Wheel Swapping

[TW]Fox · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:26

NeverWinter said:
Well that was the idea, then new tyres on the rear soon.

I don't see any point. Just leave them as they are and when you get new tyres, ask the tyre fitters to fit them to the rear leaving the other half decent set for the front.

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:30

[TW]Fox;16166366 said:
I don't see any point. Just leave them as they are and when you get new tyres, ask the tyre fitters to fit them to the rear leaving the other half decent set for the front.

To be honest I maye end up doing this. I just wanted to prolong wear for a bit seeing as I need to spend loads on it over the next month or 2 as it is...
Insurance/Tax/Service/Tyres.

Matt82 · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:31

[TW]Fox;16166329 said:
Why do you want to do this? If its for 'wear' reasons be aware you shouldn't fit your most worn tyres to the rear.

is there actually a good sauce for this is it just an old wives tale thing? ive swapped tyres front to back plenty of times and not ended up flying off the road in a ball of fire. i expect lots of people have

Dogbreath · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:36

Robbie G said:
It's amusing how certain people on these forums absolutely pan others for running tyres down to near the legal limit, yet when it comes to correctly torquing wheel nuts, it's all gung-ho and blasé.

It's easy to over torque wheel nuts aside from anything else. Stripping the thread on a wheel nut = new hub time.

Just use the the wheel brace that comes with the car and you won't over torque the nuts/bolts. In a perfect world everyone would use a torque wrench, but in practice most people don't, and even if they do the chances of getting exactly the right torque are minimal with old wheel nuts/bolts that are either corroded or plastered in copper slip.

Participant · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:36

Matt82 said:
is there actually a good sauce for this is it just an old wives tale thing? ive swapped tyres front to back plenty of times and not ended up flying off the road in a ball of fire. i expect lots of people have

I suspect lots of people have successfully avoided HIV having unprotected sex; doesn't make it a good idea.

[TW]Fox · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:38

Matt82 said:
is there actually a good sauce for this is it just an old wives tale thing? ive swapped tyres front to back plenty of times and not ended up flying off the road in a ball of fire. i expect lots of people have

There is a fantastic video on Youtube done by Vicky Butler-Henderson (So a better driver than everyone in this thread) which demonstrates exactly why its a good idea and exactly what can happen if you ignore it.

MikeHiow · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:43

I've always used a torque wrench if there is one handy, but I will not fret if I don't have access to one, nor will I go particularly out of my way to check them afterwards if one wasn't available.

However, Those saying that a torque wrench is pointless, are clearly idiots - there are several reasons to use a torque wrench, however, there aren't really any reasons not to use one.

NeverWinter · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:46

[TW]Fox;16166481 said:
There is a fantastic video on Youtube done by Vicky Butler-Henderson (So a better driver than everyone in this thread) which demonstrates exactly why its a good idea and exactly what can happen if you ignore it.

Was it a 5th Gear thing?

Wicksta · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:52

MikeHiow said:
I've always used a torque wrench if there is one handy, but I will not fret if I don't have access to one, nor will I go particularly out of my way to check them afterwards if one wasn't available.

However, Those saying that a torque wrench is pointless, are clearly idiots - there are several reasons to use a torque wrench, however, there aren't really any reasons not to use one.

I don't see anyone saying torque wrenches are pointless, only that one isn't needed for doing up wheel studs/nuts. I use my torque wrench as an when needed, I'd personally rather not use it on wheelnuts as I change them quite often and I prefer to use the torque wrench for more important jobs*. If you want to use a torque wrench then fine, no one is stopping you and there is nothing wrong with it assuming its a farily decent one and you get it regularly calibrated.

*This doesn't mean you can reply "OH, HAVING WHEELS CORRECTLY ON IS NOT IMPORTANT?" - I just know I'm able to torque them adequately enough without using the torque wrench.

Felix · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:57

Just remember to check the wheel nuts after about 50 miles.

I get around · 16 Mar 2010 at 12:58

Biohazard said:
This. I personally just use breaker bar, until wheels starts to skip back a touch then done.

90% of garages will probably do it this way as well.

This is the way I do it, the way a mates dad taught me to do it. And he used to be a mechanic.

No need to use a torque wrench on wheel nuts unless you're ocd.

dazz25 · 16 Mar 2010 at 13:08

Torquing the wheel nuts is important when alloys are involved. Over tightening the nuts can crack the alloy.

Matt82 · 16 Mar 2010 at 13:09

"all garages do it like that"

says it all tbh

Eriedor · 16 Mar 2010 at 13:12

[TW]Fox;16166329 said:
Why do you want to do this? If its for 'wear' reasons be aware you shouldn't fit your most worn tyres to the rear.

Surely it depends on how worn the fronts are? Naturally if they're practically on the wear indicator it's not a good idea but just because they're more worn doesn't mean they're suddenly dangerously ungrippy and putting them on the back will cause over steer.

Moving fronts to back can simply be a good way of evenly wearing the tires.

I get around · 16 Mar 2010 at 14:29

dazz25 said:
Torquing the wheel nuts is important when alloys are involved. Over tightening the nuts can crack the alloy.

You just don't give them hell. I've never cracked an alloy or had one come loose using a normal breaker bar.

fonzee · 16 Mar 2010 at 14:31

Janesy B said:

arches look in good health. what you doing with the tank off?

im undersealing mine atm, should have taken the tank off really

ste_bla · 16 Mar 2010 at 15:13

Two pump/bottle jacks from Halfords £12 ec iirc.

NeverWinter said:
Yes a jack... Good for changing one wheel at a time. If i'm going to do something I like to do it properly.

Use your spare okay means you need to change tyres 5 times but free...

Biohazard · 16 Mar 2010 at 15:19

Matt82 said:
"all garages do it like that"

says it all tbh

says what matt?

Janesy B · 16 Mar 2010 at 15:19

fonzee said:
arches look in good health. what you doing with the tank off?

im undersealing mine atm, should have taken the tank off really

The Earth Pin for the sender unit was arcing in the connector, causing the car to cut out. Electrical cleaner and some rough paper sorted that. Arches are good, only a few bubbles on the inside lip which isn't bad for a 12 year old car.

Undersealed the rear while I was under there.

Biohazard · 16 Mar 2010 at 15:20

still got the drums on it? not painted them?