Quote:
Originally Posted by PsYcNeT
I've decided to make the winter tire jump.
So if I have the storage space, the wherewithal and the means, is it better for me to buy winter wheels+tires, a jack, axel stands and a torque wrench and install them myself, or do what most people do and pay someone to swap them onto my wheels?
Is there any downside or danger (besides the obvious ones) of changing them yourself? Will tire/wheel retailers pre-combine and inflate anything I buy?
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If you have the space, the jack/impact gun/torque wrench route is awesome.
I have the same electric impact gun I bought at Crappy tire 15 years ago for $50 bucks on sale, and it works perfectly. Buy a plug in, not a cordless, they are more powerful, and for the 2 times a year you use it, you don't have to worry about charging. Princess auto usually has impact sockets sets for $20 bucks. I bought a decent 2 ton jack for 50 bucks as well, and a torque wrench at sears for the same.
So for $150-170, you will have everything you need to change tires for probably 20 years. Most tire shops charge $50-80 each way, so after a year it is paid off. Jack stands are overkill and not required for tire swaps. Just buy yourself a decent rolling pump jack, and you are golden.
The biggest thing with swaps if you do them on your own, is to make sure you
only use the impact gun taking them off, and to always torque your bolts correctly. An over tightened bolt can wreak havoc on disk brakes. And the last thing is make sure you store your torque wrench properly, at the tension the manufacturer recommends, and
NEVER use it as a breaker bar/swedge. Just use an old piece of pipe over your tire iron for extra leverage if your impact gun wont loosen a lug nut.
This tire swap PSA brought to you by Northland Volkswagen. Right on the corner, right on the price. Were not satisfied, until your satisfied. Where the customer always comes first. Where you are not just a customer, you are family. We go the extra mile for you.