Once or twice a year many of us have winter or summer tyres reinstalled or we change over to an extra set of wheels with the appropriate set of tyres for that season.
The following experience we encountered last year could be a warning!
A close relative bought a good quality (low mileage) used car, fitted with an extra set of four winter wheels and tyres; included in the sale were the set of original equipment alloy 'wheels' with summer tyres in excellent condition.
The used car lot in the the city from which the vehicle was being purchased agreed to have a wheel alignment performed (see note) and perform, or have performed, the changeover to the original equipment (summer tyre) wheels.
In the late fall relative and self decided to reinstall the winter wheels ourselves and found that the wrong wheel nuts had been used all summer to secure the 'summer wheels'! They were the wrong fit!
The correct, 'alloy wheel' nuts we found in a bag in the trunk of the car. The incorrect (winter wheel) nuts had the wrong taper and could have worn through those original equipment alloy wheels or badly chafed them and/or enlarged the holes!
In many tyre establishments the task of changing over wheels and tyres appears to be often delegated to the most junior mechanical staff, often apprentices? But in this case we were surprised since the mechanical staff at the location from which the vehicle was purchased seemed to be experienced and not juniors!
Other considerations are that wheel nuts should be tightened to specification using a torque wrench or 'torque nut socket'. If not tight enough nuts may loosen and if too tight may crack an alloy wheel. Also it's not pleasant to be at the side of the highway trying to get 'too tight' wheel nuts off to put on the spare.
Note: Further when the vehicle was road tested before purchase it mis- steered and the tyres appeared to be slightly oddly worn. As agreed and before sale was finalized seller did have a front wheel alignment performed, with all four original equipment wheels installed. And the realignment info. was in the vehicle.
The new owner later took the vehicle to a trusted and competent realignment mechanic and when the front end realignment settings were checked, they appeared pretty close to correct. But it also appeared that a rear end realignment check had NOT been performed and that was causing the the vehicle to steer strangely and was most likely (in addition toruts and potholes) responsible for the odd tyre wear. One thought was that there had been some damage to the rear suspension, but not so. It was all a matter of proper alignment, AND using the proper wheel nuts!
So just a safety suggestion; be aware of who how and what is being done when one gets tyres/wheels changed over!