how do I get my Freakin winter tires off!!!

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was98strat

Member

• Apr 3, 2007

• #1

OK, I bought hub centric steelies and Pirellies for the winter. They've been great and now it's getting warm enough to switch back to my summer tires. Problem is I can't get the rims off the car now!!!!! Yes I've removed the nuts!!!! but therims just won't budge!! Any Ideas short of a sledge!

 

W

winty87

I WANT TURBO!!

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1998.5 Ford Contour SVT

• Apr 3, 2007

• #2

yeah, smack the back of them with a rubber mallot. The rears always seized up on my Protege, and thats how I got them off.

 

A

antlind

Member

:

2006 Mazda5 - GT

• Apr 3, 2007

• #3

was98strat said:

OK, I bought hub centric steelies and Pirellies for the winter. They've been great and now it's getting warm enough to switch back to my summer tires. Problem is I can't get the rims off the car now!!!!! Yes I've removed the nuts!!!! but therims just won't budge!! Any Ideas short of a sledge!

Click to expand...

I had the problem myself after a long Ontario winter.
I recommend putting the car on the ground then hammering the centre of the wheel with a rubber mallet to loosen it up.....If that fails you'll have to hammer it with the wheel off the ground.....Best bet is to take it to the dealer and have them replace the wheels....It only costs $25 and could potentially save you lots of stress.
Anthony

 

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iLisa

Member

Contributor

:

the best wagon evAr..

• Apr 3, 2007

• #4

I carry a rubber mallet in my trunk.. it fits nicely in the hole where the scissor jack is.

 

mazdadude

ZOOOOOOOOOM ZOOOOOOOOOM

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'16.5 Mazda CX-5 Touring

• Apr 3, 2007

• #5

I usually give the tire a kick, but if it is still on, you can put the lugnuts on partway, and lower the car back down onto the frozen wheel. The weight of the car, and the slack you have given it from the loossened lugnuts is usually enough. If this is still not enough, a mallet! (argh)

Keep Zooming!

 

K

Kansei

Banned

• Apr 3, 2007

• #6

a swift kick always tells them who is boss

 

M

Medicman

:

Mazda5

• Apr 3, 2007

• #7

Rim seize suggestion

What I have done in the past is use the anti-seize copper compound and wipe it on the hub..works like a charm.

 

M

MD5

Member

:

06 Carbon Gray Touring 5

• Apr 3, 2007

• #8

Medicman said:

What I have done in the past is use the anti-seize copper compound and wipe it on the hub..works like a charm.

Click to expand...

I was going to reccommend the anti-seize as well. Steel likes to electrically weld itself to aluminum.

I found this out the hard way when I neglected to put anti-seize on spark plugs in an aluminum head.

 

C

canadianexpress

Member

:

Mazda5, Acura 1.6EL

• Apr 3, 2007

• #9

had the same problem you are facing, no amount kicking would free it, had to go to the sledge hammer.

 

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07MZ5SA

Member

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2007 Mazda 5

• Apr 4, 2007

• #10

Back in the older days my buddies and I will loosen nuts slightly (double nutted) and drive arund the blocks until there's a slight vibration.

 

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olddaddy

Member

• Apr 4, 2007

• #11

07MZ5SA said:

Back in the older days my buddies and I will loosen nuts slightly (double nutted) and drive arund the blocks until there's a slight vibration.

Click to expand...

Yup, I used to do the same, Till I stripped a lug nut bolt.

 

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07MZ5SA

Member

:

2007 Mazda 5

• Apr 4, 2007

• #12

Never had a problem. Just make sure the nuts are backed up one turn from contact and back-to-back.

This method does not work with short bolts.

 

B

BradC

Member

:

03.5 Ti Gray MSP

• Apr 5, 2007

• #13

Kansei said:

a swift kick always tells them who is boss

Click to expand...

+1, just hit them a few times, they will come off.

 

J

jlk_250

Member

• Apr 9, 2007

• #14

The steel winter wheels came right off our 5, thank goodness. On a previous car I had stuck wheels from time to time. The above tips are correct. In an extreme case I have had to drive around with slightly loose lug nuts and that worked when all the pounding in the world didn't. Don't need to loosen the lug nuts much at all and definitely don't have to drive at high speed. It's hard cornering that pops it loose.

Just when I thought it was safe to put the Toyos back on we're getting three inches more snow. At least we'll find out if the Toyos are as bad in the snow as I suspect.

Jon

 

O

opus

Member

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2006 True Silver Mazda5 Touring 5M

• Apr 9, 2007

• #15

The Toyos are not horrible in the snow and ice, just not what I would have wanted to ride on all winter long. We had snow and ice this week also. My tailor has a 5 and he left the Toyos on all winter without complaint.

 

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miatafied

Member

Contributor

:

Mazda5/kidhauler - Miata/fun car

• Apr 27, 2007

• #16

Just put the summers back on today. SOO MUCH QUIETER!!

 

F

fonzinator

Member

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03 Sunlight Silver P5

• Aug 10, 2007

• #17

In extreme situations, you can use a sledge. However, don't hit the tire or rim directly with the sledge. Lean a 2x4 (or other piece of wood) up against the bottom of the tire/rim and hit that. I had to do this one time (not on the P5) when every other option failed me. One swing with that 10lb. sledge and the wheel was off.