Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)
An archive project by Flock MFGNew issue alerts →
About this issue
180 available scans from Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition), in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 57 — English draft translation
Once you do this, the tire can be removed as shown. When fitting the wheel, pay attention to the order for tightening the nuts. On a four-lug wheel, tighten them diagonally. On a five-lug wheel, follow a star pattern. Tighten them enough to keep the wheel from wobbling while it is still raised, then lower the jack and fully tighten them. (In other words, tighten them firmly; if you go overboard, you may not be able to remove them later.)
Captions and page details
C
The essentials of classic-car maintenance!
You'd better know how to change a tire, or you'll be in trouble if you get a flat.
But when I opened the trunk, I was surprised. New cars don't even come with onboard tools! There were only the bare minimum tools needed to remove a tire. This Corolla had no need for a screwdriver or pliers, I guess, as long as it stays stock and is driven quietly...
Tools needed: factory jack and wrench
...you probably don't need such things.
...indeed.
At least you should be able to change a tire if you get a flat. Anyway, how do you actually change one? It's simple: raise the car with the jack, remove the wheel, replace it, and lower the car. That's all—but it can be harder than it sounds. Let's put it into practice.
The essentials! 7
Changing a tire
Open the trunk and lift the carpet to find the spare tire and tools. This car had only a jack, jack handle, and wheel-nut wrench. It seems onboard tool kits are no longer standard; they're optional accessories included in an 'owner's kit.'
Usually, if you look underneath along the side of the body, you'll find a folded flange or ridge. The jack grips that point to lift the car. On Toyotas, use the area between the two notches; on Nissans, use the point above the notch.
The jack has a sticker showing where it must be positioned. Place the jack exactly as indicated.
...at the body...
...there!
Prepare...
—
...insert it...
...remove it.
—
Remove the cover and you'll see the wheel nuts that hold the wheel in place. Loosen them. They may be very tight, and if you can't loosen them by hand, pressing down firmly with your foot may work. But keep the wrench from slipping off. If it suddenly comes loose, you could spin around, hit your shin, and end up rolling on the ground.
Prevent trouble with the correct tire pressure
Check
Air pressure
Tires contain air, and this pressure needs to be kept at the proper level...
Otherwise, various problems can occur.
...all the wheel nuts are loose...
Whether the pressure is too low or too high, driving for a long time...
...or the tires will wear unevenly. If only part of a tire wears down, the car may not travel straight, the steering wheel may pull while braking, and the car may skid on wet roads—dangerous symptoms.
The jack...
...when they have loosened...
Raise the car with the jack until the tire is off the ground.
Checking the tire pressure properly may help prevent an accident...
You should buy a tire-pressure gauge. You can also have the pressure checked when you stop at a gas station.
...so don't skip this step.
Once the tire is raised, remove all the nuts.
The recommended tire pressure is printed on a sticker near the driver's door jamb.
Option