Change to summer tires - so you do a tire change yourself

When changing to summer tires, it is important to keep track of tools, weather, date and condition of the tires. Should you change the tires yourself? We guide you so that the tire change is correct and easy!

Tips for those who want to change the tires themselves

Here's our guide on how to change your tires yourself. We also offer useful tips for a good and safe car life.

Good location for changing tires

The best place to change tires is a flat surface. If you have access to some kind of parking space without a slope, that is preferable. For safety reasons, you can use pallet blocks, so you minimize the risk of the car moving. And don't forget to apply the handbrake!

What dates apply when changing to summer tires?

Summer tires can be used March 31 - December 1, if road conditions permit. It is forbidden to use studded tires during the time period 16 April - 30 September if there are not or expected to be winter road conditions.

Can you drive with winter tires without studs in the summer?

It is legal to drive with studless winter tires in the summer. But it's worth bearing in mind that, on the one hand, you wear out your winter tires unnecessarily. And secondly, and all the more importantly, the braking distance with winter tires risks being much longer, compared to tires adapted for summer road conditions.

Changing tires yourself is easy - if you follow our step-by-step guide!

10 tips: How to change to summer tires yourself

1. Apply the handbrake

2 . Loosen the wheel bolts

- Loosen half a turn when the car is still on the ground

3. Hoist up the car

4. Use pallet blocks intended for the weight of the car

5. Loosen the wheels

- Now unscrew the wheel bolts completely

6. Good position to check the brake pads

- Be sure to do your own inspection!

7. Lubricate the wheel bolts before screwing them back on

- Tighten the bolts crosswise, i.e. one at a time on the diagonal

8. Remove pallet blocks and lower the car

9. Check the wheel bolts with a torque wrench

10. Check the tire pressure

Hot summer gives worse road grip

On a hot summer day, it can almost look like the asphalt is boiling, then there is a high risk of poorer grip. The phenomenon is called "bleeding asphalt" and on really hot days, newly asphalted roads can get so hot that the binder in the tar risks penetrating to the surface and making the road extra slippery. Adjust your speed and keep the distance to the car in front, are our best tips for driving safely on the summer road.

The tread depth of summer tires - what does it matter?

If your tires have different tread depths, put the ones with the greatest depth in the back. This is to reduce the risk of skidding when braking in turns. For summer tires it is a legal requirement that the car must have a tire depth of at least 1.6 mm, however, a minimum tire depth of 3 mm is recommended on wet roads. All cars that we at Kvdbil sell have undergone our thorough vehicle test where we of course check the condition of the tires.

Correct air pressure

You can check that the tires have the correct air pressure the next time you refuel. Suitable air pressure varies between different cars, but is usually somewhere around 2.5 bar (250 kpa) on a normal passenger car. To see what is recommended for your particular car, you can look for a marking on the fuel cap or on the driver's door.

What tools are good to have when changing tires?

Is it time to plan for a tire change? OK, now we're driving. Good tools to have at home when changing tires yourself are pallet blocks, a sturdy jack, a rim cross and a torque wrench. Avoid placing the bolts directly on the ground, then gravel and dirt will easily stick to them. Take care to lubricate the thread of the wheel bolt with aluminum or copper paste. Then it will be easier to loosen the bolt when it is time to change back to the summer tires. Remember to retighten the wheel bolts after 5-10 miles, so you reduce the risk of the wheel coming loose.