How to Change Subaru Tires

It doesn’t matter if you have just purchased your very first Subaru or if you have had it since the day it rolled off the lot; sooner or later, you will need to change one of its tires. It’s always best to have the proper equipment on hand to complete this task correctly, so take note of these simple steps to change Subaru tires.

  • Find A Safe Location

It is not safe to jack up your car on a busy road. Make sure you have ample room to maneuver around your vehicle. You can remove tires from different sides of your car if need be. The parking lot at an auto parts store is perfect, as driveways or streets are free of traffic.

  • Make Sure The Hazard Lights Are On And The Parking Brakes Are Engaged

Next, turn on your hazard lights so other drivers can see you working. The last thing you want is for someone to crash into your car while it’s sitting with its doors open; not only will it ruin their day, but also there’s potential for damage to occur, which could affect how much money you end up paying out.

  • Apply Wheel Wedges And Remove The Wheel Cover

The wheel wedges are there to help support your car so you can safely get to each tire. Clips hold on the wheel cover, so you should have no problem getting it off without tools. Just squeeze in one of your fingers and pull it off. What you will see underneath is a black plastic disk that protects your lug nuts from rusting. It just pops out with some force, so pull it off with your hands.

  • Loosen The Lug Nuts

You can loosen them with a lug wrench or loosen them by hand if they’re only slightly tight. When loosening by hand, you don’t need to completely remove them. Just give them a few turns so that they will slide right off when you pull out your jack later.

  • Lift The Vehicle Using A Jack

Place your jack under your subaru’s frame rail in an area where it is not susceptible to damage. Remember that subarus are notorious for rusting, so try to avoid contact with anything but steel. It’s also best to use a hydraulic jack, as it will handle more weight than a manual one. Make sure you don’t lift it too high, as that can cause damage to your vehicle.

  • Remove The Flat Tire

When removing your flat tire, be sure to set it aside from any traffic. Keep an eye on it until you’re ready to put a new one on. (Never put your old tire in your trunk; it could spring a leak or cause damage.) This is also a good time to clean off your wheel wells and check for rust or other damage.

  • Install The Spare Tire

Putting on a spare tire is easier than taking off a regular tire. You can have it on and ready to use in just a few minutes as soon as you put on those lug nuts.

  • Clean Up

Now that you’ve got everything situated and ready to go, you want to make sure things don’t get dirty again over time.