What do you need to change a tire on your car? In this article, I’ll list out items to keep in your car so you can change a flat tire. Then I’ll run you through the entire process of putting on a spare tire from start to finish.
What Do You Need to Change a Tire?
Here’s a short list of items to keep in your car for changing a flat.
A Properly inflated spare tire
Spare tires are very often neglected, out of sight, out of mind. I can’t tell you how often I find a flat, or missing spare tire in customer’s cars during routine service.
Make sure your spare tire is inflated and you can easily remove it from The Car!
Ensure you can remove anything holding the spare in place as well. I’ve had customers struggle to remove the spare due to overtightened hold-downs, don’t be the person struggling on the side of the road trying to get your spare wheel out.
For pickups and large SUVs make sure you have the tools to lower the tire from under the vehicle. Also, ensure the mechanism is not seized or rotted.
Check your owner’s manual for your car’s specific setup.
A Decent Car Jack
Jacks that come with new cars at the factory should be illegal.
Completely unsafe is the right word for these flimsy scissor jacks. They have a small unstable footprint and are an accident waiting to happen.
Portable aftermarket emergency jacks are much safer, fit well in your trunk, and have a carrying case.
Some models also offer built-in safety options, such as emergency lights and tire inflators.
Wheel Chocks
Lifting a car can be dangerous if done incorrectly, lifting a car on the side of the road without blocking the wheels can be 10x more dangerous.
Wheel chocks simply jam up against both sides of a tire, opposite the lifted side, this prevents the vehicle from rolling off of the jack and keeps everything more stable.
Most vehicle lifting accidents aren’t due to the jack, it’s due to the car rolling, causing the jack to tip over.
Lug Wrench
Without a lug wrench, you aren’t going any further. Most vehicles have flimsy lug wrenches, they store well, but give you zero leverage when trying to remove the lug nuts on the side of the road.
A good quality lug wrench is not expensive and can save you a lot of trouble. There are plenty of options depending on the size needed.
Wheel Lock Key
Any mechanic’s pet peeve is searching for a wheel lock key in a customer’s car. Most people don’t even realize their car has one.
What is a wheel lock key? Cars equipped with wheel locks have one special lug nut or bolt that needs a specially shaped socket to remove. It’s a lock that prevents wheel theft.
Without the wheel lock key, you can never change your tire in an emergency, let alone when doing routine service.
These keys tend to get lost easily.
If your car has locking lugs I recommend keeping your wheel lock key in the car at all times, and in a place you know and remember.
Flashlight
Flats have a way of happening at the worst times, ie at night or on your way to an important event. A good quality emergency light will help you see what you are doing, and warn other drivers you are in trouble.
Remember the trauma of holding the light for your dad while he was working on something as a kid? 🙂
Get a good light that sits flat and can direct light where you need it.
Work Gloves
Gloves will protect your hands and give you some chance of showing up to an important meeting without filthy hands. Your hands probably don’t look like they have been through a meat grinder, like mine after 25 years of wrenching. Protect em’
Vehicle Specific Tools
All cars are different, some have the spare tire in the trunk, while others may have it under the car. Either way, read your owner’s manual and become familiar with where the spare tire is located, and how to remove it.
Check your car’s manual and make sure all of the needed tools are in the car and you know where they are. I’ve seen too many trunks with everything stuffed in them, besides the spare tire and the tools needed to change it.
Why Learn The Steps To Change a Tire?
Knowing how to change a tire is a skill every driver should have, at least an idea of how it’s done.
A flat tire can happen anytime and anywhere, It doesn’t matter how well you maintain your tires. So why not learn how to change a flat yourself?
You never know when you may need to. Even if you can’t physically change a tire it’s an asset being able to guide someone who can with your guidance.
You may be far away from a tow truck, or maybe you will find yourself with no cell phone signal. Either way knowing how this is done will never hurt.
Let’s get started…
How Do You Change A Car Tire?
You are driving along when you hear the blast of a tire blowout.
What now?
Don’t panic, here’s what to do.
Find a Safe spot
Safety is key. Turn on your hazard lights and seek out a secure, level spot far away from traffic. If it’s dark consider using road flares if the situation warrants it.
Engage the Parking Brake
Engage the parking brake to keep the car from rolling before you start. We don’t want any unexpected car acrobatics while you’re trying to work your magic.
Assess the situation
Start by looking at the car from the outside, check each corner, and peek your head underneath using the emergency light. You want to make sure you have a flat tire, as well as assess any other damage that may have occurred and or caused the blowout in the first place.
If things look bad, such as obvious body damage, or a wheel shifted way out of place this may indicate a suspension component failure or something else that needs to be looked at by a professional.
If everything looks OK besides the tire, start getting everything you need to change the tire properly out of the trunk. You don’t want to be looking for tools or something else once you start.
Chock Up The Wheels
Improve stability and reduce the risk of your car rolling off the jack by placing wheel chocks on the opposite side of the flat tire. Wheel chocks are simply wedges that go against a tire on both sides to prevent the car from rolling.
This is a safety measure that should not be overlooked, many accidents that involve car jacks occur because of the vehicle rolling.
Remove any Wheel or lug Covers
Begin the tire replacement process by taking off the hubcap or wheel cover, to access the lugs. Most cars today have alloy wheels but hubcaps are still around, keep In mind also many car manufacturers use lug covers that will look like lug nuts, however, these are plastic covers that need to be removed. The vehicle’s tool kit should have what you need to remove these. Once the lug nuts are exposed you are ready to move on.
Loosen The Lug Nuts
Before jacking up the car use a lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire. Place the hex head over each nut securely and turn the lug nuts counterclockwise until they break loose and spin.
DO NOT completely remove them at this stage, just break them all loose.
Time for Captain Jack!
Identify the correct jacking points beneath your vehicle and securely position the jack for lifting. Make sure the ground under the jack is flat and solid, always check for fuel lines or other components that can be damaged by the jack.
Most lift points are on the outer edge of the body of the car, you will see lifting pads, or a solid 1/2 inch or so metal seam.
These are the safe lift points. Again, always refer to your car’s owner’s manual for the correct information specific to your car.
Lift The Corner with the flat
Place the jack at a proper lift point and start turning or pumping it up!
Lift the vehicle with the jack until the flat tire is off the ground, creating ample space for the spare tire installation. Keep in mind the tire coming off is flat, you will need to lift the car higher to let an inflated tire go on without it hitting the ground.= while you are putting it on.
Fully Unscrew The Lug Nuts
Complete the removal of the loosened lug nuts, and carefully pull off the wheel.
Fair warning, some cars, especially cars with aluminum wheels tend to develop corrosion between the wheel and the car’s hub making it very hard to remove the wheel.
Sometimes a good kick or prying from behind will free it up but take note. DO NOT start pulling and kicking it too much, this will cause the car to shake and possibly fall off the jack.
Install Spare Tire
Carefully mount the spare tire onto the lug bolts, or line up the lug bolt holes. Install all of the lug nuts and hand-tighten them to seat the wheel squarely on the hub. Keep going until all of the nuts are as tight as possible by hand.
Use the lug wrench to gently tighten them in the air to ensure the wheel is seated to the vehicle properly.
Lower The Car and Fully Tighten The Lug Nuts
Gently lower the vehicle with the jack and then use the lug wrench to tighten the nuts further. They need to be tight, but not too tight, the average tightening specification is around 80 to 120-foot lbs. Ideally, you would have a torque wrench in the car but that’s a little overkill.
Snug them and then give them a little more to fully seat the wheel.
Finishing up
After the lugs are tight put all of the tools away and stow the flat tire in the trunk. I recommend leaving the hubcap or lug covers off at this point.
This serves a purpose, It allows you to easily pull over and re-check the lug nuts after a few miles. This makes sure they are good and snug.
When you are getting the replacement tire put on, having your alignment checked is a good idea as well to ensure your suspension is in shape.
Q&A
Can I Use Any Tire Brand When Changing a Tire in an Emergency?
In an emergency, you may not have the luxury of choosing the best European car tire brands. However, it’s important to opt for a similar type and size to ensure safety. While you may not get your preferred brand, any reliable tire can help you reach a safe location.
important things to keep in mind when changing a car tire
Raising the vehicle off the ground using a jack requires careful placement to avoid accidents and damage.
- Your jack should always be positioned under the vehicle’s designated jacking point.
- Always chock the wheels to avoid rolling.
- Always check the tire pressure of the spare tire before driving on it. This can be done using a tire pressure gauge to ensure that the spare tire is properly inflated.
What should I do after changing the tire?
Now that we have you back on the road pay attention to how your car drives and feels.
If anything feels way off, it probably is.
Call the tow truck.
If not, get to where you need to go and call your mechanic to set up an inspection and tire replacement ASAP.
What are some tips for roadside tire changes?
To prevent the car from rolling while changing a tire, use wheel chocks to secure the vehicle. Placing wheel chocks on both sides of the tires will prevent the car from moving and ensure safety during the tire-changing process.
Lastly, if a flat tire occurs while driving, it’s important to remain calm and find a safe location to pull over. Driving on a flat tire can cause irreparable damage to the wheel, so it’s crucial to change the tire as soon as it’s safe to do so.
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