[Last updated 6/13/2017]
I’m not going to tell anyone reading this how to change a tire, but here’s a quick check list of things to remember
- Check all of your parts before you start (wheels, tires, TPMS sensors, lug nuts, center caps)
- If you don’t have an impact wrench (you can buy an electric one from the cheep tool store for $50 these days), make sure that you can loosen the lugs (if the last guy used an impact it can be difficult).
- If you’re working in a garage make sure that they vehicle will fit through the door after installing the larger tires
- Place the jack far enough from the tire/towards the center of the vehicle to ensure that the new wider tire won’t hit it when you try to install it (causing you to have to put the old tire back on, lower the vehicle, move the jack and start over)
- Always remember to install the center cap before putting the wheel on (nothing worse than installing the same wheel twice because you forgot a simple step)
- AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, remember to remove the rotor retaining clips:
Rotor Retaining Clip
As you can see on the lug on the left, this little “gem” is used to keep the break parts on the axle before it is installed at the factory. The OEM Jeep wheels have an indentation that fits over this clip allowing the wheel to sit flush against the rotor. Many aftermarket wheels do not have this indentation and WILL NOT sit properly unless the clips are removed. Our last set of new wheels did have the indentation, but the wheel rocked a little when placed on the vehicle (that probably would have been fine once the wheel was tightened, but we pulled the clips off anyway just to be completely safe. We just grabbed each one with a pare of pliers and ripper them off (there were 2 on each side on the front and 3 on each side on the back).