Changing to Winter Tires on your LX Explained!

I have read many posts from people who had a lot of trouble changing tires, working with the tools and whatnot that I felt it worth my while to contribute to the knowledgebase with a semi-yearly chore.  Since I live in the snow country it is important to run Winter tires in the snowy season.  It is less expensive as well because while I run on the winter's, the summers idle. 

What is Required:

21 MM Deep Socket          (1/2" Drive Preferred)
Johnson Bar                    (1/2" Drive Preferred)
Torque Wrench                (1/2" Drive Preferred)
Helper                            (Lots of drive needed!)

My helper today is my 8 year old son who is stronger than he looks!

You'll need some Tires:
 

I bought mine from the Site supporter AdamC at Eastway Chrysler.  I found these awesome Toyo Observe G02 series mounted on Chrysler 17 inch wheels ready to go in this thread: http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=41296 He was able to ship them to me and beat every local dealer in price as well as outstanding service!

Obligatory Before and After Pix:
   BEFORE       AFTER
                                                                                      

Steps:

1: Raise Car

Using whatever method you prefer, get the wheel off the ground.  I went with a Hydraulic jack and did one wheel at a time.  You could use the Factory jack if you follow my method, or if you are famous, you could use a hoist. 
To begin, block the wheel opposite to that which you want to remove.

Then have your helper work the jack while you supervise.

2: Loosen those Nuts

Now many people said these nuts were too tight, I mean COME ON NOW!!  To quote the famous high school auto shop teacher Mr. Ragde,

"It's not STRENGTH, it's TECHNIQUE!"  It's all in HOW you work the wrench and not at all how strong you are.

This is NOT the right way!

Mr. Ragde's Famous Tire Removal System:

To loosen a lug nut most people will try to stand on the wrench, or jump on it or try all sorts of insane techniques that do little to remove the wheel but much damage to their nuts!  Here is what WORKS. 

• Ensure that the Wheel is "Free" and able to turn in either direction.
• Place your Johnson bar on the first lug nut.  You will be using a "Push/Pull" technique so you will want to be standing such that your body is facing the right way.  For tires on the passenger side of the car you will face FORWARD.  For the Driver's side you'll face the rear. 
• Now push the Johnson bar forward (as if to tighten the nut) fairly quickly and allow the wheel to spin, immediately and with force JERK BACK on the bar.
•  The inertia of the wheel will spin the lug nut off like it wasn't even on there.  My son was able to remove all but 3 of them this time around! (That is after I got him facing in the right direction!)
• The reason this works is that the force created by the spinning wheel is multiplied many fold by the Johnson bar allowing the nut to spin off with ease.

  
  Who needs air tools?

3: Brake inspection FRONT:

After you get the wheel off, you might as well take a look at the brakes for wear and tear, here is what a new front brake should look like
   
   

No brembos here but she does stop when needed!  You are looking for any deep scoring or grooves on the shiny face of the rotor as well as for the pad thickness.

4: Get them Tires ready!

         
  The correct size tire for the 17 inch crowd is a 215/65R17     Mine are Directional so make sure you get them on the right way!

Mark the old tires so that when you put them back on, you get a free rotation!  We used chalk, then we played tic-tac-toe..

Put your helper to work on the rear wheels while you enjoy your favorite vice.

Sometimes even the helpers, need help.  Here is me about to "Jerk" the bar.  Smooth like butter....  I had to put the car in "N" to allow the rear tire to spin freely.  Allowed me to listen to the radio as well.  niiiiice.

5: Lose the clips!

Here is a factory original rear brake setup.  Notice the clips on the studs?  These gotta go!

Thusly..

We don't need no stinkin clips!

6: Installing the New Wheel Assembly:

Now you need to put on the new tire:

You REALLY need THIS:

Set the torque wrench to 100 FT/LBS and your Mom will thank you, so will your rotors and wheels and maybe even your helper!

7: Lather, Rinse Repeat!

So all in all you repeat the same steps for each wheel and eventually you'll end up with these:

Pretty....

and these:

EVIL.....

8: Verify the Tire Pressures:

Don't forget to check your pressures:

9: Clean up the Rusties before the Rusties clean you out!

Always use a can of this:

To save your mechanic when it comes time to change these:

mmmmmmmm smells good too!  You can safely spray Rust Check nearly anywhere you find rust.

10: PROFIT!

Pimpin Ain't Easy.

So when you need to change those tires, forget about paying some wrench monkey to "eff" up your rotors with his crazy air ratchet, do it yourself and know it is done right!

Many thanks to www.lxforums.com for their fabulous knowledgebase, to Adam at Eastway for hooking me up with the sweet winter tires and to all the rest of the internets for making it so easy to find out info about our cars!

Till next time! If you have questions you can Email me viennatech@yahoo.com

Send mail to viennatech@yahoo.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 12/18/06