What precaution should be taken before removing a wheel?

Before removing a wheel, it is crucial to ensure safety and prevent incidents. The correct procedure involves removing nitrogen or air from the tire and placing a metal tag for identification. This step is significant because tires can hold high pressure, which poses a serious risk if the tire is not deflated before removal. By removing the air or nitrogen, you eliminate the danger of accidental tire burst or injury caused by flying debris. The accompanying metal tag helps indicate that the tire has been safely deflated, which is important for anyone who might be handling the wheel afterward.

While ensuring the tire is inflated and checking for cracks in the wheel assembly are important maintenance practices, they are not direct precautions for safely removing the wheel itself. Lubricating the wheel bearings is a maintenance step that might be done after the wheel is removed, but it does not serve any purpose as a precaution prior to removal.