Slush, black ice, aquaplaning: who doesn't know the less pleasant sides of the upcoming winter? That's why it's all the more important to be well prepared for the cold and wet season. Because if you prepare your vehicle for winter early on you are not only well prepared for sleet showers and snowstorms, but can also enjoy the pleasant journeys along snow-drifted, glittering winter landscapes a lot more.
When to change tires?
Winter tires should not only be used, when the snowmen are winking at you from the front yards. In fact, winter tires should be fitted much earlier and not just when the first snowfall is on the horizon. Temperatures from 7 ° Celsius are used as a guideline for changing tires, because above this value the rubber of the summer tires can harden, resulting in less grip and a significantly longer braking distance. The reason for this is the rubber compound. While the compound in summer tires tends to be hard, winter tires are softer and more flexible and can literally dig into the snow. They also drain water much better. Therefore, winter tires are already recommended in the fall when driving on wet leaves, because with the hard summer tires, this can quickly lead to slipping.
Tire changing for home users
Don't have time to drive to the workshop? Do you have to wait a long time for a workshop appointment? Or do you simply want to save costs? Then with a little practice and skill, you can change the tires yourself in your own garage or driveway. For this purpose, a selection of high-quality tools is available especially for occasional, private use, e.g. the handy, mobile piston compressor Mobilboy 421/50 AC from AIRCRAFT. With this mobile model, the compressed air can be conveniently removed at any time via an integrated one-hand quick-release coupling. In combination with the practical ½“ impact wrench set, you can loosen screws and nuts very easily in just a few simple steps. Afterwards, the air pressure of the tires should be checked, because this not only influences the driving behavior and the length of the braking distance, but also has an impact on your fuel consumption. With the RMG PRO-G 63 tire inflator from AIRCRAFT, you can keep an eye on the tire pressure at all times and ensure that your vehicle is optimally positioned on the road.
Tools for professional tire change
Automotive workshops and tradesmen who regularly change tires use professional tools that work quickly, precisely and always reliably, even under continuous load. This includes the stationary piston compressor Airstar 853/270/10V, a solid craftsman compressor with a proven belt drive, which stands out due to its particularly quiet and vibration-free operation. Responsible for this is the two-stage compressing 2-cylinder high-performance unit, which ensures a very low speed and consequently less wear and a longer service life. The brand new ISS-TT ½" Composite industrial impact wrench from AIRCRAFT is the ideal complement to the piston compressor, generating more power and thus higher torque thanks to the integrated twin-turbo system. Due to its space-saving design, it is very easy to use even in confined spaces. In order to check the air pressure the calibrated, professional tire inflator RMG PRO-G is suitable. With its high-quality, precise pressure gauge, it is used in particular in workshops as well as in craft businesses.
Special tools for heavy duty tires
You want to prepare trucks or commercial vehicles for the winter? Then you should work with professional tools that have the necessary power to change even large tires conveniently at any time. This will become even more important from the 2020/21 season, because for the first time in trucks over 3.5 tonnes, not only the rear but also the front steering axles will have to be equipped with winter tires. The choice of compressor should be well considered, because heavy-duty tires may require a compressed air output of more than the usual 10 bar. The AIRPROFI 753/270/15 V piston compressor, for example, has such a capacity. It is available with a vertical or horizontal tank and reaches a maximum pressure of 15 bar. For tire removal and installation, an industrial impact wrench with a high torque is recommended, e.g. the model ISS-TT ¾" Composite from AIRCRAFT, which also loosens larger bolts and nuts in no time with its twin-turbo system. In order to check the air pressure you can use the calibrated RMG PRO-G DUO tire inflator. With its universally cranked, double filling station plug, it is specially designed for twin tires. Please note that for occupational safety reasons, the inflation and testing of commercial vehicle tires is only permitted with a hose extension of at least 1.5 meters between the tire and the tire inflator to ensure a safe distance at all times.
Save muscle power with the right jack
Before the tires can be fitted, the vehicle must be lifted, which should be easy to do with as few movements as possible. Therefore, a proper lifting jack is recommended even if you only change tires twice a year. With the model RWH 2.1 from UNICRAFT you get a reliable device for private use, which can be stowed away quickly and easily after changing tires thanks to its practical carrying handle. The SRWH 2500 EF jack is ideal for professional use because its two-part pump lever allows loads to be lifted safely and easily at any time. For heavier vehicles, you should ideally use the trolley jack SRWH 3002 EF, with which you can also lift vans or forestry vehicles without any effort. The integrated double piston ensures that you need fewer pumping operations to reach the maximum final height.
Spick and span: Professional tire cleaning
Before you send your summer tires into winter break, you should clean them from dirt and brake dust. This way, you are not only well prepared for the next spring season, but also protect your tires, because dirt can indeed affect the service life of car tires. If you want to save yourself a trip to the car wash, it's best to use a cold-water high-pressure cleaner. When doing so, you should make sure that there is a distance of at least 30 cm between the nozzle and the surface and a spray angle of 25 ° to prevent your tires from being damaged by the pressure of the water jet. The portable high-pressure cleaner HDR-K-51-16 from CLEANCRAFT is one of the top candidates for this, because its compact design combined with maximum flexibility makes it suitable for both private and professional use. Depending on the work task, you can conveniently regulate the working pressure at any time and control it via a pressure gauge. After use, the high-pressure cleaner can be easily stowed away and even stored on the wall to save space with an optionally available bracket. Or do you prefer a model with wheels? Then the HDR-K-48-15 mobile high-pressure cleaner is the right choice. With its robust three-piston axial pump, it ensures a long service life and increased durability.
Changing your tires twice a year does not have to be a tedious test of patience for you. With suitable and reliable tools, you can quickly and easily prepare cars, trucks or agricultural vehicles for winter road conditions - so that neither powdery nor wet snow, slippery weather or hail can stop you and you are always on tour with the right grip.