With a few tools, a little time and some practice, changing a tyre seems straightforward at first. In practice, however, small mistakes often creep in. These can significantly affect safety, driving comfort and the lifespan of the tyres.
It is particularly worth paying close attention to the details when switching between winter and summer tyres. Incorrect tyre pressure, unevenly tightened wheel bolts or incorrect mounting position are the most common mistakes.
We explain how to avoid the seven most common mistakes when changing tyres, so that you are always safe on the road and your tyres also last significantly longer.
Key points at a glance
- Timing is everything: winter and summer tyres should be fitted according to the weather conditions.
- Safety always comes first: incorrect tyre pressure, loose wheel bolts or damaged tyres increase the risk on the road.
- Changing them yourself requires know-how: anyone wanting to change their tyres themselves needs the right tools and a safe procedure.
- A specialist garage saves time and reduces the risk of mistakes: professional assistance is particularly worthwhile for modern vehicles.
- Costs also play a role: anyone searching for ‘tyre change costs’ should compare not only the price but also the service.
Mistake 1: Choosing the wrong time to change tyres
Many drivers wait too long to change their tyres. Others change them too early. Both compromise driving safety.
As a rule of thumb: winter tyres from October to Easter, summer tyres from Easter to October. However, the temperature is always the deciding factor. If it drops below around seven degrees, winter tyres perform significantly better than summer tyres.
If you plan the changeover in good time, you’ll avoid long waiting times at the garage and stay safe on the road even in changeable weather conditions.
You can read more about seasonal changes in our article on changing winter tyres.
Mistake 2: Not checking tyre pressure
After changing their tyres, many drivers forget to check the tyre pressure. Yet the correct pressure has a direct impact on safety, driving comfort and tyre wear.
If the pressure is too low, rolling resistance increases and the tyre wears out faster. Conversely, too high a pressure reduces the contact patch on the road. You should therefore check the tyre pressure immediately after changing the tyres and ensure you adjust it in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
Mistake 3: Fitting the wheels incorrectly
If you change the tyres yourself, the wheels are often fitted in the wrong position. Many tyres have a specified direction of rotation or are only intended for certain axles.
You should therefore look out for markings such as ‘Rotation’ or ‘Outside’. These indicate how the tyre should be fitted. Incorrect fitting impairs handling and also increases wear.
Mistake 4: Tightening wheel bolts incorrectly
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque. If they are too loose, they can come loose whilst driving. If, on the other hand, they are tightened too much, there is a risk of damaging the threads or rims.
When changing tyres, it is therefore always advisable to use a torque wrench. This ensures the bolts are tightened evenly and securely.
Mistake 5: Not rotating the tyres
Many drivers fit their tyres in the same position every year. This causes the tyres to wear unevenly.
We recommend rotating the tyres. Tyres from the front axle can, for example, be moved to the rear axle. This distributes wear more evenly and makes the tyres last longer. This does not apply to Volvos and other vehicles with different tyre sizes on the front and rear axles. In this case, it is not possible to swap the tyres.
Mistake 6: Overlooking damaged or worn tyres
When changing your tyres, it’s always worth taking a quick look at their condition. Small cracks, embedded foreign objects or severely worn treads often go unnoticed, unfortunately.
Tread depth plays a particularly important role in safety and braking distance for both winter and summer tyres. In Switzerland, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. However, experts recommend significantly more, especially in winter road conditions.
How much tread depth should tyres really have?
The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres in Switzerland is 1.6 millimetres. However, this limit merely marks the absolute minimum. Even before reaching this point, important driving characteristics such as braking performance and grip decrease significantly.
The TCS therefore recommends taking action early:
- Summer tyres: Change at the latest when tread depth reaches 3 mm
- Winter tyres: Change at a tread depth of 4 mm at the latest
The decisive factor is always the tread depth in the centre of the tread, not at the tyre shoulders.
Tyres with highly uneven wear can also be rejected regardless of the tread depth. It is therefore particularly worthwhile to carry out a regular check before changing tyres.
Mistake 7: Forgetting to check the wheel bolts again
Many drivers think the job is done once they’ve changed the tyres. But there’s still one important check to carry out. After driving around 50 to 100 kilometres, the wheel bolts should be checked again. They can settle slightly due to the movement of the vehicle. A quick check of just a few minutes helps to ensure that all bolts are still tight and that the vehicle remains safe on the road.
Hüsser & Palkoska – Your partner for tyre changes and tyre service
If you prefer to leave tyre changes to the professionals, Hüsser & Palkoska and Volvo Baar offer the right service. The team assists customers with the seasonal changeover from winter to summer tyres, as well as in selecting the optimal tyres for their vehicle. Safety, a perfect fit and comfort are clearly the focus here.
The service includes more than just a professional wheel change. Volvo Baar also takes care of the correct fitting and, on request, offers convenient storage in the wheel and tyre hotel. If you don’t have space at home or don’t want to store tyres yourself, this helps you keep things tidy and saves time until your next appointment.
