Change to winter tires yourself, this is how you do it: step by step

When changing to winter 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!

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 tires?

Winter tires must be used from December 1 to March 31, if winter road conditions prevail. It is prohibited to use studded tires during the period April 16 - September 30 if there are no or expected winter road conditions.

Read more about the winter tire regulations that apply from 2024.

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.

Step by step – how to change to winter tires yourself

1. Apply the handbrake

• Make sure the car is stable before you start.

2. Loosen the wheel bolts

• Loosen them half a turn while the car is still on the ground, this makes it easier when the car is jacked up.

3. Jack up the car

• Place the jack at the car's recommended lifting points and lift until the wheel hangs freely.

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

• Secure the car by placing jack stands under the frame and lowering the car so that it rests on them.

5. Loosen the wheels

• Unscrew the wheel bolts completely and lift the wheel straight off the hub.

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

• Raise the car slightly, remove the jack stands and then lower the car carefully.

9. Check the wheel bolts with a torque wrench

• Use a torque wrench and tighten the bolts crosswise according to the car's recommended values.

10. Check tire pressure

• Check and fill all tires with air to ensure they have the correct pressure before you drive off.

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. For winter tires, a tire depth of 3 millimeters is a minimum by law. All cars that we at Kvdbil sell have undergone our thorough vehicle test, where we of course check the condition of the tires.

Watch out for low tire pressure

You can check that your tires have the correct air pressure the next time you fill up your tank. 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. Keep in mind that cold weather can affect the air pressure. If a tire has a pressure of 2 bar at 20 degrees, the pressure will be 1.8 bar when it is zero degrees.

If the accident is imminent

Even if you follow all the tips and advice regarding changing to winter tires, an accident can still happen. Maybe you get a little punctured at home in the parking lot or something unforeseen happens on the roads that leads to flat tires. In that case, it can feel safe to have tire insurance. Then you can have your tire repaired or replaced so that you can safely and easily hit the road or continue your journey.