My 16 year old will get her license in about a month.   During a drive this weekend we picked up some debris in one of the tires, and when we got home, I decided to use the opportunity to help show her how to change a tire.   The vehicle is a 2019 Jeep Compass and is the first vehicle that I've owned that uses wheel bolts instead of lug nuts.

When I went to put the wheel back on it was actually a little difficult to get it to hang on the hub and line up correctly to get the bolts back in.  I fumbled around a bit trying to keep the wheel piloted on the hub and rotating to get a hole lined up for the bolt.  Maybe it was just that I was used to the way I was taught and using the studs from the hub to line up the wheel, then pushing the wheel on till it is seated, and then drawing it tight with the lug nuts.

I'm contemplating making an alignment pin from a longer bolt of the same threads that she can keep in the glove box, and then if she ever changes a tire can just put that into the hub first to help align the wheel.

Any other thoughts or tips?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LMF53L1?tag=arfcom00-20

or you could make one cheeper as you suggested

For the money that seems to be the way to go!

My Saab tech used a wooden dowel that was tapered on one end.

Learned 50+ years ago on my VW bug:

With the tire/wheel on the ground, rotate until one bolt hole aligns with one on the hub and loosely screw in one bolt. Lift and rotate wheel until the other holes align and insert the other bolts while the weight of the tire/wheel is supported by the first. Tighten bolts as usual.

You could use a 12" long rod to stick in one of the bolt holes and hold the wheel in place.  If the wheel/tire are heavy, use an 18" or 20" long rod.
Choose a rod diameter that will just fit into the threads.
Use the rod to lever the wheel/tire into position.

Ended up ordering one of the alignment pins from Amazon and came today.  Man that is perfect and while making one would have been easy, what was easier was a couple button clicks.   For the time to go to the hardware store and get a metric fine thread bolt and then cut the head off, grind it smooth, etc., $9 was worth it.

Wondering if my wife's van also has these goofy things and if it does, I'll order another one for it.

Get two pins. I did tires for a living, and while I can put a wheel on and thread the bolts right in at this point, most people will never have enough practice to do so. With only one stud to guide the wheel, it can still fall off the hub and rotate around. With two, that won't happen. If I had a wheel bolt car, my wife would have two studs in the car to start the wheel on in an emergency.

We have a couple eurocars in the family and i ordered 2 alignment pins from Amazon  for like $12.  The same for Swedish and German cars BTW.

Thanks guys, will do the needful in ARFCOM tradition and "Get both!"  :)


Appreciate the input!

Been putting wheels on German cars daily for 17 years. Look "inside" the wheel as you lift it up and align the little vents to the marks on the brake rotor. Once it's on you can balance the wheel on the hub with 1 finger at 6 o'clock, just a light push inward. Complicated in the dark or with new brake rotors, but you get a feel for it.

I've never used the pins, I was passed down a set from the old guy years ago, just doesn't work for me.

Then try it with spacers. I bought one of the wheel hanger rods real quick.

all thread bolt and lug nut?

I have been driving a german car for 18 years now.
put wheel on and rotate to line up hole, install bolt.
I don't think it takes any longer than using lug nuts.
Alignment pin is more work than just putting the thing on and spinning it to line up.

alignment pins are a solution to a non-problem.

If you have some basic skills (i.e can you change your own brakes?), there are stud conversion kits out there.  Check Rock Auto.  I have converted several cars over to wheel studs and lug nuts for just the same reason you mentioned.  It is so annoying to get that first bolt in...  Convert it with a proper kit and life goes back to normal.

Worked fine until I added wheel spaces, then the spacers spin and nothing lines up.

The BMW guys use stud conversion kits for track/racing.  Not sure if they make them for your daughter's car, but might be worth a look.



ETA: Beat!

These are great, I try and line one hole up at 12 o’clock so that I have a reference point. Also lower is better and makes it easier so less lifting.