Changing to winter tyres yourself: A step-by-step guide

To change to winter tyres yourself, you need the right tools and a safe way to lift the car. You will need a sturdy jack, axle stands and a torque wrench, among other things. Below, we go through how to change to winter tyres step by step, which tread depth applies and which dates you need to keep track of.

When should you change to winter tyres?

Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 December to 31 March when winter road conditions apply, meaning there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. Studded tyres may be used from 1 October to 15 April. They may also be used at other times of the year if winter road conditions are present or expected. Non-studded winter tyres (friction tyres) may be used all year round, but they wear faster and perform worse on warm summer roads.

What tools do you need to change tyres yourself?

The right tools make changing tyres both easier and safer. This is what you need to change tyres yourself:

• sturdy jack

• axle stands

• wheel brace or lug wrench

• torque wrench

Avoid putting the wheel bolts directly on the ground, as gravel and dirt easily stick to them. Remember to re-tighten the wheel bolts after 50–100 km to reduce the risk of a wheel coming loose.

How to change to winter tyres yourself: 10 steps

1. Park the car on level ground and apply the parking brake
Make sure the car is standing firmly on a flat surface before you start.

2. Loosen the wheel bolts
Loosen the wheel bolts about half a turn while the car is still on the ground. This makes it easier once the car has been raised.

3. Raise the car with a jack
Place the jack at the car’s recommended lifting points and raise it until the wheel hangs freely. Check the car’s owner’s manual if you are unsure where to position the jack.

4. Use axle stands rated for the car’s weight
Secure the car by placing axle stands under the frame and lowering the car so that it rests on them. This minimises the risk of the car moving.

5. Remove the wheels
Unscrew the wheel bolts completely and lift the wheel straight off the hub.

6. A good time to check the brake pads
Take the opportunity to do your own inspection!

7. Lubricate the wheel bolts before refitting them
Tighten the bolts in a crisscross pattern, one at a time diagonally.

8. Remove the axle stands and lower the car
Raise the car slightly, remove the axle stands and then carefully lower the car.

9. Check the wheel bolts with a torque wrench
Use a torque wrench and tighten the bolts in a crisscross pattern to the car’s recommended torque.

10. Check the tyre pressure
Check and inflate all tyres to the correct pressure before you drive off.

What tread depth should winter tyres have?

If your tyres have different tread depths, fit the ones with the deepest tread at the rear. This reduces the risk of skidding when braking in corners. For summer tyres, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, although at least 3 mm is recommended on wet roads. For winter tyres, 3 mm is the legal minimum. All cars sold by Kvdbil have gone through our thorough vehicle inspection, where we of course check the condition of the tyres.

What tyre pressure should winter tyres have?

You can check that your tyres have the correct pressure next time you fill up. The right pressure varies between cars, but is usually around 2.5 bar (250 kPa) for a standard passenger car. To see what is recommended for your car, look for a label on the fuel filler flap or by the driver’s door. Keep in mind that cold weather affects tyre pressure. A tyre at 2 bar at 20°C will show 1.8 bar at 0°C.

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