How Do You Change A Tire

Getting a flat tyre is a frustrating but common experience for any driver. While it may seem daunting, knowing how to change a tire is a fundamental skill that can save you time, money, and the stress of being stranded. This comprehensive guide provides clear, practical instructions to help you safely replace a flat tyre with a spare one. We'll walk you through every step, from finding a safe spot to stopping, to performing a final safety check before you get back on the road.

Fast Answer

Find a safe spot: Pull over on level, stable ground, far from traffic. Turn on your hazard lights.
Gather tools: Get the spare tyre, jack, and lug wrench from your car's boot.
Loosen nuts: Before jacking, use the wrench to slightly loosen the lug nuts on the flat tyre.
Jack up the car: Lift the car using the manufacturer's specified jacking point until the flat tyre is off the ground.
Swap tyres: Remove the flat, mount the spare, and hand-tighten the lug nuts.
Lower and tighten: Lower the car and use the wrench to fully tighten the nuts in a star pattern.

20–30 minutes Time needed

Beginner Difficulty

Passing traffic and unstable ground Watch out for

Before You Start

Preparation is the key to a safe and successful tyre change. Before you begin, gather the necessary equipment and perform a few crucial safety checks. Most of the tools you need should have come with your vehicle.

What You Need

Spare Tyre: Ensure it is properly inflated. Check its pressure periodically.
Car Jack: Used to lift your vehicle off the ground.
Lug Wrench: Used to loosen and tighten the lug nuts that hold the wheel on.
Vehicle Owner's Manual: Contains vital information on the correct jacking points and torque specifications.
Wheel Chocks: Or a heavy object like a brick or large rock to prevent the car from rolling.
Gloves: To keep your hands clean and improve grip.
Torch: Essential if you are working at night.
Reflective Warning Triangle: To alert other drivers to your presence.

Check first: Ensure your car is in Park (for an automatic) or in first gear (for a manual) and the handbrake is firmly engaged. Never place any part of your body under the vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

How to Change a Tire: Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps carefully to ensure you change your tyre safely and correctly. Do not rush the process; your safety is the top priority.

Find a Safe Location and Secure the Vehicle

The moment you suspect a flat tyre, slow down and look for a safe place to pull over. The ideal spot is a level, solid surface far away from moving traffic, like a car park or a wide road shoulder. Avoid stopping on soft ground, gravel, or a hill, as this can make the jack unstable.

Once stopped, turn on your hazard warning lights immediately. Engage the handbrake and put the car in Park (or first gear for a manual). For added safety, place wheel chocks behind the tyre diagonally opposite the one you are changing. For example, if your front-right tyre is flat, chock the rear-left tyre. This prevents the car from rolling while jacked up.

Tip: If you get a flat on a busy motorway, it is often safer to pull onto the hard shoulder and call for professional roadside assistance rather than attempting the change yourself next to high-speed traffic.

Prepare Your Tools and Spare Tyre

Retrieve the spare tyre, jack, and lug wrench from the boot. They are usually located under the boot floor. Check the spare tyre's pressure; while it may not be perfect, it needs enough air to be driven on safely. It's a good habit to check your spare's pressure every few months.

Place your reflective warning triangle on the road roughly 45 metres (150 feet) behind your vehicle to give other drivers plenty of warning. Lay your tools out on the ground near the flat tyre so they are easily accessible.

Loosen the Lug Nuts on the Flat Tyre

Before you lift the car, you must loosen the lug nuts. If you try to do this with the wheel in the air, the wheel will just spin. If there is a plastic wheel cover (hubcap), pry it off first. Some cars have a special tool for this, but a flat-head screwdriver can also work.

Place the lug wrench onto a lug nut and turn it anti-clockwise. You only need to break the initial resistance; a half-turn is sufficient. Do not remove the nuts completely yet. They can be very tight, so you may need to use your body weight. Position the wrench horizontally and press down with your foot for extra leverage. Never pull upwards on the wrench, as you could lose your balance and injure yourself.

Tip: If the nuts are extremely tight due to rust or over-tightening, a spray of penetrating oil (like WD-40) can help. Let it sit for a few minutes before trying again.

Position the Jack and Lift the Vehicle

Consult your vehicle's owner's manual to find the correct jacking point. This is a specific, reinforced part of the car's frame designed to support its weight safely. Placing the jack in the wrong spot can cause serious damage to your car's body or undercarriage.

The jacking point is usually a small notch or a piece of exposed metal on the frame just behind the front wheel or in front of the rear wheel. Position the jack directly under this point. Slowly raise the jack by turning its handle clockwise until it makes firm contact with the frame. Double-check that it is stable and perpendicular to the ground. If you are on soft ground, place a sturdy piece of wood under the jack to prevent it from sinking.

Continue to raise the vehicle until the flat tyre is about 15 cm (6 inches) off the ground. This provides enough clearance to remove the flat and mount the fully inflated spare.

Remove the Flat Tyre

Now that the vehicle is lifted, you can finish unscrewing the lug nuts. You should be able to do this by hand. Once they are all off, place them somewhere safe where they won't roll away, such as inside the removed hubcap or a pocket.

Grip the flat tyre on both sides and pull it straight towards you, off the wheel studs. It might be heavy, so be prepared. Lay the tyre flat on the ground to prevent it from rolling into traffic.

Safety First: For extra protection, slide the flat tyre under the car's frame, near the jack. In the unlikely event that the jack fails, the car will land on the old wheel instead of crashing to the ground, which could prevent serious injury.

Mount the Spare Tyre

Lift the spare tyre and align its holes with the protruding wheel studs. This can be the most physically awkward part of the job. It can be easier to sit on the ground and use your knees or feet to help lift and guide the wheel into place. Push the spare tyre fully onto the hub until it sits flush.

Take the lug nuts and screw them back on by hand. Tighten them until they are snug against the wheel. This ensures the wheel is properly seated before you lower the car's weight onto it. Do not use the wrench to tighten them fully at this stage.

Lower the Vehicle and Tighten the Lug Nuts

Carefully and slowly lower the car by turning the jack handle anti-clockwise. Once the spare tyre is resting firmly on the ground and supporting the vehicle's weight, you can remove the jack completely.

Now it's time to fully tighten the lug nuts with the wrench. To ensure the wheel is secured evenly, you must tighten them in a star pattern. For a wheel with five nuts, tighten the top one first, then the bottom-left, then the top-right, then the bottom-right, and finally the top-left. This sequence pulls the wheel on evenly and prevents it from wobbling. Use your full strength to make them as tight as possible.

Tip: Once all nuts are tight, go around one more time in the same star pattern to give them a final check. They should not move any further.

Pack Up and Perform a Final Check

Your work is almost done. Place the flat tyre in the boot where the spare was stored. Pack away the jack, lug wrench, and any other tools. Remember to retrieve your wheel chocks and the reflective warning triangle.

It's important to remember that most spare tyres, especially the thin "space-saver" types, are for temporary use only. They are not designed for high speeds or long distances. Check the tyre's sidewall for speed limitations—it's typically no more than 50 mph. Drive cautiously to the nearest garage to have your original tyre repaired or replaced.

Common Problems When You Change a Tire

Even with clear instructions, you can run into trouble. Here are fixes for some of the most common issues people face when they change a tire.

The Lug Nuts Are Too Tight to Loosen

This is a frequent problem, often caused by a garage over-tightening them with a pneumatic impact wrench. Your first step should be to ensure you're using your body weight effectively by pressing down on the lug wrench with your foot. If that fails, a "breaker bar" or a four-way lug wrench provides more leverage than the standard tool. As a last resort, call for roadside assistance; they have heavy-duty tools for this exact situation.

The Wheel Is Stuck to the Hub

Sometimes, corrosion can cause the wheel to "seize" onto the hub, and it won't come off even after the lug nuts are removed. If this happens, first ensure all nuts are definitely off. Then, give the tyre's rubber sidewall a few firm kicks or hits with a rubber mallet on alternate sides to break it free. Avoid hitting the metal rim, as this could damage it.

The Spare Tyre Is Flat

Discovering your spare is also flat is incredibly frustrating. This highlights the importance of regular maintenance. Unfortunately, if this happens, your only option is to call for roadside assistance. When you get a new tyre, make sure to check and inflate your spare at the same time.

Advanced Tips for Changing a Tire

Once you're comfortable with the basics, these tips can make the process even smoother and safer.

Invest in Better Equipment

The tools supplied by your car's manufacturer are designed to be compact, not optimal. Consider keeping a few upgraded items in your boot:

A four-way lug wrench: Provides significantly more leverage than the standard L-shaped wrench.
A hydraulic bottle jack or trolley jack: Much more stable and easier to operate than the scissor jack that comes with most cars.
A torque wrench: This is the only tool that can tighten lug nuts to the manufacturer's exact specification. Overtightening can damage the wheel studs, while under-tightening is a serious safety risk. Your car's manual will state the correct torque value (e.g., 120 Newton-metres).

Practise in a Controlled Environment

Don't wait for a rainy night on a busy road to change a tyre for the first time. Do a practice run in your driveway on a clear day. This will help you get familiar with your car's specific equipment and jacking points, building your confidence for when a real emergency strikes.

Understand Your Spare

Know what kind of spare you have. A "space-saver" is smaller and lighter than a standard tyre and has strict speed and distance limits. A full-size spare is identical to your other tyres and can be used for longer, but you should still get the damaged tyre sorted out promptly to ensure you have a complete, matching set on your vehicle.

How Do You Change A Tire FAQ

How tight should the lug nuts be?

Using a standard lug wrench, they should be as tight as you can reasonably make them using your strength. The professional standard is to use a torque wrench set to your vehicle's specific torque value, which can be found in the owner's manual. A garage will always use a torque wrench for this final step.

How long can I drive on a spare tyre?

This depends on the type of spare. A compact "space-saver" spare is designed for emergency use only, typically for no more than 50 miles at a maximum speed of 50 mph. A full-size spare can be used for longer, but it's crucial to get your original tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible to maintain balanced handling and to have a spare ready for the next emergency.

Do I need to get a wheel alignment after changing a tyre?

Not usually. If the flat tyre was caused by a simple puncture, an alignment isn't necessary. However, if the flat was the result of hitting a large pothole or kerb at speed, the impact could have knocked your wheels out of alignment. In that case, it is a good idea to have it checked at a garage.

Where do I find the correct tyre pressure for my car?

The recommended tyre pressure (measured in PSI or Bar) is listed on a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb. It may also be inside the fuel filler flap or in the owner's manual. Note that the pressure for front and rear tyres can sometimes be different.

Final Checklist for Changing a Tire

Before you drive away, run through this quick final check to ensure everything is safe and secure.

All lug nuts on the spare wheel are fully tightened in the correct star pattern.
The flat tyre, jack, and all tools are securely stowed in the boot and won't roll around.
The handbrake is disengaged and your hazard lights are turned off.
You have collected your warning triangle and any wheel chocks used.
Plan your route to the nearest tyre shop, remembering to adhere to the speed limit of your spare tyre.
After driving about 25 miles, it's good practice to pull over and re-check the tightness of the lug nuts.