time I changed a tyre, it certainly didn't lift off easily. Years of use (and i suspect some corrosion) meant that even after the bolts were removed, the hub needed some "encouragement" with a hammer before i could remove the tyre - extra care was taken as the car was jacked up.

• Is there a better way i could have dislodged the tyre?
• What tricky situations have you had when changing a tyre?

[Rolebama]

My first impression was one of surprise. There is a lot of difference between changing a tyre and changing a wheel, and I have never known a private motorist change a tyre.
The only thing I would add to the video is that if you have alloy wheels, it is also worth carrying a rubber mallet. Electrolysis can make some alloys to 'stick' to the hubs.

The most expensive wheel change I ever saw was a chap who stuck the jack underneath the driver's seat. After deforming the floor pan, the headrest hit the roof and buckled that. When I pulled up behind it, the deformation of the roof was the first thing I noticed. The reason he had called the AA was simply that the jack was at full extension, but all four wheels were still on the ground. The car was around three months old, and written off.

I was called out to a wheel change at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. When I turned up it was explained that they had no jack. On my way in I had noticed a similar car up on a jack with a wheel missing. Talking to them it soon became apparent that they intended to swap their flat with one from the other car. Problem was that the jack was wound down as far as it would go, but they couldn't get it out from under the other car.

[Mark07]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

The most expensive wheel change I ever saw was a chap who stuck the jack underneath the driver's seat. After deforming the floor pan, the headrest hit the roof and buckled that. When I pulled up behind it, the deformation of the roof was the first thing I noticed. The reason he had called the AA was simply that the jack was at full extension, but all four wheels were still on the ground. The car was around three months old, and written off.

Oh no 😮.
It just goes to show the importance of using the proper jacking point.

Originally Posted by Rolebama

Talking to them it soon became apparent that they intended to swap their flat with one from the other car. Problem was that the jack was wound down as far as it would go, but they couldn't get it out from under the other car.

Was the owner of the other car aware that this 'swap' was going to take place?

[Drivingforfun]

I agree with @Rolebama's first point!! People are sometimes surprised when I explain that even though I'm the "car person" I don't know how to change a tyre

A little off-topic but something that bothers me, probably unnecessarily, is doing any work under the car ... for some reason I just don't have the trust in myself to put myself underneath a car that is held up by a £50 bit of kit which has been operated by a doofus like me!!!

[Rolebama]

Mark07: It became obvious to me they were stealing the other wheel. I called the Police, who were sorting it out when I drove off.

Drivingforfun: It seems to me that jacks now seem to be more designed so they stow more neatly, and take up less space. I still use the 3,5ton jack that came with my old Toyota Crown estate as it has a nice big foot. It has undergone a few welding jobs over the years to configure it to fit all my cars.

[Mark07]

I guess you have to appreciate their ingenuity, it wouldn't have occurred to me to 'source' a tyre from a nearby vehicle.

[Rolebama]

Definitely worth a 10/10 for effort, but 0/10 for result.

[Santa]

I last had a flat tyre two years ago. I noticed the handling change and pulled into a handy car park. My Mondeo has a space-saver spare, so I pulled this out to get at the jack etc. When I tried to loosen the nuts, they wouldn't shift, so I drove it carefully to a nearby tyre fitter who did the changeover for me - I gave him a tenner for his trouble.

The nuts are torqued at 140Nm, so that may be why I couldn't shift them.