Cannot change tyres

[Robert Brown]

Hi, I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara 5 door petrol model from 2004. I had an MOT and the front left tyre is worn to near the legal limit. I took it to the Suzuki dealer to get a new tyre fitted. However, they could not do this as they could not remove the wheel to change the tyre.

They told me that the wheels are not the original ones. To take them off a 'wheel socket spline key' is needed that fits them exactly. Which I do not have, neither does the Suzuki dealer and they could not source one.

The tyres are Bridgestone 235/60/R16. I attach pictures of the wheel The wheel sockets have around 10-11 grooves in them which is presumably the number of splines needed-they are quite difficult to count.

I would buy the tool needed but don't know how to find out the exact size needed etc. Does anyone have these type of tyres/wheels who can advise me how to change the tyres? Thanks in advance.

[timwilks13]

Use some verniers and measure the internal diameter between the grooves, then you should be able to get something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-X-TUNER-BO ... SwH1pcDEqx

Or just go to any decent tyre centre, they usually have the tools to remove lug nuts with lost keys.

[dominic]

Hiya ,
You didn't get the locking nut when you got the motor ?
Look on Ebay for locking wheel nut removal tool.
or as above post , any decent tyre place would and should have tools to remove locking nuts.

[Robert Brown]

There are 10 grooves so I must need a 10 spline key, the internal diameter is around 12 mm-it is hard to measure exactly.

[Anton]

You could buy or borrow a set of vernier calipers (also known as vernier scale or vernier gauge). Then you can measure the exact dimensions.