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Installation Guidelines |
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Thank you for choosing Discount Tire Direct! To receive the full
benefit of your purchase, please take a few moments and review the
following checklist. If you are unsure of how to replace a tire
and wheel assembly on your vehicle, please consult your vehicle
owner's manual or seek professional assistance. If you have any
questions concerning these instructions or your order, please call
one of our knowledgeable sales-agents at 800-589-6789. |
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1. |
Please check to make sure all merchandise has arrived and is undamaged.
If merchandise arrived damaged, please see instructions on the back of
the invoice. Verify that all merchandise is the correct size and type
you ordered. Be sure to open and check all packages. Also make sure all
needed hardware (caps, lug nuts, bolts, centering rings, etc.) has been
included with your order. Refer back to the original invoice if you are
unsure. |
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2. |
If you purchased directional tires or asymmetric tires, the first step
before installing them is to match each tire and wheel to its final
position on your vehicle. For directional tires, refer to the rotation
arrow branded on the tire's sidewall - there will be two with right side
rotation and two with left side rotation. The arrow indicates the direction
in which the tire should turn. For asymmetric tires, all tires should show
sidewall branding indicating "Side Facing Outward" and can be mounted on
either side of the vehicle. |
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3. |
NOTE: if you only purchased wheels, test fitting for clearance must be
done prior to mounting the tires. First, slightly loosen the lug nuts with
an appropriate lug wrench. Next, jack the vehicle up until the tire clears
the floor. Support the vehicle with jack stands, making sure that the
stands rest on a flat surface. Carefully remove lugs and check the
condition of the vehicle's lug studs or wheel bolts as you remove them.
If you feel any resistance or see any roughness after removing the wheels,
correct it before reinstalling the wheels. 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. 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. |
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4. |
After removing your old wheels, it may be necessary to clean the hub
area with a wire brush to remove any loose rust or dirt. This will ensure
a clean and even mounting surface and that the wheel will sit completely
flat against the drum. It is recommended that you retain your original
lug hardware and store it with the spare. Original equipment lug hardware
often differs from aftermarket hardware and may be required when mounting
the spare tire on the vehicle. |
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5. |
Check the fit of the wheel onto the hub of the vehicle. When installing each
wheel, make sure the wheel fits flush against the hub area and that there is
no gap between the hub and the mounting surface of the wheel. If the wheel will
not go on all the way, DO NOT FORCE IT ON! Check and see if anything is
obstructing the wheel. If there is any doubt, please see professional assistance
or contact one of our sales-agents. Hub centering rings (if required for your
vehicle) should already be installed in the center of the wheels. Sometimes, it
is necessary to use tape to retain the rings in the wheels during shipping. Please
remove any tape before attempting to mount the wheel on the vehicle. If the rings
fell out of the wheel during shipment, re-install them with beveled side facing
outward. Some rings are designed to be an interference fit, and may require a rubber
mallet to install. The bolt circle of the wheel must match that of your vehicle and
the wheel must make full contact to the flat 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 us at 800-589-6789. |
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6. |
For the next inspection, it will be necessary to 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 there is any
resistance, STOP! DO NOT FORCE THE LUG HARDWARE ON! 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, something is wrong! Give us a call and we will verify that
you have the correct hardware for your application. Also, do not coat the lug hardware
with grease or oil (especially the seat--the portion of the lug hardware that actually
contacts the wheel). Only after the lugs have been installed by hand until "finger tight"
should you snug them down with your lug wrench. Spin the assembly to check that it clears
all brake and suspension parts. Then lower the vehicle until the tire touches the pavement
for final torquing. |
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7. |
IMPORTANT! Wheel Lug Nut Torque. 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. The torque table below may be used
only as a general guide. Finish tightening the lugs down with an accurate
torque wrench. Use a crisscross sequence (see figure below) until they have
reached their proper torque value, then finish lowering the vehicle. |
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Wheel Lug Tightening / Loosening Patterns
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Hardware Size |
Torque |
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10MM |
45-55 Ft Lbs |
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12MM |
80-100 Ft Lbs |
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14MM |
110-140 Ft Lbs |
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7/16" |
70-80 Ft Lbs |
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1/2" |
80-100 Ft Lbs |
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9/16" |
135-145 Ft Lbs |
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Size of Bolt or Stud |
Wrench Turns |
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14 x 1.5mm |
7.5 |
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12 x 1.5mm |
6.5 |
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12 x 1.25mm |
8 |
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1/2" |
8 |
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7/16" |
8 |
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NOTE: Improper lug torque can result in stripped lug nuts, broken wheel
studs, a wheel loosening, or can cause the wheel, brake rotor or brake
drum to distort. If you are unsure, have the lug hardware torque-checked
by a qualified installation center. Recheck the lug torque within the
first 100 miles or 2-3 days following installation.
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 table above to determine the number of
turns or the depth of engagement typical for your stud or bolt size. |
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8. |
After installing all four wheels and tires, lower the vehicle and push
down gently on the vehicle at all four corners (using the bumper). This
will help to settle the suspension. Secure vehicle with the emergency
brake and/or wheel chocks and turn the front wheels side to side (lock
to lock) to check for any obstructions. Have an assistant verify that
no part of the fender or fenderwell makes contact with the tire or
wheel. Check all four wheels for proper clearance. Before driving down
the road, drive in and out of your driveway in both directions to
double-check for clearance one final time. If everything appears to fit,
drive off slowly and listen for any unusual sounds. If any are heard, stop
the vehicle immediately until the cause is determined. These steps will
ensure that you don't have any problems due to improper fitment. It will
also make exchanging an incorrect fitment much faster and easier and will
save you from potential damage to your vehicle or the wheels and tires. |
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9. |
If you purchased a mounted wheel and tire package from us, your tires will
not be inflated to your vehicle's specifications - due to weather,
temperature and shipping variables. You will need to adjust the inflation
pressures to meet the needs of your specific vehicle. Refer to the door
placard or owner's manual for minimum recommended settings by axle. You
may choose to adjust the inflation to meet your specific ride, handling,
or tire wear requirements. It is recommended that these adjustments be
made in increments of only 2-3 PSI. One of our sales-agents can also
provide you with a good starting point for inflation based on your personal
needs. |
