How To Replace A Tire

Getting a flat tyre is a frustrating but common part of driving. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions to help you safely replace a flat tyre with your spare. Learning this essential skill can save you time, money, and the stress of being stranded on the roadside. Following these steps carefully will ensure you and your vehicle remain safe throughout the process.

Fast Answer

Park Safely: Find a flat, stable surface away from traffic and turn on your hazard lights.
Prepare: Apply the handbrake and use wheel chocks to secure the vehicle.
Loosen Nuts: Before jacking, slightly loosen the lug nuts on the flat tyre.
Jack & Swap: Raise the vehicle, remove the flat, and mount the spare tyre.
Tighten & Lower: Hand-tighten the nuts, lower the vehicle, then fully tighten the nuts with the wrench.

15–30 minutes Time needed

Beginner Difficulty

Vehicle stability Watch out for

Before You Start

Before you begin, gather your equipment and perform some essential safety checks. Most of the tools you need should already be in your car, typically stored with the spare tyre in the boot. Proper preparation is the key to a safe and successful tyre change.

What You Need

Spare Tyre: Ensure it is properly inflated and in good condition.
Car Jack: The tool used to lift your vehicle.
Lug Wrench: Used to remove and tighten the wheel nuts (also called lug nuts).
Vehicle Owner's Manual: This contains crucial information, like the location of jacking points.
Wheel Chocks: Blocks used to prevent the vehicle from rolling. A sturdy brick or piece of wood can work in an emergency.
Optional but Recommended: Gloves, a torch (for night-time), a reflective warning triangle, and a small mat to kneel on.

Safety, Timing, and Context Checks

Find a Safe Location: Pull over as far as possible from moving traffic. A level, hard surface like a car park or a quiet side street is ideal. Avoid soft ground or steep hills.
Be Visible: Turn on your vehicle's hazard lights immediately. If you have a warning triangle, place it about 45 metres behind your car to alert other drivers.
Secure the Vehicle: Put the car in 'Park' (for automatics) or in gear (for manuals) and firmly apply the handbrake.

Check first: Never place any part of your body under a vehicle that is supported only by a jack. The jack is designed for lifting, not for holding the car's weight for extended periods or while someone is underneath.

How to Replace a Tire

Follow these steps in order. Do not rush, and double-check your work as you go. Safety is more important than speed.

Prepare the Vehicle and Equipment

Once you are safely parked with the handbrake on and hazard lights flashing, you can prepare for the change. Take the spare tyre, jack, and lug wrench out of your vehicle. Place them near the flat tyre for easy access. If you need to remove a hubcap or wheel cover to get to the lug nuts, use the flat end of your lug wrench to carefully pry it off.

Secure the Wheels with Chocks

To prevent the car from rolling while it's on the jack, you must secure the wheel that is diagonally opposite the one you are changing. For example, if your front right tyre is flat, place the wheel chocks firmly behind the rear left tyre. If you're changing a rear tyre, chock the opposite front tyre.

Loosen the Lug Nuts

This is a critical step to perform before you lift the car. With the car still on the ground, the friction between the tyre and the road will stop the wheel from spinning as you try to loosen the nuts. Place the lug wrench onto a nut and turn it anti-clockwise (remember: "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey").

You may need to use your body weight by stepping on the wrench to get enough leverage. Do not remove the nuts completely; just loosen them by about half a turn each until they break free.

Tip: If the nuts are extremely tight, a spray of penetrating oil (if you have any) can help. Otherwise, ensure the wrench is securely on the nut and apply steady, firm pressure.

Position the Jack and Raise the Vehicle

Consult your owner's manual to find the correct jacking point. This is a specific, reinforced part of the car's frame designed to handle the load. Placing the jack in the wrong spot can damage your vehicle or cause it to be unstable.

Position the jack under the correct point and begin to raise it until it is securely supporting the car's weight. Make sure the jack is straight and stable. Continue to crank the jack to lift the vehicle until the flat tyre is about 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) off the ground. This gives you enough room to remove the flat and fit the fully inflated spare.

Remove the Flat Tyre

Now that the lug nuts are loose and the car is raised, you can finish unscrewing them by hand. Keep them together in a safe place, like a hubcap or a pocket, so you don't lose them. Once all the nuts are off, grip the tyre with both hands and pull it straight towards you, off the wheel bolts. The tyre may be heavy, so be prepared. Slide the flat tyre under the car near the jack; this acts as an extra safety precaution in the unlikely event the jack fails.

Mount the Spare Tyre

Pick up the spare tyre and align the holes in the wheel with the protruding wheel bolts on the vehicle's hub. This can be tricky; it sometimes helps to use your foot to hold the bottom of the tyre in place while you align the top. Push the spare wheel firmly onto the hub until it sits flat against it.

Replace and Hand-Tighten the Lug Nuts

Take the lug nuts and screw them back onto the bolts. Tighten them by hand in a clockwise direction until they are snug. You want the wheel to be held securely in place, but you will do the final tightening once the car is back on the ground.

Lower the Vehicle and Fully Tighten the Nuts

First, remove the old tyre from under the car. Now, carefully lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle in the opposite direction. Stop lowering when the spare tyre is touching the ground but before the car's full weight is on it. This prevents the wheel from spinning while you do the final tightening.

Using the lug wrench, tighten the nuts as much as you can. It's very important to tighten them in a star pattern. This means you tighten one nut, then the one opposite it, and so on, until all are tight. This ensures the wheel is mounted evenly and securely. Once they are tight, lower the car completely and remove the jack.

Tip: Give the nuts one final check for tightness with the wrench after the car is fully on the ground. A good rule of thumb is to tighten them until you can't move them any further with reasonable force.

Stow Your Equipment

You're almost done! Put the flat tyre in the boot where the spare was. Pack away the jack, lug wrench, and any other tools. If you used a hubcap, you may be able to put it back on the spare, but many temporary spares don't accommodate them. Remember to retrieve your wheel chocks. Your car is now ready to be driven cautiously.

Quick Reference

Situation	Action	Why
Lug nuts are too tight to loosen.	Use your foot to press down on the wrench handle.	Leveraging your body weight provides much more force than using your arms alone.
Unsure where to place the jack.	Check the owner's manual diagram.	Using the wrong point can damage the car's body or create an unstable lift.
Tightening the lug nuts.	Use a star pattern (tighten opposites).	This seats the wheel evenly against the hub, preventing wobbling and ensuring safety.
After fitting the spare.	Drive slowly and visit a garage soon.	Most spare tyres are temporary and not designed for high speeds or long distances.

Common Problems When You Replace a Tire

Even with a clear guide, you might run into a few issues. Here are some common hurdles and how to handle them.

Stuck Lug Nuts: Garages sometimes use pneumatic wrenches that can overtighten nuts. If they won't budge even with your full body weight, you may need to call for roadside assistance. Trying to force it with the wrong tools can strip the nut.
The Spare Tyre is Flat: This is a frustrating discovery. It highlights the importance of checking your spare's air pressure every few months. If it's flat, your only option is to call for professional help.
The Vehicle Shifts on the Jack: If you hear any creaking or see the car move while it's being lifted, stop immediately. Lower the car, check that the jack is on a flat, solid surface and correctly positioned at the jacking point, and try again.
Rusted Wheel: Sometimes, a wheel can get rusted to the hub and won't come off even after the lug nuts are removed. If this happens, you can try hitting the back of the tyre (not the metal rim) with the spare tyre to knock it loose.

Advanced Tips for how to replace a tire

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

Invest in a Torque Wrench: A lug wrench gets the nuts tight, but a torque wrench gets them correctly tight. Your owner's manual specifies a torque setting (e.g., 100 Nm). Over-tightening can damage the bolts, while under-tightening is a serious safety risk. A torque wrench is the only way to be precise.
Buy a Better Jack: The "scissor" jacks included with most cars are functional but can be unstable and slow. A hydraulic "trolley" jack is much faster, safer, and easier to use for home maintenance.
Regularly Check Your Spare: Every time you check your main tyres' pressure, check the spare too. A spare tyre with no air is useless. Also, inspect its condition for cracks or damage.
Practice at Home: The best time to learn how to replace a tire is not on a dark, rainy night by the side of a busy road. Do a practice run in your driveway one afternoon. This will help you familiarise yourself with the process and your car's equipment.

How To Replace A Tire FAQ

How long can I drive on a spare tyre?

It depends on the type of spare. Most modern cars have a smaller, temporary "donut" spare. These are designed for emergency use only. You should not exceed the speed (usually 50 mph / 80 kph) or distance (usually 50 miles / 80 km) printed on the tyre's sidewall. Your goal should be to get to the nearest tyre shop to have your original tyre repaired or replaced.

How tight should the lug nuts be?

They should be very tight. Using the supplied lug wrench, you should tighten them as much as you can with reasonable force. As mentioned in the advanced tips, using a torque wrench set to your manufacturer's specifications is the best way to ensure they are perfect.

Can I change a tyre on an incline or hill?

No, you should never attempt this. A hill dramatically increases the risk of the car rolling off the jack, which could cause serious injury or damage. If you get a flat on a hill, it is much safer to drive very slowly to the nearest flat, safe area or call for roadside assistance.

Why do I need to use a star pattern to tighten the nuts?

Tightening lug nuts in a circle can cause the wheel to be mounted at a slight angle. A star (or criss-cross) pattern applies pressure evenly across the wheel's surface, ensuring it sits perfectly flat and secure against the hub. This prevents wobbling at speed and ensures the nuts won't loosen.

Final Checklist for how to replace a tire

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

Parked safely on a flat surface.
Hazard lights are on.
Handbrake is engaged.
Wheels are chocked.
Lug nuts on the spare were tightened in a star pattern.
Vehicle is fully lowered and the jack is removed.
Lug nuts have been given a final tightness check on the ground.
All equipment, including the flat tyre, is securely stowed in your vehicle.

Your immediate next step should be to drive cautiously to a garage to have your original tyre inspected and repaired or replaced. Remember, a spare tyre is a temporary fix, not a permanent solution.