Stuff you Need

1 - Jack
2 - Torque Wrench
3 - Extension
4 - 19mm socket
5 - Breaker Bar or Tire Iron
6 - 'New' Wheels
7 - Blocks
8 - Jack Stands
9 - Flat-head Screwdriver


Procedure
1. E brake on!!
2. Wheel blocks at the back tires. 2x4 will work fine but go big if you can.
3. Position jack and get it set (it's a lot less frustrating to do this first. Once your start going, you don't want to wait for the jack to be worked up).
4. Remove bolt cover with your flat-head and loosen lug nuts (do NOT remove them) with a breaker bar, extension and socket or use the tire iron. Do NOT use your torque wrench.
5. jack up and put in jack stand(s)
6. Remove old wheel
7. Put on new wheel
8. Put lug nuts back on hand tight plus a quarter turn. You don't want the wheel loose but you don't want any play when you lower the vehicle.
9. Remove jack stands and lower the vehicle.
10. Set your torque wrench to 100lbs/ft (yep, it's that high).

Lug Nut Tightening. See photo below
11. Torque the first lug nut using the extension and socket.
12. Go across from that nut and tighten that one.
13. Go across back to the first nut and tighten the one beside it.
14. Keep this going until you are done.
15. Replace nut cover.

Once you are done all wheels (or as many as you need to do), remember to set your torque wrench back to zero!

Put your stuff away, remove blocks and take 'er for a spin. Make sure there are no weird wobbles.

Boom. Done.


Tips:
Do yourself a favor and get a hydraulic jack. These work so fast and you can get one entire side up (or the entire front or back) with just the one jack. (Insert disclaimer here )

Check your owners manual under wheel torque to make sure yours is as mine is.

Make sure your socket fits the lug nuts. Mine is 19mm. That doesn't mean yours are. 100lbs/ft is pretty tight.

 

Nice write up, very informative and thanks!!!

 

You just need to add JACK STANDS!!!

You never support a car by the jack alone.

 

I use to agree with you until I fell super duper hard onto my car which was propped up in the front center under the engine cradle without and jackstands. We're talking 2.5-3 feet up. I fell so hard I thought I was dead from the car falling on me.... the problem there is that the car didn't fall on me. I was suuuuper surprised. I tried shoving the car every which way and it shook but came no where near falling.

Now, I have to 100% agree with you that jackstands are something everyone should use... but I will likely avoid them from now on unless I am in a higher-than-myself traffic area. One time doing oil, a car hit my car when I was under it and it fell on me. A story for another time.

All of that being said, yes. I shall add them

 

They are cheap insurance. You can get a set of 2, 3-ton jackstands for like $30.

 

Yep! I picked up my 2.5 ton hydraulic jack and a set of 4 for just under $100. That jack has seen everything and shows no sign of dying (knock on wood). Well worth the money.

In fact, I just had my car up and replaced both back wheels in less than 15 min in the snow. Weeeee!