Learning how to change a car tire is a valuable skill that every driver should have in their repertoire. It’s one of those essentials that can transform a frustrating experience by the roadside into a quick pit stop. We all may hope it never happens, but if you find yourself with a flat tire, knowing the right steps can save you time and money.
We’ve all been there – in the middle of rush hour traffic, when the unexpected happens: a flat tire. Instead of waiting for a tow truck or roadside assistance, we can roll up our sleeves and get back on the road swiftly. It can seem scary if you’ve never done it before, but trust me you´ll be surprised how easy it is to change a car tire and if you follow a few steps, we will show it to you in this Article.
Safety First
When we set out to change a car tire, ensuring our safety and the safety of those around us is very important. Here’s how to maintain a secure environment while you change a car tire.
Choosing a Safe Location
Before we even begin to switch out a tire, finding a flat, stable surface to park the car is crucial; this prevents the car from rolling. If we’re on a highway, the shoulder is usually the safest bet. In the case of a busy road, a large parking lot or a well-lit side street is far preferable to a narrow shoulder.
Visibility and Warning Devices
Once safely parked, we must ensure other drivers can easily see us, especially in low light or bad weather conditions. Always turn on our hazard lights immediately. Placing reflective triangles or flares behind the vehicle will alert passing drivers to our presence, giving them time to slow down or change lanes.
Preparation
When we talk about how to change a car tire, we must start with the right preparation. We’ll need the proper tools and must access the spare tire correctly to ensure a smooth process.
Tools and Materials
To change a car tire, we need to have the following items:
- Jack: To lift the vehicle.
- Lug Wrench: For removing the lug nuts.
- Spare Tire: Ensure it’s properly inflated.
- Wheel Wedges: To secure the vehicle from rolling.
- Gloves: To protect your hands.
- Flashlight with Working Batteries: If you find yourself working in the dark.
Make sure these tools are all easily accessible and in good working condition.
Accessing the Spare Tire
Accessing the spare tire is typically straightforward:
Open the trunk
The spare is usually located here.
Remove the Cover
Lift the cover at the bottom of the trunk to reveal the spare tire.
Take out the spare
Remove the spare tire along with the jack and tire iron.
Every vehicle might have variances, so check your owner’s manual for specific instructions. Having all the necessary tools and materials ready and knowing where your spare tire is housed are indispensable steps in how to change a car tire preparation.
Removing the Flat Tire
When we’re faced with a flat, knowing how to change a car tire quickly and safely is crucial. Let’s get right to it and begin with the first steps:
Loosening Lug Nuts
First things first, we’ve got to loosen the lug nuts before we lift the car – doing so while the car is on the ground ensures the wheel stays put. Turn the lug wrench counterclockwise with firm pressure. A handy tip you’ve probably heard is to use your foot or all of your body weight if the nuts are too snug.
Lifting the Vehicle
After the lug nuts are loose, it’s time to lift the vehicle. Place the jack securely under the car – consult your vehicle’s manual for the specific location – and pump or twist it to raise the car until the flat tire is off the ground. Remember, we only need enough clearance to remove the tire and fit the spare; there’s no need to go higher.
Change a car Tire
To not lose time while you change a car tire, let’s get our spare tire on and secure.
Mounting the Spare Tire
Once the flat tire is off, it’s time to mount the spare tire onto the wheel studs/lug bolts. Align the spare with the wheel studs and push it in until it can’t go any further. Ensuring the tire is flush against the hub will prevent wobbling or misalignment.
Tightening Lug Nuts
After placing the tire, it’s essential to tighten the lug nuts securely but not fully until the car is lowered. Start by tightening them by hand to ensure they’re not cross-threaded. Once all the nuts are hand-tight, use the tire iron to tighten them in a crisscross pattern to distribute the pressure evenly. This method prevents the warping of the brake rotor and ensures the tire is centered. The final tightening should be done once the car is on the ground; this affords more leverage and stability.
Lowering the Vehicle and Cleanup
After securely tightening the lug nuts on our spare tire, we’re ready to carefully lower the car back to the ground and stow away our flat tire. This final step is crucial to change a car tire and ensuring the safety and longevity of our spare tire.
Removing the Jack
Once the spare tire is on, and the lug nuts are hand-tightened, we’ll need to lower the car back down. It’s important to do this slowly and steadily, ensuring the vehicle doesn’t drop suddenly. We turn the jack handle counterclockwise, gradually lowering the car until the spare tire is taking the full weight of the vehicle. After the car is fully grounded, we can remove the jack.
- Ensure the spare tire is secure
- Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
- Lower the car steadily until it’s on the ground
- Remove the jack from under the car
Storing the Flat Tire
With our car back on solid ground, it’s time to deal with the flat tire. After we change a car tire we can store it safely where the spare tire was located. Remember to have the flat tire repaired or replaced at the earliest opportunity.
- Check for spare tire compartment in trunk
- Store flat tire securely to prevent rolling
- Service flat tire as soon as possible
Final Checks
The Last step, when we change a car tire and before we hit the road, there are a couple of crucial steps we need to take to ensure our safety after changing the tire. Let’s walk through each one to make sure we’ve covered all our bases.
Lug Nut Retightening
After initially tightening the lug nuts, it’s critical to double-check their tightness with the tire iron once the car is lowered. Here’s a quick way to ensure they’re secure:
- Lower the car from the jack until the tire touches the ground but isn’t fully supporting the car’s weight.
- Tighten the lug nuts again in a crisscross pattern to the manufacturer’s specified torque (usually found in the owner’s manual).
Reminder: Retighten the lug nuts after driving approximately 25 to 50 miles to prevent any loosening that could occur as a result of the wheel settling.
Tire Pressure Inspection
Next, after we change a car tire we’ll need to confirm that our newly mounted tire is inflated properly. Incorrect tire pressure can lead to poor handling and decreased fuel efficiency. Here’s what we do:
- Use a reliable tire pressure gauge to check the tire’s pressure.
- Inflate the tire to match the recommended pressure found on the driver’s side door jamb or in the owner’s manual.
- Check the spare tire’s pressure as well, as it may need air after being in storage.
Aftercare
After we successful change a car tire, we need to focus on what comes next to ensure your safety and the longevity of your vehicle’s equipment.
Tire Repair or Replacement
If you’ve just put on a spare tire, remember that it’s meant to be only a temporary solution. We recommend visiting a mechanic or tire specialist to assess whether the original tire can be repaired or if it needs a replacement. Spare tires often have differences in tread depth and performance, which can affect your car’s handling, so prioritize this step.
- Check tire pressure: Confirm that the spare tire has the correct pressure as recommended in your vehicle’s manual.
- Inspect for damage: Look over the removed tire for punctures or damage that might warrant repair or necessitate replacement.
Equipment Maintenance
Keep your car’s tire-changing equipment in good condition for the next time you might need to change a car tire.
- Clean and store tools: Wipe down your jack, lug wrench, and any other tools used during the tire change.
- Inspect the jack: Ensure the jack operates smoothly and has no signs of damage. If there is an issue, consider servicing or replacing it before you’re in need again.
By taking these aftercare steps, we’ll help maintain our vehicles and be better prepared for any future incidents, where we have to change a car tire.
FAQ
Can you remove a tire without a jack?
If you have the proper tools, enough physical strength, and an extra pair of hands, you can use a simple machine like a lever in place of a jack when you need to fix a flat. Find a metal pole or similarly shaped, sturdy object and a large rock, block or other heavy object to use as a fulcrum.
Should I replace all 4 tires?
It’s always best to replace all 4 tires at the same time. This is because all 4 tires spin independently of one another, and different tread depths and/or styles can cause them to spin at different speeds. That could potentially damage the drive train, and possibly affect an indirect TPMS system if the vehicle has one.
Is it better to fix a flat tire or replace it?
If the puncture or cut is located within the tread area, then it can usually be repaired and/or sealed. But if the puncture is on the sidewall or shoulder of the tire, then the tire should be replaced. A tire’s sidewall is a sensitive area that flexes a lot while driving.
And, did you already change a car tire yourself?
Did you do it alone or needed help?
We would love to hear about your experiences, let us know in the Comments or send us a Mail, see you next time when it says again…
…Let´s Ride!
