Today I was hoping to remove my tires, one-at-a-time, to more easily clean the inside surfaces. The winter weather left a lot of tar and brake dust specks.

However, when I got the car jacked up and lug bolts removed, the tire wouldn't come off.

I looked to the owner's manual for help, thinking there was a trick to it. However, the instructions say, "Don't do it yourself; have authorized service do it".

Does anyone have any advice? (Besides "Buddy your obsessed!" )

Mark in Kansas

 

It is Normal that the wheels won't come-off if they have been on for a while - they alomost feel like as they are locked and stuck! Just use both hands across and use to rock it back and forth slowly and with minor jerking motion and you will notice that they start to loosen up and and will come off one by one. You may have to use a rubber mellet (or really your feet also) on the inside or to the outside as an "encouragment" once in a while to release these if they are stuck- It is very common way of doing it. Be careful not to apply too much force to have the car drop from the floor jack, etc.

Goo Luck...Happy Cleaning...

 

Use a rubber mallet as aR said. They rotor surface is getting a little rusty and the wheels stuck. To avoid this problem in the future use some antisize compound on the rotor surface where the wheel goes and the next time the wheels will come off very easy. Be carefull not to put any antisize compound on the rest of the rotor.

 

Just tap it with a rubber mallet - direct on to the tyre wall. this should gradually loosen the wheel. I would recommend that the you try this with the wheel just off the ground. This should reduce the ' rocking ' that you will get if the jack is higher.

 

Why don't you just use a stick and a sponge to reach the inner wheel well? Save all the trouble. Don't be a nut to remove all the nuts.

 

I clean my wheels using a special brush from the car parts stores but the dust speckles still build up, the only way to remove them is to take the wheels off, use a alloy wheel cleaner then finish by polishing them inside and out. The wheels give a nice shine again