How to Change a Flat Tire in 7 Easy Steps

Got a flat tire? It’s a common enough car repair to deal with. However, changing a flat tire can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are ten easy steps to get you up and running again, so you can hit the road in no time.

Step 1: Safety First!

Flats rarely happen when we expect them to. Whatever you do, don’t change the tire on the side of the highway. Make sure you’re in a safe environment off the side of the road. Turn your hazard lights on; if it’s dark, set up flares or reflective triangles to alert other drivers.

Step 2: Get the tools you need.

Every car should have a car jack, a lug wrench, and a spare tire handy. The tools and spare tire are typically in the trunk. If you don’t have the tools and parts, you should call a towing service.

Step 3: Jack up the car.

Before lifting your car, make sure your handbrake is on and that you’re on a flat surface. Next, place the car jack under the car, and make sure it’s secure. There’s usually a marking on the car frame that indicates where you should place the jack. Then, use the jack to slowly lift the car until the flat tire is a few inches off the ground.

Step 4: Remove the flat tire.

With your car raised, it’s time to take the tire off. Use your lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts and place them in a safe spot so you don’t lose them. And with the buts gone, remove the flat tire.

Step 5: Put on the spare tire.

Now it’s time to put the spare tire on. Line up the spare tire with the wheel bolts and start threading the lug nuts by hand.

Step 6: Tighten the lug nuts.

Once you’ve threaded the lug nuts by hand, use your lug wrench to tighten them.

Step 7: Lower the car & double-check the lug nuts.

Once the lug nuts are tightened, use the car jack to slowly lower the car. Lastly, give the lug nuts one final check to make sure they’re tight.

Driving on a spare tire.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully changed your flat tire. Put your tools away and hit the road again. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. As you likely can see, the spare tire is not the same size as your regular tires. It is not recommended that you drive for a long time with your spare tire. Additionally, the recommendation is not to drive about 80 km/per hour on your spare. So you should head home and fix your original tire before using your vehicle on a regular basis.

Changing a flat tire doesn’t have to be a daunting task. If you keep these ten easy steps in mind, you’ll be back on the road in no time. So, don’t be scared off by the task – you’ve got this!