Changing a tire is one of those things every car owner should know how to do. Even with services like AAA today, being knowledgeable about how to change a tire can make your life easier, and will likely help you when you’re in a pinch.
How to Change a Tire: Tools You’ll Need
If you’ve never changed a tire before, now is a better time than any to learn! You only need just a few tools at your disposal to change a tire, so really anyone can do it.
Tools You Will Need:
- Jack: A mechanical lifting device built to lift heavy loads of weight. The jack will raise your vehicle, allowing you to install your spare tire.
- Lug Wrench: A socket wrench used to loosen and tighten lug nuts on your wheels.
- Fully Inflated Spare Tire: Most cars should have a spare tire kept in the rear of the vehicle, typically under your trunk mat. This tire is meant to be driven on temporarily only. This will help you get to a nearby tire shop.
- Vehicle Owner’s Manual: Your owner’s manual will typically have specific instructions for your vehicle when replacing a tire. Refer to your manual before attempting to change a tire.
New Tools, New Vehicle
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Getting Started
- Park your vehicle somewhere safe and preferably away from traffic. An empty parking lot with the level ground is a great spot to change a tire. Avoid parking your vehicle on narrow shoulders near oncoming traffic. Once you know you have a flat tire, try your best to slowly drive on the shoulder and exit to somewhere safer.
2. Refer to your owner’s manual and review any specific steps or guidelines for changing a tire for your vehicle.
3. Turn on your hazard lights to inform other drivers. You should turn on your hazards as soon as you realize there is an issue with your vehicle.
4. Engage your parking brake to ensure no movement of the vehicle while you change a tire.
5. If your tire has a hubcap or wheel cover, make sure to remove this before you jack up the vehicle. Use a flat end of the lug wrench to remove the hubcap, or consult your owner’s manual about specific instructions.
6. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel using Lug Wrench. Turn the nuts in a counterclockwise motion until they begin to loosen. This may take added pressure to do so, so use your body weight if needed. Do not fully remove the lug nuts yet, only loosen.
Using the Jack
- Place Jack beneath the vehicle frame, directly alongside the tire that’s flat. Some vehicles have frames on the bottom with an exposed area specifically for the jack. Again, refer to your owner’s manual for this specific location on your vehicle.
2. Before raising the vehicle with the jack, ensure the jack is placed on a flat surface, to avoid the chance of the vehicle coming off balance. Carry a small cut of wood in your vehicle for added stability if necessary.
3. Once the jack is properly placed, raise the vehicle until the tire is roughly six inches from off the ground.
4. Remove the loosened lug nuts fully. These should come off easier since they were loosened.
5. Remove the flat tire from the vehicle. Pull it gently towards you and set it flat on the ground to avoid it rolling.
6. Place the spare tire on the hub, lining the rim with the lug bolts. Push the tire in until the lug bolts pop through the rim.
7. Place the lug nuts back on the lug bolts and tighten them fully by hand. Once all bolts are tightened, double-check each nut to ensure none have loosened during the process.
Finishing Up
- Lower the vehicle down via the jack. You want to lower it enough that the tire is touching the ground, but is not fully supporting the weight of the vehicle.
2. Now, tighten the lug nuts with the wrench, turning clockwise. Again, use your body weight to create as much force as you can when tightening.
3. Once the nuts are completely tightened, lower the vehicle fully. Remove the jack, and do a final check on the lug nuts to ensure they are tight.
4. Replace the hubcap if applicable to your vehicle. If the hubcap does not fit your spare, stow it away for now with the rest of your equipment.
5. Check tire pressure on the spare. The psi required for your spare can be dependent on your vehicle, but typically 60 psi is required for a spare tire. Fill the tire at a nearby service station if you’re seeing lower levels.
- As soon as possible, take your vehicle to a tire shop or technician. Spare tires are not meant for long-distance or high speeds. Drive slow and cautiously while on your spare, and make an appointment as soon as possible to either get your tire patched or to replace your tire, depending on the damage.
More Vehicle Resources
Safety and comfort are very important factors when it comes to owning a vehicle. Now that you know how to change a tire, it’s time to look at other safety factors like how to safely drive in snow!
