Tyre & Wheel Package Installation
It usually takes only minutes to install tyres and wheels on your vehicle; but remember, they'll probably be on for at least 5,000 km and will roll over a million times before it's time to rotate them. To make those kilometres as pleasant as possible, you need to install your new Tyre & Wheel Package correctly.
Check Tyre Positions
If you selected directional tyres and/or asymmetric tyres, the first step before installing them is to match each tyre and wheel to its final position on your vehicle. To prevent mistakes, actually set each wheel and tyre around your vehicle just as race teams do for pit stops.
1
Directional Tyres Only
Refer to the "rotation arrow" branding on the tyre's sidewall. The arrow indicates the direction in which the tyre should turn.
2
Asymmetric Tyres Only
All tyres should show sidewall branding indicating the side facing outward.
3
Directional and Asymmetric Tyres
Look for "Side Facing Outwards" branding and the "rotation arrow" to determine the side of the vehicle.
NOTE: If your vehicle uses two different tyre sizes, make certain to tell your tyre installer to mount the larger size on the wheels used on the rear axle.
Begin Installation
Step 1: Test fit each wheel in its final position. Check for proper fit as described below.
NOTE: If you only purchased wheels, it is imperative that test fitting is done prior to mounting the tyres.
The best place to find the correct procedure for tyre and wheel removal is in the owner's manual for your vehicle (we use hand tools exclusively). If you don't have a hoist, it may be easier to install new wheel and tyre combinations by raising your vehicle slightly, supporting it with jack stands (if available). Be sure to rest the stands or hoist on a flat surface. Then bolt the tyres and wheels on the raised car axle.
Step 2: When removing lug nuts or bolts, never use powered impact wrenches of any type. It's best to carefully remove lugs with a four-way wrench or a socket on a breaker bar. An impact wrench may damage the lugs.
ATTENTION: Check the condition of the vehicle's lug studs or wheel bolts as you loosen them. If you feel any resistance or see any roughness after removing the wheels, correct it before reinstalling the wheels. Most automotive stores sell taps and thread repair kits. Wheels must fit flat against the vehicle's hubs. Remove any rust and dirt from the hubs of brake rotors and drums. Remove any temporary retaining devices (like stud clips) used to hold brake rotors and drums in place before the wheels were installed at the factory — they may interfere with the flush fitment of your wheels against the brake hubs. The exception to this rule: large bolts holding Hyundai rotors to their hubs should not be removed. If aftermarket wheels have previously been used on the vehicle, verify that the previous wheel's hub centering rings have been removed from the hubs. If your vehicle is equipped with drum brakes and the drum's outer flange or balance weights protrude further out than the centre of the drum, verify that the wheel seats on the hub are not against the drum's outer flange or balance weights. If you have any questions, contact your sales representative.
Step 3: Check the fit of the wheel onto the hub of the vehicle. (Some wheel applications may require the use of a centering ring to create the proper fit onto the hub.) The bolt circle of the wheel must match that of your vehicle and the wheel must make full contact to the mating surface of the hub. If the wheel does not match up to the bolt circle of the vehicle, or the wheel does not have full contact to the mounting surface, please contact your sales representative.
NOTE: We suggest removing the wheel and applying a thin coating of "antiseize" around the axle hubs to help prevent rust and permit easier removal when it's time to rotate your tyres. Do not apply "antiseize" to the lug hardware or studs.
Step 4: In order to verify that you have matching lug or bolt thread sizes, first install the lug nuts or bolts without the wheel.
Step 5: For the next inspections it will be necessary to temporarily install the wheel by snugging down the lug nuts or bolts in order to verify disc brake caliper clearance. Start threading the lugs with your fingers and tighten them until they are "finger tight." If you feel resistance while doing this, inspect the lug stud and nut (or hub and bolt) to see if the threads are clean or obstructed. If the lug nut or bolt appears obstructed or does not match the thread pitch of your hubs, try another one. If another lug doesn't thread any better, give us a call — we will verify that you have the correct hardware for your application.
NOTE: Do not force your lug nuts or bolts on with a wrench — they should be able to be turned by hand. If they can't, something is wrong. Please call us on 03 9793 3244. Only after the lugs have been installed by hand until "finger tight" should you snug them down with your four-way wrench or a socket on a breaker bar.
Engagement Reference — Size of Bolt/Stud vs Number of Turns
| Size of Bolt or Stud | Number of Turns |
|---|
| 14 × 1.5 mm | 7.5 |
| 12 × 1.5 mm | 6.5 |
| 12 × 1.25 mm | 8 |
| 1/2" | 8 |
| 7/16" | 8 |
NOTE: Since the thickness of an alloy wheel can differ from Original Equipment wheels, also verify that the lug nuts or bolts will engage the threads. Refer to the chart above to determine the number of turns or the depth of engagement typical for your stud or bolt size.
Step 6: Put your vehicle's transmission into neutral and turn each wheel by hand while making certain that the outer edge of the disc brake caliper doesn't touch the inside of the rim or that the side of the caliper doesn't come into contact with the backside of the wheel or the wheel balancing weights.
If you have any concerns — CALL US. We will be happy to use our experience to help solve your problem. However, if everything is progressing as we expected, it's time to torque them down.
NOTE: If you only bought wheels, you will need to get your tyres mounted.
IMPORTANT — Wheel Lug Nut Torquing
Proper installation requires that the wheel lug torque be set to the recommended specification for your vehicle. These torque specifications can be found in your vehicle's shop manual or obtained from your vehicle dealer. Finish tightening the lugs down with an accurate torque wrench. Use a crisscross sequence until they have reached their proper torque value. Be careful — if you over-torque a wheel, you can strip a lug nut, stretch or break a wheel stud, and cause the wheel, brake rotor and/or brake drum to distort.
NOTE: When installing new wheels you should re-torque them after travelling the first 50 to 100 km. This is necessary because as the wheels are "breaking in" they may compress slightly, allowing their lugs to lose some of their torque. Simply repeat the same torque procedure listed above.
Finishes and Care
Once your new wheels and tyres are installed, step back and take a good look — the new, sharper appearance will accent your vehicle splendidly. They look great now; but unfortunately, your wheels are often the dirtiest part of your car because they are constantly exposed to the elements (corrosive brake dust, ocean or road salt, stones, cinders and sticky tar).
Here are a few tips on how to maintain a wheel's original splendour:
- Before you install them, a coat of wax will help protect your wheels and make them easier to clean.
- Treat the finish of your wheels as you would the finish of your car. Most alloy wheels today feature a painted and/or clearcoat finish. The best way to take care of wheels without damaging their protective finish is by frequently washing them with a mild soap and water solution. Using a tar and bug remover can prevent permanent tar staining. Periodic waxing will protect the wheel's finish from the elements.
- Never use abrasive cleansers, steel wool pads or polishing compounds.
- Beware of automatic car washes. Some washes use acid cleaners either before or during the wash to remove dirt and grime. Others use stiff brushes for cleaning wheels and tyres. Both of these processes could harm your wheel's finish. Ask the employees or manager of the car wash about their equipment and procedures before entering the wash.
- Never allow your wheels and tyres to be steam-cleaned. Hot steam can dull the paint and clearcoat finish on your wheels.
- Don't clean hot wheels — wait until they cool. Water dries much faster at higher temperatures. Cleaning wheels while they are hot may cause your mild soap solution to dry too quickly, leaving spots or a film of soap on your wheels.
- Clean your tyres and wheels first, one at a time. They tend to be the dirtiest parts of your vehicle and have a variety of surfaces to clean. Use the full strength of your hose to rinse away loose dirt and finally rinse off your soap solution. Cleaning one at a time focuses your attention and ensures that the soap doesn't dry on one wheel while you're cleaning another. Use a different sponge on the rest of the car's body to prevent scratching the paint from the particles collected during the wheel cleaning process.
- Clean wheels on a regular basis — they're often the dirtiest part of your vehicle because they are constantly exposed to the elements.
Your new tyres and alloy wheels are like any other valuable investment — you should protect them. Clean them as you would the rest of your car. Care for them as you would care for your entire vehicle.
Proper Lug Nuts or Lug Bolts
While many aftermarket alloy wheels are designed to use your car's original lug nuts or bolts, others require new hardware. It may be something as critical as differences in the wheel's lug seat design, or something as simple as shorter lug heads to allow the wheel's centre caps to fit. You must only use the recommended wheel nuts — or ones supplied with your new wheels. If in doubt, do not fit wheels without seeking professional advice as to whether the nuts/bolts are correct for your car/wheels.
NOTE: Keep a set of your vehicle's Original Equipment lug nuts or bolts in the boot just in case you ever need to use your factory spare tyre, which must always be installed with the Original Equipment lug hardware.
Wheel Lug Nut Torquing
IMPORTANT. Proper installation requires that the wheel lug torque be set to the recommended specification for your vehicle. These torque specifications can be found in your vehicle's shop manual or obtained from your vehicle dealer. Finish tightening the lugs down with an accurate torque wrench. Use a crisscross sequence until they have reached their proper torque value. Be careful — over-torquing a wheel can strip a lug nut, stretch or break a wheel stud, and cause the wheel, brake rotor and/or brake drum to distort.
NOTE: When installing new wheels you should re-torque them after travelling the first 50 to 100 km. This is necessary because as the wheels are "breaking in" they may compress slightly, allowing their lugs to lose some of their torque. Simply repeat the same torque procedure listed above.
Torque Specification by Hardware Size
| Hardware Size | Torque (Ft/Lbs) |
|---|
| 10 mm | 45 – 55 |
| 12 mm | 70 – 80 |
| 14 mm | 85 – 90 |
| 7/16" | 70 – 80 |
| 1/2" | 75 – 85 |
| 9/16" | 135 – 145 |
Minimum Thread Engagement
| Size of Bolt or Stud | Minimum Number of Turns |
|---|
| 14 × 1.5 mm | 7.5 |
| 12 × 1.5 mm | 6.5 |
| 12 × 1.25 mm | 8 |
| 1/2" | 8 |
| 9/16" | 8 |
NOTE: Since the thickness of an alloy wheel can differ from Original Equipment wheels, also verify that the threads will be engaged by the lug nuts or bolts. Refer to the charts above to determine the number of turns or the depth of engagement typical for your stud or bolt size.
Offset
The offset of a wheel is the distance from its hub mounting surface to the centreline of the wheel. The offset can be one of three types.
Zero Offset
The hub mounting surface is even with the centreline of the wheel.
Positive
The hub mounting surface is toward the front (wheel side) of the wheel. Positive offset wheels are generally found on front-wheel-drive cars and newer rear-drive cars.
Negative
The hub mounting surface is toward the back (brake side) of the wheel's centreline. "Deep dish" wheels are typically a negative offset.
If the offset of the wheel is not correct for the car, the handling can be adversely affected. When the width of the wheel changes, the offset also changes numerically. If the offset were to stay the same while you added width, the additional width would be split evenly between the inside and outside — for most cars, this won't work correctly. We have test-fitted thousands of different vehicles for proper fitment. Our extensive database allows our sales staff to offer you the perfect fit for your vehicle.
The Plus Concept
Plus-sizing your wheels and tyres is the best way to improve both the performance and appearance of your vehicle. By using a larger-diameter wheel with a lower-profile tyre, it's possible to properly maintain the overall diameter of the tyre, keeping odometer and speedometer changes negligible. By using a tyre with a shorter sidewall, you gain quickness in steering response and better lateral stability. The visual appeal is obvious — most wheels look better than the sidewall of the tyre, so the more wheel and less sidewall there is, the better it looks. Please contact our sales team for assistance in the proper sizing for your vehicle.
