Have you ever driven your car and noticed a slight wobble? Could there be a puncture? Or, it could be the roads causing the problem.
Sometimes, you are scared to drive on certain stretches because they are slippery, and the treads on your tires are worn down.
Driving with low-tire tread can be extremely risky. Whatever the reason you want to change your car’s tires, you need to know how much time it takes. Mainly it depends on the tools you have and your skill level.
Many experienced people can change the tires fast and take more time to take out a tire and jack from the trunk! If you have changed a car tire before, you know that the first time is difficult; you tend to take less time once you get the hang of it.
Time Taken To Change A Tire Will Depend On Several Factors
You cannot have a fixed time for changing a tire. Changing tires is quite a straightforward job, and some people can take less than 15 minutes per tire, while others can take up to an hour.
Have you ever seen professional car racing? They change all four tires when they make a pit stop in just about 4 to 6 seconds.
Every second matters in a race and the mechanics have the best training and tools at their disposal. It is not the same for a normal car tire, with the normal change process. A few things are important and will determine how much time you take to change a tire.
- Are you on a busy road or in your garage? You may need to be more careful on the road, use hazard lights, etc.
- How much strength do you have? Is it easy for you to pull out a new tire and handle the heavier tools?
- The model and size of the car are extremely important. SUVs take more time than a hatchback
- Are you changing the tire on your own, or do you have help? Are you taking it to a mechanic?
The professionals can naturally do the job faster, but if you take your car to a busy garage, the waiting itself may take a lot of time.
Why Should You Replace Car Tires?
As a car owner, you need to know when it is essential to change the tires. You should not always wait for a puncture or other damage to change the tire. Again, several factors can help you decide the right time for changing a tire.
- What kind of driver are you?
- Condition of the road which you use most often
- The prevailing weather conditions
- Design and quality of the tire
- How old are the tires?
- How much tire pressure do you normally have?
- Do the tires rotate regularly?
The user’s driving style is essential because the condition of the tires depends a lot on this. The treads in a tire can be worn out faster with certain drivers because of sudden dragging, acceleration, and braking style.
Factors Due To Which You May Take A Longer Time To Change A Tire
Sometimes, it may take much longer than you expect to change a tire. There are many reasons for this. The type and size of the vehicle is probably the most common reason. Some vehicles require careful and slow handling. Some cars need to remove the hubcap and wheel cover before changing the tire.
Moreover, after putting the new tire in, the whole process has to be repeated the other way around. Bigger tires usually have more nuts and are heavier as well.
So, changing tires will take more time compared to smaller tires. Some bigger vehicles even have such huge tires that they need a mini crane for replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do you change a tire?
- Park the vehicle in a safe place away from heavy traffic or other obstructions
- Gather all the necessary tools from the trunk. You must ensure that you keep the tools in good condition
- Loosen the bolts and lift the tire. Keep the nuts and bolts carefully aside.
- Change the flat tire with a new tire and put the nut and bolts back
- Lower and tighten the new tire in place. Gather all the tools and put them carefully back in the trunk
Q. How much time can it take to change 4 tires?
A. Usually, changing all four tires can take about 40 minutes to one hour. The time mainly depends on your tools and skill level apart from the fact whether you have some help or not. On average, it may take approximately 15 minutes to change one tire.
Q. Is it dangerous to drive with a flat tire?
A. As far as possible, avoid driving with a flat tire. However, if you have no other choice and need to travel some distance, you must drive very slowly and take a short distance. Park the car safely and call roadside assistance for the best solution.
Q. What should the minimum pressure in tires be?
A. For standard passenger car tires, 20 psi (pounds per square inch) is the minimum pressure. If the pressure goes below 20psi, it is like having a flat tire. Driving with such low pressure is risky and can blow out the tire.
Conclusion
Having a flat tire is always inconvenient, especially when you are out on your own and there is no garage nearby. You need to have the right tools and also be willing to spend a lot of time and effort in changing the tire. Even if you want to take it to a garage to change the tire, it will affect your schedule and cost you money.
Calling roadside assistance can be helpful, but what if your mobile phone does not work or you are in an area where there is no reception? All drivers must know how to change tires fast and carry the necessary tools in the car trunk. Knowing how to change a tire is an important skill to have that can be extremely useful in your times of need.
