Hi !

First post on this forum and proud owner of a trail rated Patriot Sport.

I have winter tires already on black wheels that will fit my patriot. Will I have any problem if I decide to save money and change all 4 wheels myself ? Would it be safer to have a ''professionnal'' at the local garage do it ? What about balancing ? Could this be an issue if I change all 4 wheels myslef ?

Thanks !

First welcome!

On Topic:

A.) Your car is equiped with Tire Pressure Monitoring (Yes or No?)

If Yes, than you will have to get some sensors mounted inside your winter wheels and then program them to your Patriot

If No, than don't worry about it

B.) As long as the bolt pattern, backspacing and sizes are all appropriate matches than you will have no problem bolting up the new wheels. Two types of rotation patterns exist:

1) Front to back / Same side
2) Criss-Cross / Opposing Corners

Of the two, the Opposing corners method produces the most uniform wear when rotating tires.

Side Bar: I have this wierd notion in my head that spinning a tire in one direction for a given time and then rotating that same tire to spin backwards (when you rotate with method #2) that the steel belts become more fatigued... But what do I know

I'd recommend you have a couple jack stands and a rag to wipe your hands with when you're done.

Sort of on this subject, I've been wondering -I always like to have my winter tires on their own wheels - it saves money in the long run (like about 2 switches). If I use wheels without pressure sensors, is my warning light always going to be on? I'll just bet that those sensors are spendy, as well as Riot wheels, unless there is an aftermarket yet...

Does anyone know the cost of the pressure sensing valves and stems? If affordable, would they even fit a standard black rim?

I would assume the pressure sensing valve stems would fit any wheel. If you're just talking switching the summer wheel/tire combo to the winter wheel/tire combo, you're fine doing it yourself. Like mentioned above have a jack and stands available as well as a torque wrench.

IMO the torque wrench is not an option, they aren't that expensive (you could buy one with the money you'll save not having to pay someone to switch the wheels) and in the long run will come in very handy. Since torquing every lug nut on the past 3 cars I've owned over 10 years I've gone through one set of brakes and never had warping issues with the rotors.

If I use wheels without pressure sensors, is my warning light always going to be on?

Yes, without the sensors your insturment cluster will probably go bonkers telling you that there isn't any air in your tires (since they are sitting in the garage.)

I'll just bet that those sensors are spendy, as well as Riot wheels, unless there is an aftermarket yet...

I'm going to imagine that you will receive some sticker shock when you try to order an additional set of the sensors. You can look up eBay for them - but I can't help on the programing of them to the computer

Does anyone know the cost of the pressure sensing valves and stems? If affordable, would they even fit a standard black rim?

They will fit the standard rim. The valve stem whole is a standard cutout so the sensor will be transferable