Changing your own tyres at home is one of the easiest ways to save money on car maintenance — and it is far more approachable than most people think. This guide covers everything a beginner needs to get started safely.
What you’ll need
- A portable tyre changer (manual 3rd Gen or air-powered Gen 2)
- Tyre mounting paste and a valve-core tool
- A torque wrench and a jack with axle stands
- An inflator or compressor to seat the bead
- Gloves and safety glasses
The basic method
Deflate the tyre fully, break both beads, lever the old tyre off with the duck head, paste and mount the new tyre, then inflate steadily until both beads seat with a ‘pop’. Finish by balancing the wheel and torquing the lug nuts in a star pattern.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping lubricant — dry beads tear and damage rims
- Forgetting the tyre’s rotation direction
- Over-inflating while seating the bead
- Not re-checking lug-nut torque after the first drive
How much can you save?
Shops typically charge per wheel to mount and balance. Across a set of seasonal swaps twice a year, a portable changer pays for itself quickly — and you keep the convenience of doing it on your own schedule.
Get started
An LCTX portable tyre changer ships locally to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Japan, and to Canada from the US — so you can set up your home tyre bay wherever you are.