How To Change a Car Tire

The answer to that question is "never." This is one DIY project that you should only attempt in an emergency. You are most likely to have a flat tire while commuting on a high speed freeway or a jammed packed surface street. Neither situation is conducive to safely getting out of your vehicle and attempting to remove the flat and install the spare.

Emergency roadside assistance is no longer the sole province of AAA. Auto insurance companies typically offer it for pennies and if you have a newer car your warranty almost certainly has roadside assistance as part of the terms. If you don't have it, get it. Trust us when we say that both you and your vehicle have a better chance to get through a flat tire experience when you have a big honking wrecker with flashing lights parked behind your car. Add in a driver who has the equipment and knowledge to get the job done quickly and you have a real bargain.

• An inflated spare tire
• Jack
• Lug wrench
• Reflective warning triangles
• Lantern
• Gloves

The best way to prepare for this task is to take steps to prevent it. Check the pressure in your tires every time you fill up the tank. Not only will you be able to detect a "slow leaker" but you'll get better gas mileage with a properly inflated tire.

While you're checking the pressure, have a look at the tread and general condition of the tire. Dangerous blow outs are uncommon except on vehicles that are running on overly worn tires.

Take the time on a weekend to actually go through the exercise of changing the spare. You'd be amazed at how easier it is to change a tire on the side of a road if you have already been through it in the safety of your driveway.

At a minimum locate where your spare tire, jack and lug wrench are located. Check the pressure in your spare to ensure it's inflated. If you have trouble locating these items check your owner's manual to determine where the manufacturer may have hidden them. If you have a Porsche 911 don't bother looking for the spare. You don't have one. You do however have a nice tire repair kit.

1. If you are driving when the flat occurs (as opposed to discovering the flat in a parking lot) pull off the road as far as you can go and still have the jack on paved road.
2. Engage your parking brake.
3. Turn on your hazard lights and place the reflective warning triangles behind your car.
4. Find and remove your spare, jack and lug wrench.
5. Using the lug wrench, loosen the lug nuts on the flat. Use a crisscross pattern on the lug nuts but do not totally remove them.
6. Locate the closest jack point and place the jack under it. Make sure the ground under the jack is paved or firm enough to handle the load.
7. Jack the car up until the flat is entirely off the pavement.
8. The flat is going to be filthy and you will want to wear gloves if you have them. Remove the lug nuts the rest of the way from the flat and then pull the flat off the hub.
9. Roll the spare into position and then lift it and mount it on the hub. This is the most physical part of the process and you might try using your foot to balance the spare while trying to line up with the wheel studs.
10. Hand tighten the lug nuts using a crisscross pattern and then give each one a half turn with the wrench.
11. Lower the jack all the way.
12. Tighten the lug nuts again using the crisscross pattern.
13. Replace the jack, wrench and warning signs to their storage spaces. The flat will probably not fit in the space used for the spare so it goes in the trunk or back seat.
14. Turn on your engine, disengage the parking brake and turn off your hazard lights. You're ready to merge with traffic.

Keep in mind that your doughnut spare has a limited range and a limited top speed. Check your manual to get the specifications for your particular spare.

- End of Procedure -

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