Watch: Fastest Tire Change On a Moving Car Record Just Broken
Who knew this was a thing? And it’s a thing to the extent that there is a Guinness World Record category for it. But you can see for yourself that changing a wheel on a moving car is real from watching the video. And this video is of the record-breaking tire change.
The Guinness World Record YouTube channel just posted this, showing Italy’s Manuel Zoldan and Gianluca Folco in action. An E46 BMW 3 Series sedan was the vehicle of choice. The record the duo was out to break was 1:30 seconds.
How did they change the tire while moving?
First, the driver tips the BMW onto two wheels. Immediately as this is done, the second person, donning Evil Knievel-like garb, gets out of the side window of the BMW. He then flings himself onto the hood, getting into position to make the change.
Beforehand, the replacement wheel is clamped to the side of the BMW to position it for easy access. The tires and wheels are the lighter spare tire type. What’s amazing is that while the weight of the changer and spare tires are moving around the car, the driver keeps it on two wheels. Even without the shifting weight, that’s a feat unto itself.
On the side of the BMW, the replacement tire is attached to a hook. Then, the tire is set onto the front hub, and one by one the lug nuts are spun back onto the spindle. Finally, an impact wrench tightens all of the lug nuts, before the installer jumps off of the car as it slowly circles around the arena.
Are there other tire-changing records besides this?
And with that, the car comes down on all four tires. While the tire replacement took place, you can see the BMW slightly tip side to side. The driver makes slight corrections to keep it up on two wheels, but not so much as to overcorrect.
What is more surprising is that not only is there a Guinness World Record category for this stunt, but there are others for spare tires. One is for changing a tire on a spinning car. That record is 3:10 seconds. That record has held for over 10 years.
Another is for changing all four wheels on a parked car, which is 49.03 seconds. That seems less impressive when you consider how long it takes for F1 and Indycar teams to do that. But for novices, it gives others a record to shoot for, and a chance to be infamous with your name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
