How to Change a Tire
Find a flat, stable and safe place to change your tire., Apply the parking brake and put car into "Park" position., Place a heavy object (e.g., rock, concrete, spare wheel, etc.), Take out the spare tire and the jack., Raise the jack until it is...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Find a flat
You should have a solid, level surface that will restrict the car from rolling.
If you are near a road, park as far from traffic as possible and turn on your emergency flashers (hazard lights).
Avoid soft ground and hills. -
Step 2: stable and safe place to change your tire.
If you have a standard transmission, put your vehicle in first or reverse. , in front of the front and back tires. , Place the jack under the frame near the tire that you are going to change.
Ensure that the jack is in contact with the metal portion of your car's frame Many cars have molded plastic along the bottom.
If you don't place the jack in the right spot, it will crack the plastic when you start lifting.
If you're not sure about the right place to put the jack, read your owner's manual.
For most modern uni-body cars, there is a small notch or mark just behind the front wheel wells, or in front of the rear wheel wells where the jack is intended to be placed.
For most trucks or older cars that have a frame, look to place the jack on one of the beams of the frame just behind the front tire or in front of the rear tire. , The jack should be firmly in place against the underside of the vehicle.
Check to make sure that the jack is perpendicular to the ground. , Don't take them all the way off; just break the resistance.
By keeping the wheel on the ground when you first loosen the nuts, you'll make sure that you're turning the nuts instead of the wheel.
Use the wrench that came with your car or a standard cross wrench.
Your wrench may have different sizes of openings on different ends.
A correctly-sized wrench will slip easily over the nut, but will not rattle.
Try to prepare for any unforeseen tire changes by keeping the exact socket size for your lug nuts as well as a breaker bar handy in the trunk.
It can take quite a lot of force to break your lug nuts free.
If all else fails, you can use your body weight or stomp on the wrench (be absolutely certain you are turning it the correct way
- counterclockwise).
However, using your body weight or stomping means you run the risk of stripping the lug nuts, as it is difficult to maintain full contact. , You need to lift it high enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with a spare.
As you lift, make sure that the car is stable.
If you notice any instability, lower the jack and fix the problem before fully lifting the car.
If you notice the jack lifting at an angle or leaning, lower and reposition it so that it can lift straight up.
It is always a good idea to keep a small jack stand handy in the vehicle as well, in case the jack gives out during the tire change.
Using both the small jack and the normal jack will keep you safe in the event of a jack failure. , Turn them counterclockwise until they are loose.
Repeat with all lug nuts, then remove the nuts completely.
Although rare, some vehicles actually have reverse threaded lug nuts.
These are usually much older cars from Chrysler and GM. , Place the flat tire under the vehicle so in the event of a jack failure the vehicle will fall on the old wheel, hopefully preventing injury.
If the jack is placed on a flat, solid base, you shouldn't have any problems.
The tire might stick due to rust.
You could try hitting the inside half of the tire with a rubber mallet to loosen the tire, or use the spare tire to hit the outside half. , Take care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts, then put on the lug nuts.
Be sure to install the spare tire the correct way and not backwards.
The valve stem of a doughnut tire should face outwards, away from the vehicle.
If your vehicle uses acorn-style lug nuts, it is easy to put those on backwards as well.
Be sure the tapered part of the nut faces the wheel when tightening it down. , They should turn easily at first.
Using the wrench, tighten the nuts as much as possible using a star pattern.
To ensure the tire is balanced, don't completely tighten the nuts one at a time.
Going in a star pattern around the tire, one nut across from another, give each nut a full turn until they are equally tight.
Avoid using so much force that you risk upsetting the jack.
You will tighten the lug nuts again once the car is down and there is no risk of it falling. , Tighten the nuts as much as possible. , Finish tightening the nuts and replace the hubcap. , Get an estimate for the cost of repair.
Small punctures can usually be repaired for less than $15.
If the tire is not repairable, they can dispose of it properly and sell you a replacement -
Step 3: Apply the parking brake and put car into "Park" position.
-
Step 4: Place a heavy object (e.g.
-
Step 5: concrete
-
Step 6: spare wheel
-
Step 7: Take out the spare tire and the jack.
-
Step 8: Raise the jack until it is supporting (but not lifting) the car.
-
Step 9: Remove the hubcap and loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise.
-
Step 10: Pump or crank the jack to lift the tire off the ground.
-
Step 11: Remove the nuts the rest of the way.
-
Step 12: Remove the tire.
-
Step 13: Place the spare tire on the hub.
-
Step 14: Tighten the nuts by hand until they are all snug.
-
Step 15: Lower the car without applying full weight on the tire.
-
Step 16: Lower the car to the ground fully and remove the jack.
-
Step 17: Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to a mechanic.
Detailed Guide
You should have a solid, level surface that will restrict the car from rolling.
If you are near a road, park as far from traffic as possible and turn on your emergency flashers (hazard lights).
Avoid soft ground and hills.
If you have a standard transmission, put your vehicle in first or reverse. , in front of the front and back tires. , Place the jack under the frame near the tire that you are going to change.
Ensure that the jack is in contact with the metal portion of your car's frame Many cars have molded plastic along the bottom.
If you don't place the jack in the right spot, it will crack the plastic when you start lifting.
If you're not sure about the right place to put the jack, read your owner's manual.
For most modern uni-body cars, there is a small notch or mark just behind the front wheel wells, or in front of the rear wheel wells where the jack is intended to be placed.
For most trucks or older cars that have a frame, look to place the jack on one of the beams of the frame just behind the front tire or in front of the rear tire. , The jack should be firmly in place against the underside of the vehicle.
Check to make sure that the jack is perpendicular to the ground. , Don't take them all the way off; just break the resistance.
By keeping the wheel on the ground when you first loosen the nuts, you'll make sure that you're turning the nuts instead of the wheel.
Use the wrench that came with your car or a standard cross wrench.
Your wrench may have different sizes of openings on different ends.
A correctly-sized wrench will slip easily over the nut, but will not rattle.
Try to prepare for any unforeseen tire changes by keeping the exact socket size for your lug nuts as well as a breaker bar handy in the trunk.
It can take quite a lot of force to break your lug nuts free.
If all else fails, you can use your body weight or stomp on the wrench (be absolutely certain you are turning it the correct way
- counterclockwise).
However, using your body weight or stomping means you run the risk of stripping the lug nuts, as it is difficult to maintain full contact. , You need to lift it high enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with a spare.
As you lift, make sure that the car is stable.
If you notice any instability, lower the jack and fix the problem before fully lifting the car.
If you notice the jack lifting at an angle or leaning, lower and reposition it so that it can lift straight up.
It is always a good idea to keep a small jack stand handy in the vehicle as well, in case the jack gives out during the tire change.
Using both the small jack and the normal jack will keep you safe in the event of a jack failure. , Turn them counterclockwise until they are loose.
Repeat with all lug nuts, then remove the nuts completely.
Although rare, some vehicles actually have reverse threaded lug nuts.
These are usually much older cars from Chrysler and GM. , Place the flat tire under the vehicle so in the event of a jack failure the vehicle will fall on the old wheel, hopefully preventing injury.
If the jack is placed on a flat, solid base, you shouldn't have any problems.
The tire might stick due to rust.
You could try hitting the inside half of the tire with a rubber mallet to loosen the tire, or use the spare tire to hit the outside half. , Take care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts, then put on the lug nuts.
Be sure to install the spare tire the correct way and not backwards.
The valve stem of a doughnut tire should face outwards, away from the vehicle.
If your vehicle uses acorn-style lug nuts, it is easy to put those on backwards as well.
Be sure the tapered part of the nut faces the wheel when tightening it down. , They should turn easily at first.
Using the wrench, tighten the nuts as much as possible using a star pattern.
To ensure the tire is balanced, don't completely tighten the nuts one at a time.
Going in a star pattern around the tire, one nut across from another, give each nut a full turn until they are equally tight.
Avoid using so much force that you risk upsetting the jack.
You will tighten the lug nuts again once the car is down and there is no risk of it falling. , Tighten the nuts as much as possible. , Finish tightening the nuts and replace the hubcap. , Get an estimate for the cost of repair.
Small punctures can usually be repaired for less than $15.
If the tire is not repairable, they can dispose of it properly and sell you a replacement
About the Author
Madison Taylor
Committed to making DIY projects accessible and understandable for everyone.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: