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. Are you going to change the tires yourself? We will guide you so that the tire change is correct and easy!

Tips for those who are going to change tires themselves

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

Good location for tire change

The best place to change a tire is on 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 to minimize the risk of the car moving. And don't forget to apply the handbrake!

What are the dates for changing to summer tires?

In Sweden, tire replacement is governed by both date and road conditions. In 2026, you can use summer tires from April 1, provided that there are no winter road conditions. Summer tires can be used until December 1, as long as road conditions allow. However, studded tires may not be used between April 15 and September 30, unless there are or are expected to be winter road conditions.

Psst: December 1 – March 31: The period when winter tires are a legal requirement if there are winter road conditions.

Can you drive with studless winter tires in the summer?

It is legal to drive with non-studded winter tires in the summer. But it is worth considering that, on the one hand, you will wear out your winter tires unnecessarily. And, on the other hand, and all the more importantly, the braking distance with winter tires risks being much longer, compared to tires adapted for summer road conditions.

Changing your 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 while the car is still on the ground

3. Jack up the car

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

5. Loosen the wheels

- Now unscrew the wheel bolts completely

6. Good location to check the brake pads

- Take the opportunity to do your own inspection!

7. Lubricate the wheel bolts before tightening them again

- 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 tire pressure

Hot summer leads to poor road grip

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

Summer tire tread depth – what matters?

If your tires have different tread depths, put the ones with the greatest depth at the back. This is to reduce the risk of skidding when braking in corners. For summer tires, it is a legal requirement that the car must have at least 1.6 mm in tire depth, however, a minimum of 3 mm tire depth 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 your tires have the correct air pressure the next time you fill up. The appropriate air pressure varies between cars but is usually somewhere around 2.5 bar (250 kPa) on a standard passenger car. To see what is recommended for your particular car, you can look for a label on the fuel filler cap or by the driver's door.

What tools are good to have when changing tires?

Is it time to plan for a tire change? OK, let's go. Good tools to have at home when you're going to change tires yourself are pallet blocks, a sturdy jack, a rim cross and a torque wrench. Avoid placing the bolts directly on the ground, as gravel and dirt can easily stick to them. Take the opportunity to lubricate the threads of the wheel bolts with aluminum or copper paste. This will make it easier to loosen the bolt when it's time to change back to summer tires. Remember to retighten the wheel bolts after 50-100 kilometers, and you'll reduce the risk of the wheel coming loose.