By: Deanna Sclar and
Updated: 12-01-2021
From The Book: Auto Repair For Dummies, 2nd Edition
Explore Book Buy On Amazon
Having a flat tire and not knowing how to change it can leave you feeling helpless. With a few simple tools, you can do it yourself. Changing a tire is easy, and everyone should have a general idea of what's involved. Here are the steps:
Never change a tire on an incline or hill; always seek a flat surface, even if it means driving on a flat tire. Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the opposite end of the car from the end that is to be raised.
You can use a screwdriver to pry the wheel cover off. Just insert the point of the tool where the edge of the cover meets the wheel, and apply a little leverage. The cap should pop off. You may have to do this in a couple of places, as if you were prying the lid off a can of paint.
You might know this as breaking the lug nuts. Whatever you call it, find the end of the wrench that fits the lug nuts on your vehicle, and fit it onto the first nut. Apply all your weight to the bar on the left. This starts turning the nut counterclockwise, which loosens it. Don‘t remove the lug nuts completely; just get them loose enough to remove by hand after you jack up the vehicle. A hollow pipe and a cross-shaft wrench can loosen the tightest lug nuts.
If you have alloy wheels that are held on by lug nuts with delicate finishes, the delicate aluminum or chrome-plated lug nuts need careful handling.
They should never be loosened or replaced with power tools that can scratch the delicate finish.
Place the jack securely under the edge of the car. Proper locations may vary among vehicle models, so consult the owner’s manual for the right places to put the jack.
If you have a scissor jack (see image a), insert the rod or wrench over the knob, and then crank. If you have a hydraulic jack (see image b), place the handle into the appropriate location and pump up and down. Use nice, even strokes, taking the jack handle from its lowest point to its highest point on each stroke to cut down on the labor involved.
Take the lug nuts completely off by hand and put them in a safe place — inside the wheel cover or hub cap works well. Grasp the flat tire with both hands and pull it straight toward you.
As you pull the flat off, it should slide along the bolts until it clears the end of the bolts and you find yourself supporting its full weight. Roll the flat along the ground to the rear of the vehicle to get it out of the way.
Because tires are heavy, you may have a little trouble lifting the spare into place — especially if you’re not accustomed to lifting heavy things.
Give each lug nut a jolt with the wrench to get it firmly into place, but wait until the car is on the ground before you really try to tighten the lug nuts.
After the vehicle is resting on the ground, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can.
If your car has wheel covers with a delicate finish, the owner’s manual should provide instructions for replacing it. If your car has hubcaps, place the hubcap against the wheel and whack it into place with the heel of your hand. Cushion your hand with a soft rag first so that you won’t hurt it. And don’t hit the hubcap with a wrench or hammer — you’ll dent it.
Deanna Sclar is an acclaimed auto repair expert. She has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows, including NBC's Today show and the NBCNightly News. Sclar lectures internationally on the ecological impact of vehicles and is active in promoting residential solar energy programs.
Sclar is also the author of Buying a Car For Dummies.
Knowing how to change a tire is a necessary skill for all drivers. If you rely on a cell phone to save you in a roadside emergency, there’s always that chance you will forget to charge it, be out of range, or leave it at home. Flat tires can happen anywhere, and a cell phone is no substitute for knowing how to change a flat tire.
Thankfully, changing a tire isn’t all that hard! Just adhere to the following guidelines to be prepared in case you have a flat.
These items should have come with your vehicle:
Jack
Lug wrench
Fully inflated spare tire
Vehicle owner’s manual
If you have misplaced any of these items, or if your car did not come with these items, you should purchase new ones right away.
And be sure you’re regularly inflating the spare tire to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended PSI. You should check the spare’s air pressure every time you check your other tires. Remember to check pressure every month and before long trips or carrying extra load.
Here are some items that don’t come with your vehicle but that you should stow in your trunk or glove box in case you have to change a flat tire:
Flashlight with working batteries
Rain poncho
Small cut of 2"x6” wood to secure the jack
Gloves
Wheel wedges
As soon as you realize you have a flat tire, do not abruptly brake or turn. Slowly reduce speed and scan your surroundings for a level, straight stretch of road with a wide shoulder. An empty parking lot would be an ideal place. Level ground is good because it will prevent your vehicle from rolling. Also, straight stretches of road are better than curves because oncoming traffic is more likely to see you.
Never attempt to change your tire on a narrow shoulder near oncoming traffic. Keep moving (slowly) until you find a safer spot. While driving on a flat risks ruining your rim, replacing a rim is better than being hit by an inattentive driver.
Make sure to consult your owner’s manual and review their specific steps on how to change a flat tire for your vehicle
Your hazard lights or “flashers” will help other drivers see you on the side of the road. To avoid an accident, turn them on as soon as you realize you need to pull over.
Once stopped, always use the parking brake when preparing to replace a flat tire. This will minimize the possibility of your vehicle rolling.
Wheel wedges go in front of or behind the tires to further ensure the vehicle doesn’t roll while you fix the flat tire. If you’re changing a rear tire, place these in front of the front tires.
If your flat tire is at the front, put the wheel wedges behind the rear tires.
Bricks or large stones will work just as well as “real” wheel wedges. Just be sure they’re large enough to stop the car from rolling.
If your vehicle has a hubcap covering the lug nuts, it’s easier to remove the hubcap before lifting the vehicle with the jack. If your lug nuts are exposed, you can skip ahead to Step 6.
Use the flat end of your lug wrench to remove the hubcap. This will work for most vehicles, but some hubcaps need a different tool to come off. Consult your owner’s manual for proper hubcap or wheel cover removal procedures.
Using the lug wrench, turn the lug nuts counterclockwise until you break their resistance. You may have to use force, and that’s ok. Use your foot or all of your body weight if necessary.
Loosen the lug nuts about ¼ to ½ of a turn, but don’t remove them completely yet. Save that for when it’s time to remove your tire/wheel from the vehicle.
The right place for the jack is usually beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire that’s flat. Many vehicle frames have molded plastic on the bottom with a cleared area of exposed metal specifically for the jack. To safely lift and avoid damage to the vehicle, follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle owner’s manual.
To prevent the jack from settling under the weight of your vehicle and coming off balance, place a small cut of 2x6” wood beneath it before attempting to raise your vehicle. This tactic is especially helpful on asphalt.
With the jack properly positioned, raise the vehicle until the flat tire is about six inches above the ground.
Never put any part of your body under the vehicle during or after raising the vehicle with the jack.
Now it’s time to remove the lug nuts all the way. Since you've already loosened them, you should be able to unscrew them mostly by hand.
Gripping the tire by the treads, pull it gently toward you until it’s completely free from the hub behind it. Set it on its side so that it doesn’t roll away.
Now place the spare on the hub by lining up the rim with the lug bolts. Push gently until the lug bolts show through the rim.
Put the lug nuts back on the lug bolts and tighten them all the way by hand. Once they are all on, check each one again, tightening as much as possible. You will tighten them with the wrench after lowering the vehicle to the ground.
Use the jack to lower the vehicle so that the spare tire is resting on the ground but the full weight of the vehicle isn’t fully on the tire. At this point, you should tighten the lug nuts with the wrench, turning clockwise, as much as you can. Push down on the lug wrench with the full weight of your body.
Bring the vehicle all the way to the ground and remove the jack. Give the lug nuts another pull with the wrench to ensure they’re as tight as possible.
If the hubcap you took from the flat tire will fit your spare, put it in place the same way you removed it initially. If it doesn’t fit, stow it away with the tire when you stow your equipment.
You have before you a jack, a lug wrench, wheel wedges, your flat tire, and possibly a hubcap. Don’t forget to put all of them in your vehicle before driving away.
You should check the tire pressure of the spare tire to make sure that it is safe to drive on. “T-Type” temporary spares, also called “mini-spares,” require 60 psi (420 kPa). If the tire needs pressure, drive (slowly) to a service station immediately.
Temporary spare tires aren’t made to drive long distances or at high speeds, so drive cautiously until you’re able to visit a tire technician.
A professional should be able to determine whether your tire needs a repair or if it’s time to replace it.
Aside from taking your tire to a professional, the above procedure shouldn’t take more than 15 to 30 minutes to change a tire. Just be sure you don’t leave out any steps.
It’s beneficial practice changing a tire in your garage or driveway to ensure you’re ready to handle this situation if it ever happens to you.
Knowing how to fix a flat tire is great, but regular tire maintenance is even more important. In addition to reviewing this guide regularly, remember to do the following:
Keep your tires properly inflated
Rotate your tires according to the manufacturer’s guidelines
Monitor for tread wear
All of these precautions will extend the life of your tires and reduce the likelihood of a flat. While there’s no way to prevent flat tires completely, proper care can improve performance and ensure your tires last as long as possible.
There’s never a good time for a flat. That’s why Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are masterfully engineered to keep you moving for up to 50 miles at speeds up to 50 MPH without disruption.
There’s never a good time for a flat. That’s why Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are masterfully engineered to keep you moving for up to 50 miles at speeds up to 50 MPH without disruption.
See Details Find Your Fit
Date: February 21, 2018
Imagine that you are driving alone in your car, going about your usual business, and suddenly you feel that the car is behaving strangely, perhaps even hearing popping from under the wheels. You get out of the car and find a flat tire. Don't panic, it's not the end of the world.
You can contact the WEBER-AUTO car service for a tire fitting or roll up your sleeves and change a flat tire on your own)
Make sure you always have a basic set of tools at hand. To get the job done quickly and, most importantly, safely and correctly, you will need:
In addition, you may need a multi-purpose grease such as WD40. Also, a luminous vest, a flashlight, if you have to work at night, a pair of gloves and an old rug, so as not to get your hands and knees dirty, will not be superfluous.
Now that you're properly prepared, follow the step-by-step guide to changing a flat or damaged tire.
Stand on the side of the road. If a tire goes flat while driving, turn on the alarms and slow down to 8 km/h.
Choose the nearest convenient and safe place on the side of the road, away from heavy traffic. If this is not possible, at least find a place where your car will be clearly visible.
Remember: never try to change a wheel in the emergency lane, it is extremely dangerous! Park on a level surface. After you have parked, make sure the car is on a flat surface. Do not attempt to change a tire on uneven ground.
Engage vehicle handbrake, engage first gear, or put into park, depending on gearbox type. Put shoes under the wheels, in front and behind the wheel diagonally from the one being repaired. For example, if the front tire on the passenger's side is flat, place chocks around the rear wheel on the driver's side.
Then place a reflective triangle 20 meters behind the vehicle. The location of the sign depends on which road you are on. If the road is winding, for example, position it where it can be seen by approaching drivers.
For the same purpose, you can open the hood, so other drivers will see that you are repairing something.
Remove the wheel cover. Make sure the spare wheel is ready and in good condition and that you have all the necessary tools. Using tools, remove the wheel cover, if present.
Then loosen the nuts by turning them counterclockwise. It is easier and easier to do this before you lift the car with a jack. Do not remove the nuts, just loosen them until they can be tightened by hand. If necessary, apply lubricating oil to each nut. If you have secret nuts, you will also need a wrench for them.
Determine the location of the jack on the vehicle. Check with the user manual if in doubt, this requires accuracy. If you install the jack incorrectly, it can damage the underside of the car when you start to raise it.
Raise the vehicle high enough to fit the spare wheel.
Now completely remove the nuts and put them in a safe place so they don't get lost.
Remove the flat tire and lay it on the ground. Install the new wheel and loosely tighten the nuts just to keep the new wheel from falling off. Fasten the wheel. Lower the car and only after it is on the ground, remove the jack.
Now tighten the nuts with a wrench by turning it clockwise. Tighten the nuts diagonally in pairs - for example, if you tighten a nut at the 10 o'clock position, tighten the next one at 4 o'clock, and so on until they are tight enough.
Reinstall the wheel rim and remove the tools. You won't get a speed medal, so don't rush, drive slowly. The old wheel will need to be repaired as soon as possible.
In case you find more serious car malfunctions during the replacement of a flat tire, contact our tire service WEBER-AUTO for professional assistance in wheel repair.
to do when a tire is punctured and, accordingly, how to change a wheel on a car correctly.
In addition, the quality of roads, no matter what they say, has improved, and car tires have become better quality, for the most part. All of these factors have resulted in a significant reduction in the likelihood of punctures or tire damage.
Therefore, even an experienced driver who has not changed a wheel for several years can make a number of mistakes, which is fraught with loss of time (due to a large number of actions), or even injury.
The best way out of this situation is to follow a simple technology when replacing a wheel. The procedure can be memorized or printed and put in the glove compartment of the car to eliminate forgetfulness.
So, if you need to change a wheel, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have everything you need. You will need:
If you can still successfully change a wheel without a wheel chock, then without a spare wheel (or with a flat "reserve") it makes no sense to get to work. When everything you need is there, you can safely proceed to action.
Changing a wheel is a three-step process.
The first step is to place the machine on a level and firm surface. A stretch of road without a strong slope or a parking / pocket, with asphalt (or other, strong enough so that the jack does not fail) is suitable.
The machine must be installed in such a way that it does not interfere with the movement of other vehicles. You should not be afraid to drive a little (naturally slowly, with an emergency signal) with a flat tire - the chance of damaging the tire is minimal, in addition, it is already damaged.
After installing the car in a suitable place, it is necessary to put the car “on the handbrake” and turn on the first gear, in the case of a manual transmission; with automatic set to the "parking" mode and turn off the engine.
Then you need to install a wheel chock under the wheel located diagonally from the damaged one. Those. the stop must be on the opposite side and the other axis. For example, when replacing the right rear wheel, the stop is installed under the left front.
Note. The stops are both double-sided and one-sided. In the case of using one-sided - it is necessary to install it under the wheel from the side of the slope.
Next, you need to get all the required tools (jack and "sprayer") and the spare wheel itself, placing all this near the place of work.
If decorative plastic caps are used on wheels, then it must be removed from the damaged wheel.
The first step is to loosen the damaged wheel fasteners. To do this, you need to install the “balonnik” on the bolt (or nut - on different cars in different ways) so that its handle is located relatively horizontally and “looks” to the left (to unscrew it, you need to turn it counterclockwise).
After that, you need to loosen the bolt / nut, you can use your foot, literally standing on the edge of the “balonnik” handle (you may even have to jump on it). Thus, you need to "break" all the nuts / bolts by half a turn.
The next thing to do is jack up the car. For this purpose, the jack is located under a special platform on the threshold of the car (there are also special mounts, of a cunning design - then you need to use them accordingly) and the car is lifted until the damaged wheel comes off the ground with a rather large gap (so that the inflated spare ).
Now you need to unscrew all the nuts/bolts, which is quite easy to do - special efforts are no longer required here, after which the wheel is removed. Then a spare wheel is installed (if guides are used in the design of the hub, it is necessary to ensure that the wheel gets into them) and, by hand, bolts / nuts are baited. After that, it is required to partially tighten the fasteners with a “balloon” “by hand”.
