Do I need to swap front and rear wheels?

In this article we will talk about the difference in tires, as well as the possible consequences of such a decision by the car owner.

According to folk tradition

It just so happens that when people do not have a very large income, they try with all their might to minimize their expenses. Quality is sacrificed to quantity, reliability to low prices, and any opportunity to save is immediately taken advantage of. To be honest, this approach is common among many car enthusiasts. Not to everyone, of course, but especially to those who use a car as a way to earn money: taxis, cargo transportation business, etc. Savings go on everything - from the air filter to the most important components that affect the safety of the vehicle. Safety is especially important, and the most common type of its violation is different wheels on the axles of the car.

The wear of tires significantly affects the behavior of the vehicle, making it less predictable, which increases the risk of a traffic accident.

Correct installation of the outside inside tire

In order for an asymmetric tire to behave correctly on the road, it must be installed in accordance with the marks: outside - outward, inside - inward.

It happens that visually the tires on the right and left axles look in different directions, as if they are installed in opposite directions. However, if the tire marks are pointing in the right directions, then the tire is installed on the car correctly.

The tires are marked outside. In this case, the right tire “looks” up, and the left one “looks” down, which gives the impression that the tires are installed in the opposite direction to each other.

How to change a tire on a car yourself?

How to change a tire?
For the majority of the male population, this question is so simple that it is not even discussed. But what if you damage a tire while traveling and there is no man nearby? You can call technical assistance, or still try to solve the problem without the help of others. Let's find out in practice whether it is difficult to change a tire with gentle women's hands?

It turned out to be completely easy. You don't need to put in a lot of effort to lift the machine. There is also no need to carry wheels. The most difficult thing on some cars is to find a jack and a set of tools. Dear car ladies, we bring to your attention a step-by-step summary of how to change a tire.

To replace a damaged wheel we will need:

• Wheel chocks or a pair of bricks;
• Jack;
• Wheel key;
• Piece of pipe;
• Gloves;
• Some clothes to avoid getting dirty;
• Spare wheel.

Bottom line

The outside and inside marks are used to indicate which side of the asymmetrical tire should face outward and which side should face inward of the vehicle.

Modern tires have a certain type of tread pattern. This pattern can be: non-directional, directional and asymmetrical. Thanks to this variety, sometimes you can get into an unpleasant situation when the car, for unknown reasons, starts to drive to the right or left, although it is configured correctly. In this situation, most likely, during the next “change of shoes” from summer to winter or from winter to summer, the wheel was installed incorrectly. How to determine the direction of tire rotation in order to avoid such situations? You will find the answer in this article.

The importance of directional tire installation for different tread types.

So, as noted earlier, tires can have a non-directional, directional and asymmetrical pattern.

It is this pattern that determines the requirements of tires for directional installation:

• non-directional tires, by the way, the most budget option, work equally in any direction of rotation;
• asymmetrical - require careful installation, since such tires have a strictly defined direction of rotation - the inner side (indicated on the tire by the word “inside”) and the outer side (indicated by the word “outside”);
• directional - the most demanding in terms of their installation; they have a specific tread pattern that resembles a herringbone. This pattern has grooves for draining water when the tires come into contact with the road surface, due to which the risk of a phenomenon such as hydroplaning, when a car, moving on a wet road surface at high speed, begins to lose contact with the road, is minimal.

That is why the question of the direction of tire rotation is most relevant for owners of tires with a directional tread pattern. Fortunately, today almost all manufacturers put “hints” on their tires: large arrows are drawn on their sidewalls, which precisely indicate the required direction of rotation. Although there may be only one arrow, then the word “Rotation” will be present next to it.

If they are not there, know that tires with a “herringbone” should be installed so that the top of this herringbone touches the road first when rotating, that is, it looks in the direction opposite to the movement of the car.

Please note that in some cases there are tires that have both an asymmetrical and directional tread pattern. They should be installed according to generally accepted markings.

If you encounter difficulties in determining the direction of tire rotation, do not hesitate to consult specialists who will help you understand all the nuances and also provide more accurate information on this issue.

Approach the issue of installing tires competently and wisely, because your safety depends on it!

Different tires for front and rear wheels

Next, we will consider the installation of tires that have different treads on the back and front. Current legislation strictly prohibits the operation of a vehicle that has different wheels installed at the front and rear. And here, as expected, the issue of traffic safety is also acute. The tread of the front and rear wheels should have an identical degree of wear and have an equal degree of traction with the road surface. Danger also lies in uneven acceleration and braking, especially on slippery roads. For example, if good tires are on the front axle of a car, then when braking on a slippery surface (for front-wheel drive cars), the front part will have more grip on the road surface, resulting in a resonance of braking forces on the axles, which will cause the rear part of the car to skid (it will go ahead of the front axle), which is very dangerous. During Soviet times, due to the fact that domestic cars were equipped with universal-purpose (all-season) tires, the thought of installing winter tires on both axles did not particularly bother the owners. But whatever one may say, knowledgeable people advise not to tempt fate and not install different tires. Because different tires are synonymous with a traffic accident.

Video.

Installing tires and wheels: we give competent advice

For an experienced car enthusiast, installing tires and wheels will take a few minutes, but for those people who do not feel confident in this area and do not have certain skills and abilities, it will be difficult. Most likely, they will have many questions and difficulties. Shall we help them? Necessarily. Then let's figure out together how to properly install a tire to make driving enjoyable and as safe as possible.

Let’s make a reservation right away that this article is largely aimed at beginners, so people who are “in the know” may not find anything new in it, but I would really like you to read it too, express your opinion on this issue and give a couple recommendations. Thank you in advance!

One interesting note

When tires are replaced in pairs, it is better to install new tires with an unworn tread pattern on the rear axle, and leave the old ones on the front axle. This helps the driver maintain better control of the vehicle on wet roads because new tires tend to resist hydroplaning on the rear axle more effectively.

About the features of tread patterns

And now we will talk about the types of tread design, because the method of mounting the tire depends on it.

Regular omnidirectional pattern

Rubber with a regular non-directional pattern is very easy to install. It can be mounted in any position. You don’t need to look for any identifying patterns on the outside or inside of the tire. In general, everything is extremely simple and clear.

Directional tread pattern

There are already certain rules here. Such tires should be installed strictly in the direction of rotation. It will be indicated by an arrow on the sidewall of the tire. If you neglect this rule, the protector will lose the much-needed ability to self-clean. On the contrary, it will become a “vacuum cleaner”, that is, it will attract all the water and dirt to itself. What awaits you as a result? Severe deterioration in adhesion properties.

Asymmetrical directional pattern

Here you need to be even more careful. It is necessary to install the tires so that on each wheel the marks on the inner and outer sides of the tire coincide, as well as the direction of rotation. In order to achieve this, two pairs of rubber are needed. Four identical tires will not fit. You need exactly two “right” and two “left”. By the way, due to a number of operational inconveniences, the production of such tires is significantly limited.

Asymmetrical omnidirectional pattern

Here you need to carefully look at the markings on the sidewalls. This will allow you to distinguish which sidewall is the outer one. Typically, tire manufacturers mark the inner side with words such as “Side facing in” and “Inside”. In turn, the external one is designated as “Outside” and “Side facing out”. In general, take your time during installation and strictly follow these symbols so that the installation of asymmetrical tires is carried out correctly.

So, we've sorted that out, and now let's move on directly to tips on the installation process.

Start of installation

The best place where you can find the correct tire removal/installation procedure for your specific car model is, of course, its owner's manual. In it you will find many useful tips and recommendations.

Step #1

To remove your old wheels and tires, you need to unscrew the nuts. We recommend that you only use hand tools as this will be safer. An impact wrench is good, however, if you do not know how to use it, then it is better not to do it. It is better to study under the supervision of a person who knows how to handle it. In general, a “good old” or special car key is quite suitable for the unscrewing procedure. Do not unscrew the nuts completely. You just need to weaken them.

Step #2

Raise the car using a jack. Be sure to do this only on a flat surface. Now you can completely unscrew the nuts and remove the wheels.

Step #
3
Place the new tires opposite the old ones. Let each tire take its final position so that you don't get confused later. You can check whether you did this correctly by re-reading a piece of our article about the features of tread patterns.

Attention! Take the time to check the condition of the wheel nuts. Loosen and tighten them. If you feel strong resistance or see roughness, this should be corrected before installing the wheel. Many stores sell special thread restoration kits. They will be useful to you.

Step #4

Carefully remove all rust and dirt from the surfaces of the brake rotors and drums.

Step #5

Check the fit of the wheel on the vehicle hub. Even the slightest deviation of the center of the hub directly from the center of the disc will cause wheel runout. This is usually accompanied by vibration in the steering wheel. You will definitely feel it. In the worst case, the security of the wheel will be compromised.

Step #6

To make sure your car bolts (studs) and nuts are the correct thread sizes, you need to install them without the wheels. You shouldn't feel any resistance. How to understand this? They must be turned by hand, that is, without using a wrench. If this doesn't happen, then something is wrong.

Check the chart to determine the approximate number of threads for wheel bolts and studs based on their size.

Step #7

Be sure to treat the wheel bolts and disk seats from corrosion. A wax spray or some other product is perfect for this.

Step #8

If everything went smoothly, then you can safely install the wheels.

Step #9

Now comes the so-called “post-installation checks” stage. Run your hand over each wheel, making sure the outer edge of the rim does not touch the inside of the rim.

That's all! Thank you for your attention!

For an experienced motorist, it will not be difficult to perform such an operation; for beginners, this task will not be easy. The lack of practical experience and theoretical skills can be a dead end when the question arises: “How to correctly position the tires in the direction of travel.” Let's try to figure it out.

How to do wheel alignment

Those who have at least a little experience know that periodically you need to contact a car service to adjust the wheel alignment.

Wheel alignment, what is it? The simplest definition is the angles of car wheels.

Front camber (Camber) is the angle of inclination of the wheel relative to the road surface in the vertical plane (alpha angle). If the top of the wheel is inclined towards the center of the car, then the camber is negative, if outward, then it is positive. The left and right camber should be as close as possible to each other. The camber difference should not exceed 30′, as it can cause the vehicle to move away from straight-line motion.

Toe-in or toe-off (TOE) is the angle between the plane of rotation of the wheel and the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Toe-in promotes the correct position of the front wheels at various vehicle speeds and turning angles. In most cases, toe is adjusted by changing the length of the side tie rods.

Signs of toe deviation from the norm: severe saw-tooth wear of the tires (even with small deviations), squealing tires when turning, increased fuel consumption due to high rolling resistance of the front wheels (the vehicle roll is much less than expected).

The longitudinal inclination of the king pin (or the axis of rotation) (CASTER) is the angle between the vertical and the projection of a line passing through the centers of the ball joints onto a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. It helps stabilize the front wheels in the direction of straight motion. The ball axle or strut should be at an angle like a fork on a motorcycle. Characteristic signs of deviation of the angle from the norm: the car pulls to the side when driving, different forces on the steering wheel during left and right turns, one-sided tread wear, squealing tires when cornering.

King pin (KING-PIN) is the angle of inclination of the steering axis (king pin) of the wheel (ab) in the transverse plane as seen from the front. It is set by the design of the steering knuckle (green in the figure) and is not adjustable.

The adjacent angle (in the figure α + β) is the total angle of camber and lateral inclination of the king pin.

The rolling shoulder (in Figure A) is the distance from the line of intersection of the central plane of rotation of the wheel with the supporting surface to the point of intersection of the axis of rotation of the wheel with the same surface. If the point of intersection of the wheel turning axis with the road lies on the inner side of the plane of rotation of the wheel, then the running shoulder is positive, on the outer side it is negative.

Axle offset (SET-BACK) is the angle formed by a line perpendicular to the vehicle's longitudinal line of symmetry and a line through the (front or rear) axle connecting the wheel centers. For example, on the front axle it occurs when the longitudinal angle of the wheel axis (Caster) is incorrectly adjusted.

The axle offset is positive when the right wheel is ahead (according to the direction of travel) relative to the left wheel. It is negative when the right wheel is behind (according to the direction of travel) relative to the left wheel. You could observe the displacement of the rear axle on Volgas; the car seems to be driving sideways (by the way, on Volgas this happens when one stepladder weakens and one side of the axle moves forward or backward along the spring).

THRUST LINE - The thrust line (direction of thrust) can be simply understood as perpendicular to the rear axle. This is a somewhat simplified concept, since the angles of the rear wheels themselves are not taken into account. The thrust angle or motion angle is the angle between the vehicle's axis of symmetry and the direction of thrust. The direction of force on the rear axle, called axle load, is determined by the toe-in of the rear wheels.

The axial pressure line is determined by the difference between the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the vehicle and the axial loads.

If the axial pressure angle is not equal to “0,” then the front wheels tend to turn in the same direction as the rear wheels, trying to straighten the vehicle’s trajectory into a straight line. As a result, the body will be directed at an angle to the direction of travel.

The axle load angle is negative when the axle load is directed to the left of the driver, and positive when the axle load is directed to the right of the driver. The driving angle should be equal to “0” for vehicles with correctly adjusted rear wheel alignment angles. The angle of movement (more than 20′) may also indicate a violation of the geometry of the body.

Ground clearance - ground clearance height.

Before visiting the wheel alignment, it is recommended to make sure that the tire pressure is normal (on foreign cars, there is a sign on the left door or pillar), the tread wear on the left and right wheels is approximately the same, there is no play in the bearings and steering, and the wheel rims are not deformed.

Car servicing. Price Gathering - collapse

Tire and wheel installation process

First, you should read the operating instructions. Next, successive installation operations are carried out.

Once the tires are installed on the rims, the wheels are carefully balanced. The operation is performed on a special machine. Its necessity is due to discrepancies in the weight of the various components of the tire, the so-called error. Its presence is dictated by the specific tire manufacturing technology.

When the wheels are stationary, the error is not noticeable, but immediately makes itself felt during movement. The wheel "beats". This deviation is most significant when installing tires on the front wheels.

To eliminate the difference, balancing weights are used; their weight depends on the quality of the mounted tires:

• expensive tire models offer a higher quality product; the difference reaches a minimum level, which requires minimal participation of balancing weights.
• The economy option is less practical in this regard. Manufactured products are produced on obsolete equipment, this leads to a significant error - up to several tens of g. In this case, the number of weights increases significantly.

When working with cheap tires, situations arise where it is impossible to balance. In this case, the wheel is installed on the rear.

Wheel balancing fully confirms the well-known pattern: a low price offers similar quality, and vice versa. Such difficulties lead to imperfections, which provoke “beating” of the wheel as soon as the car starts moving. Therefore, the balancing procedure must be under the personal control of the machine owner (if the work is carried out in a service center).

21.12.2017 01:00

Winter tires are tires designed specifically for vehicle operation in weather conditions when the air temperature is below +7 C. There are quite a few differences from summer tires, and they are very influential. Driving on summer tires in winter is a risk to your car and your health.

At the end of autumn or early spring, many motorists go to a tire shop or service station to have their cars fitted with the correct tires. While you drink coffee or tea, the technicians will bring the car into proper condition. After this, you need to check whether they did everything correctly! You may ask, how can you incorrectly change your car to winter tires? Yes, simply, for example, the direction of the tread is mixed up.

What to look for when choosing tires

Choosing the right tires is necessary based on basic criteria. We have collected the main characteristics:

• Date of manufacture. This is an important parameter that you should always pay attention to. Especially if you purchased tires online or on the car market. In branded stores they always monitor the expiration date. Tires that were released 5-6 years ago lose their quality when compared with new products. You can find out the date of manufacture by four numbers. Example: 2212. The decoding is as follows: week 22, 2012.
• Load index. This parameter indicates how much weight can be placed on one wheel. The thickness of the frame depends on the index. The higher the number, the thicker the tire. It is recommended to buy tires with a load rating of 20-35% of the total vehicle weight. If you take tires with a large margin, you will lose comfort while driving. Also, heavy wheels will negatively affect the performance of the suspension.
• Speed ​​index. You can find out which index is suitable for your car in the operating instructions. The characteristic is located on the sidewall of the tire. Designations: from "H" to "Z". The minimum indicator for passenger cars is “N”, that is, 140 km/h. Each subsequent letter adds 10 km/h to the speed. The best option is “S”.
• Wear resistance. On all tires this parameter is designated as “Treadwear”. The wear resistance coefficient is indicated on the tire. The basic coefficient is 100, that is, 48 ​​thousand kilometers. Tires of average quality and higher have a coefficient of 400 (about 200 thousand km). To choose the right tires, you need to understand that the mileage indicated is a reference: high-quality asphalt, quiet ride. When buying a model with a coefficient of 400, you should expect that it will last for a maximum of 4 seasons.