Get Wheels and Tires -> On-Vehicle Service Guide for Suzuki Alto 4 Door Fifth Generation (1998-2003)

ON-VEHICLE SERVICE

SERVICE OPERATIONS

METRIC LUG NUTS AND WHEEL STUDS

All models use metric lug nuts and wheel studs (size: M12 y 1.25).

WHEEL REMOVAL

1) Loosen wheel nuts by approximately 1805 (half a rotation).

2) Hoist vehicle.

3) Remove wheel.

CAUTION:

Never use heat to loosen tight wheel because applica-

tion of heat to wheel can shorten life of wheel and

damage wheel bearings.

Wheel nuts must be tightened in sequence and to proper torque to

avoid bending wheel or brake drum or disc.

NOTE:

Before installing wheels, remove any build-up of corrosion on

wheel mounting surface and brake drum or disc mounting

surface by scraping and wire brushing. Installing wheels with-

out good metal-to-metal contact at mounting surfaces can

cause wheel nuts to loosen, which can later allow a wheel to

come off while vehicle is moving.

Tightening Torque

(a): 55 N·m (5.5 kg-m, 40.0 lb-ft)

TIRE MOUNTING AND DEMOUNTING

Use a tire changing machine to mount or demount tires. Follow

equipment manufacturer’s instructions. Do not use hand tools or

tire irons alone to change tires as they may damage tire beads or

wheel rim.

Rim bead seats should be cleaned with a wire brush or coarse steel

wool to remove lubricants, old rubber and light rust. Before mount-

ing or demounting a tire, bead area should be well lubricated with

approved tire lubricant.

WHEELS AND TIRES 3F-5

After mounting, inflate to specified pressure shown on tire placard

so that beads are completely seated.

Install valve core and inflate to proper pressure.

WARNING:

Do not stand over tire when inflating. Bead may break

when bead snaps over rim’s safety hump and cause seri-

ous personal injury.

Do not exceed specified pressure when inflating. If spe-

cified pressure will not seat beads, deflate, re-lubricate

and reinflate.

Over inflation may cause bead to break and cause seri-

ous personal injury.

TIRE REPAIR

There are many different materials and techniques on the market

to repair tires. As not all of these work on all types of tires, tire

manufacturers have published detailed instructions on how and

when to repair tires. These instructions can be obtained from each

tire manufacturer.

BALANCING WHEELS

There are two types of wheel and tire balance: static and dynamic.

Static balance, is the equal distribution of weight around the wheel.

Wheels that are statically unbalanced cause a bouncing action

called tramp. This condition will eventually cause uneven tire wear.

STATIC UNBALANCE CORRECTION

Dynamic balance is the equal distribution of weight on each side

of the wheel centerline so that when the tire spins there is no ten-

dency for the assembly to move from side to side. Wheels that are

dynamically unbalanced may cause shimmy.

DYNAMIC UNBALANCE CORRECTION

3F-6 WHEELS AND TIRES

WHEELS AND TIRES 3F-7

GENERAL BALANCE PROCEDURES

Deposits of mud, etc. must be cleaned from inside of rim.

WARNING:

Stones should be removed from the tread in order to avoid operator injury during spin balancing and

to obtain good balance.

Each tire should be inspected for any damage, then balanced according to equipment manufacturer’s recommen-

dation.

OFF-VEHICLE BALANCING

Most electronic off-vehicle balancers are more accurate than the on-vehicle spin balancers. They are easy to use

and give a dynamic (two plane) balance. Although they do not correct for drum or disc unbalance as does on-ve-

hicle spin blancing, this is overcome by their accuracy, usually to within 1/8 ounce.

ON-VEHICLE BALANCING

On-vehicle balancing methods vary with equipment and tool manufacturers. Be sure to follow each manufacturer’s

instructions during balancing operation.

WARNING:

Wheel spin should be limited to 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on speedometer.

This limit is necessary because speedometer only indicates one-half of actual wheel speed when

one drive wheel is spinning and the other drive wheel is stopped.

Unless care is taken in limiting drive wheel spin, spinning wheel can reach excessive speeds. This

can result in possible tire disintegration or differential failure, which could cause serious personal

injury or extensive vehicle damage.

Wheels and Tires -> On-Vehicle Service for Your Suzuki Alto 4 Door Fifth Generation (1998-2003)

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