Twice a year drivers in Ukraine swap wheels: in autumn, once the average daily temperature stays below +7 °C, winter tyres go on, and in spring the summer set returns. If your tyres are already mounted on their own rims, you can do the swap yourself and skip the queue at the tyre shop.
You need basic tools, a level surface and about an hour. Below is the procedure for swapping complete wheels on rims. Fitting tyres onto rims and balancing should be done at a tyre shop.
What you will need
Important: Never work under a car supported only by a jack. Keep all products off brake discs, pads and tyre treads, and wipe off any excess straight away.
Step 1
Secure the car
Park on firm, level ground, apply the handbrake and engage a gear or P. Chock the wheels you are not removing on both sides. Lay out your tools and the replacement wheels nearby.
Mark each removed wheel with chalk for its position (FL, FR, RL, RR) so you can rotate them correctly next season.
Step 2
Loosen the wheel bolts
Remove the wheel trims and, with the wheel still on the ground, loosen the bolts or nuts about two turns, evenly, without removing them.
After a season of road salt, fixings often seize. Apply WD-40 Specialist Penetrant or WD-40 Multi-Use, give it a few minutes to work into the thread and try again. Wipe off the excess so it does not reach the brake disc.
Step 3
Raise the car and remove the wheel
Place the jack at the designated jacking point, raise the car until the wheel clears the ground and position an axle stand. Undo the fixings and take the wheel off.
Check the brake disc and pads for wear, and the tyre you have removed for cuts, bulges and remaining tread depth.
Step 4
Clean the hub and rotate the wheels
Use a wire brush to clean rust and dirt from the hub mounting face and centring spigot so the rim sits flat. You can apply a thin film of WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease to the centring spigot, but keep the threads and mounting face clean.
For even wear, tyres are rotated between axles from time to time unless they are directional: check the rotation arrow on the sidewall.
Step 5
Fit the new wheel
Offer the wheel up to the hub, start the bolts by hand and snug them diagonally without force. Lower the car, remove the jack and tighten the fixings fully with a torque wrench, diagonally, to the vehicle manufacturer's specified torque.
Repeat for the remaining wheels and check the pressure in all tyres.
Step 6
Prepare the removed wheels for storage
Wash and dry the wheels and store them somewhere dark, cool and dry, away from heaters. Wheels on rims can be stacked flat or hung; tyres without rims stand upright and should be turned monthly. Do not treat tyres with WD-40 products. Spray the bolts for the spare set with WD-40 Multi-Use and keep them in a bag.
Tip: Always re-check the bolt torque after 50-100 km: the rim settles fully onto the hub in the first few miles.
What next
While you swap wheels, treat door locks, hinges and the fuel flap mechanism with WD-40 Smart Straw so they do not freeze or stick in winter.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».