I just picked up the TRD 18" wheel/tire package used (215/35/1. Can I just jack up the car and change the wheels myself? (I heard that it's easier to loosen the nut before jacking up the car.) Do I need to get them balanced again since they came from another car? There is a tire shop about a mile from my house if I have to get them balanced again. I just figured I could save myself a little money by just changing out the wheels myself.

Does anyone else have the 18" TRDs on an xA with the TRD springs/struts? I'm wondering how much more stiff the ride will be. Also, is there any rubbing?

Thanks.

 

NO need to balance them yourself, if they're already balanced. (they'll have weights on the inside).

And ummm, it's not hard to change your wheels.

 

Yes, if the wheel is mounted on the tire it should be balanced.
Jack it up, toss 'em on, take some pics.

-THE DON

 

I want to see TRD 18's on an xA!!

 

don't tell me you never changed a tire before???

loosen the nuts first then jack up the car, purchase "tuner lugs" and when putting the new wheels on hand tighten first(opposite corners like an X) tighten a lil mor then drop the car, torque to specs and finally take some pics and post 'em up

 

I will post my xA with my 18' wheels tomorrow.

 

Be sure to check the tire fluid level or your wheels may get damaged.

 

that's messed up man...there's no such thing as a tire fluid level!!! the only thing he has to worry about is resetting the flux capacitor switch on the wheel well so that he will know when he has a flat tire

 

Thanks for all the "helpful" comments. Yes, I have changed tires before, but I was just unsure of whether or not I needed to get them balanced again. I will post pictures when I get them on.

 

*Update*

Is there a special technique to get the stock lug nuts off? I am using the lug wrench that came with my scion and I can't seem to get those darn nuts off. I checked with the shop I got my last balance at and they said the lug nuts should be torqued to spec (85). I have been told that it is best to loosen all the nuts before jacking the car up. Am I missing something? Thanks!

 

make sure you're turning them the correct way lol. Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey.

Or just get a pipe, put that on the end of your wrench, and use it for more leverage.

 

I hear steroids are in season.

--Dennis

 

Oh my god you guys are Funny!! LMAO

 

check the flux capacitor maybe it's ON try to turn it OFF

 

Thanks, I'll remember to check that tire fluid level =)

 

I think I'm going to take it back to the place I got my wheels balanced. I was able to loosen and retorque my dad's Camry and my mom's Corolla with no problem at first. Perhaps they torqued my Scion lugnuts too high?

 

Dude, come on. Are you serious? Get a pipe like I told you and use it like a breaker bar. Or just sell your wheels back, and get a gym membership with the money.

 

Trust me, I had my friend and my dad try as well. It won't budge! I'm not just weak. I've rotated tires on other cars before with no problem. I don't have a pipe lying around, but I'll see if I can get a hold of one.

 

if you have a floor jack, then just take off the handle, and use it.

 

I've run into a similar situation once in my life. But only once. I usually never have an issue getting lug nuts off, until this one time. I tried to break them loose by hand first with a standard 1/2" drive ratchet. When that didn't work I got a breaker bar. When that didn't work I started up the compressor and let it build up to about 150 psi. It still didn't budge. And by now the lug nuts were starting to get rounded.

At that point I took it to a mechanic friend's shop to have them give it a shot. Even with their shop air they couldn't get it off at first. They even tried some 6' long breaker bar they had, and it failed. They finally got the lugs broken loose by letting their shop air build up to over 200 psi and using a "torque stick" to break the lugs loose. Even the mechanics at the shop were surprised it was so hard to break loose.

Bottom line, if it takes that much effort to get a set of lug nuts to break loose whoever put them on is an idiot. In my case it was a tire shop. They had severely over torqued the lug nuts with their shop air. Needless to say, I never used that tire shop again.