How to Change a Flat Tire

Flat tire situations are unpredictable and may come at inconvenient times. If you don't know how to change a flat tire, you have to wait for roadside assistance to arrive and change a flat tire for you. Just like you know how to drive a car, you should also know how to change a flat tire. Here we have shared a step-by-step guide on how to change a flat tire. 

Tools Needed

  • Spare tire (fully inflated)

  • Lug wrench 

  • Jack 

  • Wheel wedges

  • Car owner's manual

Park Your Car on a Flat Surface 

Look for a flat surface by the roadside before you perform the steps given below. Avoid parking your car on a narrow road, or at a turn or intersection. Find a straight stretch of road to park your car. The surface should be flat and steady. Avoid parking on the grass. Switch on the hazard lights and engage the parking brake. 

Remove the Hubcap

If the wheel has a hubcap, remove it so that you can access the lug nuts. In some cases, the wheel cover does not cover lug nuts. In that case, you can skip this step and move to the next one. 

Loosen the Lug Nuts

Grab your wheel wrench and place it on the flat tire's lug nuts. Turn the wheel wrench in an anti-clockwise direction. If the lug nuts are tight, apply body weight to turn the wrench. Alternatively, you can apply a generous amount of nut loosener on lug nuts to dissolve the rust and try again. Remember, you only have to loosen the lug nuts and not remove them completely.

Place the Jack Under the Car

Read the car owner's manual to know the right jacking points. The jack slot for the front wheel is behind the wheel while the jack slot for the rear of the car is in front of the rear wheel. Position the jack under the car's body frame and jack up the car. You need to at least raise the flat tire several inches off the ground so that it is not touching the ground. 

Swap the Tires

Remove the lug nuts and keep them aside. Remove the flat tire from the lug bolts and set it aside. Now roll on the spare tire to the place and mount the tire on the front hub. Lift the tire and align the lug openings with lug bolts and push the tire inwards. Put the lug nuts on lug bolts and tighten them with hand. 

Lower the Car

Lower the jack until the newly fitted tire firmly rests on the ground. Take the wheel wrench and place it on the lug nuts. Turn the wrench in a clockwise direction to tighten the lug nuts. Put the hubcap on the wheel and remove the jack. 

Changing a flat tire is an important skill that every motorist should know. It is not rocket science and all the tools required for the job are in the car. So, spend some time learning this skill and you will never have to wait for roadside assistance when you face a flat tire situation in the near future.