Changing and balancing
Newly fitted tyres are always balanced; wheels that have already been in use are balanced when a weight is missing, the wheel has hit a kerb or the steering wheel shakes. You often only feel an imbalance in a certain speed range; in the long run, the tyres, wheel bearings and steering suffer.
Tread, age, Alpine symbol
In Germany the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 millimetres; for winter tyres, experts recommend at least four. Only tyres with the Alpine symbol, the mountain with a snowflake, count as suitable for winter; M+S alone is no longer enough. The DOT code reveals the age: if it ends in 2219, the tyre was made in week 22 of 2019. Old rubber hardens and grips less well, even with sufficient tread.
Pickups and off-roaders
On a RAM 1500 or Jeep Wrangler, the load index counts as well as the size. It must not be lower than the value in the vehicle documents, otherwise the tyre is overloaded with a full load bed or a trailer. Chunky off-road tyres also need the Alpine symbol for winter, and by no means all mud-terrain tyres have it.
If you buy a second set of wheels for a US import, for example for winter, you need separate tyre pressure sensors for it that the vehicle recognises. On many US models their radio frequency differs from the European one. So ask us before you buy; more under workshop for US vehicles.
Storage
We store your second set of wheels. If the sizes are the same front and rear, it is worth swapping the wheels between the axles at each change so that they wear evenly. Arrange the change by e-mail to info@autohausfritz.com or on +49 34604 348-0, Monday to Friday from 7:30 to 17:00.
What customers often ask
When should I change to winter tyres?
There is no fixed date, but in Germany tyres suitable for winter must be fitted in black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or hoar frost. The German rule of thumb is ‘von O bis O’, from October (Oktober) to Easter (Ostern). You can combine the change with the autumn and winter check.
What do I need to bear in mind after a tyre change?
The wheel bolts should be re-tightened after 50 to 100 kilometres. Also check the tyre pressure after a few days.
Can I fit larger wheels to my pickup?
In Germany, sizes listed in the vehicle documents and, if there is one, in the certificate of conformity (CoC) are permitted without further approval. Aftermarket rims need their own approval even in these sizes, such as an ABE (general operating permit for the part). Larger wheels need an approval for your model, such as a parts certificate (Teilegutachten), and, depending on the paperwork, approval by an inspector, with the change entered in the documents.