Changing tyre

[Matt11]

Was going to take my car to a tyre place to change one of the tyres. Is it ever the case with old cars that the wheels just won't come off or it ruins the car removing it?

[RotorRambler]

They wheel nuts can be hard to remove, especially if locking one has been trashed , usually by a tyre place!
But there is always a way.
They will manage.

[E-bmw]

Matt11 said:

Was going to take my car to a tyre place to change one of the tyres. Is it ever the case with old cars that the wheels just won't come off or it ruins the car removing it?

You REALLY are over-thinking this.

Just take it there & let them do their job, what is the worst that can happen?

[stevieturbo]

Matt11 said:

Was going to take my car to a tyre place to change one of the tyres. Is it ever the case with old cars that the wheels just won't come off or it ruins the car removing it?

Has it sat by the sea for like 50 years or something ?

[paul_c123]

Matt11 said:

Was going to take my car to a tyre place to change one of the tyres. Is it ever the case with old cars that the wheels just won't come off or it ruins the car removing it?

If you don't have the locking wheel nut, and the garage aren't very good, then possibly. But usually, no, a car's wheels come off and on for so many maintenance tasks it really shouldn't be an issue. And if it is an issue, there's going to be other stuff too.

What kind of car? Age?

[Derry Rhumba]

stevieturbo said:

Has it sat by the sea for like 50 years or something ?

More like IN the sea for 50 years to be worrying about this lol!

[Matt11]

It's a 51 plate Suzuki swift

[E-bmw]

Matt11 said:

It's a 51 plate Suzuki swift

It isn't an old car, stop over-thinking non-problems, get on with life.

[InitialDave]

It's likely fine.

Yes, wheels can corrode on, particularly between the hub spigot and the wheel centre bore, but they will come off with the right level of technical expertise and brute force.

It's not much fun to do at the roadside when you have a puncture, though, so not the worst idea to (or ask the garage to) remove them and put a light smear of anti-seize copper grease around the spigot.

[Matt11]

The wheel must of been off about 5 years ago. Have disk and brake pads done

[InitialDave]

Matt11 said:

The wheel must of been off about 5 years ago. Have disk and brake pads done

It's likely fine as long as they didn't gorilla the wheel nuts on (no challenge for a garage, but see above comment regarding having to deal with a puncture yourself)

[Matt11]

Thanks I'll take it in Monday

[Matt11]

Can they drive it in reverse or something to try and loosen the nuts?

[InitialDave]

Matt11 said:

Can they drive it in reverse or something to try and loosen the nuts?

Sometimes that can work, loosen the nuts off a bit and slowly drive it up and down kerbs to crack the wheel off, but just leave it to them to sort out.

If they're just a tyre place, they may not have an appetite for the extra work, and point you to a mechanic to deal with it to bring back for the tyre change.

[littleredrooster]

Matt11 said:

The wheel must of been off about 5 years ago. Have disk and brake pads done

So has the car not been serviced for 5 years? Surely the wheels would have been removed to check the brakes/hoses/pipes etc?

[Matt11]

It's has been serviced but not sure if they removed the tyres when they did

[Richard-D]

littleredrooster said:

Matt11 said:

The wheel must of been off about 5 years ago. Have disk and brake pads done

So has the car not been serviced for 5 years? Surely the wheels would have been removed to check the brakes/hoses/pipes etc?

The only check the vast majority of cars will get will be the MOT. Even cars in warranty aren't getting the wheels removed though. It's done on a ramp with the wheels on.

Unless the brakes start binding or the wear indicator comes on the brakes will be left alone, same as 99% of cars are.

[paul_c123]

The only way to find out is to try to, or get someone else (or a garage) to try to, remove the wheel/tyre.

[Matt11]

Correct, I'll have a word with a tyre place see if they think they can do it

[littleredrooster]

Matt11 said:

It's has been serviced but not sure if they removed the tyres when they did

They don't remove the tyres, only the wheels.