Step by step guide: How to change a tire

To change a flat tire safely, park on level ground, engage the parking brake, and use hazard lights. Loosen the lug nuts slightly, jack up the car, remove the flat, mount the spare, tighten nuts by hand, lower the car, and fully tighten nuts in a star pattern. 

Step-by-Step Tire Change Guide

1. Safety First & Preparation: Find a safe, flat location. Turn on hazard lights, apply the parking brake, and put the car in park (or reverse for manual).
2. Locate Tools: Get the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench (usually under the boot floor).
3. Loosen Lug Nuts: Using the lug wrench, turn the lug nuts counter-clockwise about a quarter-turn to loosen them, but do not remove them yet.
4. Jack Up the Vehicle: Place the jack under the vehicle’s frame at the designated jacking point near the flat tire (refer to the owner’s manual). Raise the car until the flat tire is roughly 2-3 $$$$inches off the ground.
5. Remove the Flat Tire: Remove the loosened lug nuts completely, then pull the flat tire straight toward you. Place the flat tire under the car as a safety precaution.
6. Mount the Spare Tire: Line up the spare tire with the wheel bolts and push it onto the hub.
7. Tighten Lug Nuts by Hand: Replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand in a star/diagonal pattern.
8. Lower the Car & Tighten: Lower the car slightly until the spare tire touches the ground and bears some weight. Use the wrench to fully tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to ensure it is secure.
9. Lower Completely & Final Check: Lower the car fully to the ground and remove the jack. Re-check the tightness of all nuts one last time.
10. Stow Equipment & Check Pressure: Put the flat tire and tools back. Check the spare tire’s pressure if a gauge is available.
11. Drive Safely: Drive directly to a service station to repair or replace the damaged tire. 

Following is a detailed guide on how to change a tire…

Safety first and preparation

Pull off the road to a flat, firm surface. Asphalt or concrete is ideal. Soft dirt can let the jack sink.

Turn on hazard lights. Set the parking brake hard. Put the transmission in Park. For a manual, select reverse, then set the parking brake.

Get everyone out of the car and away from traffic. Stand on the side away from the road.

Block a wheel so the car cannot roll. Wheel chocks work best. No chocks available, wedge a heavy rock or a solid block of wood in front of and behind a tire on the opposite end of the car. Front flat tire, block a rear tire. Rear flat tire, block a front tire.

Remove hubcaps or wheel covers if they block the lug nuts. Many pry off. Some use small plastic fasteners.

Locate tools

Find the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Many cars store them under the trunk (boot) floor panel. Plenty of newer cars carry a sealant kit instead, which changes what to do about a flat when there is no spare. Some store the spare under the rear of the vehicle with a lowering tool.

Check the spare before you lift the car. A spare with low pressure turns one problem into two. If you have a gauge, confirm pressure matches the number printed on the spare or the sticker in the driver door jamb.

Lay tools on the ground where they stay within reach and away from traffic.

Loosen lug nuts

Before lifting the car, loosen the lug nuts while the tire still sits on the ground. This stops the wheel from spinning.

Fit the lug wrench fully on the lug nut. Push the wrench on straight so it does not round the nut.

Turn counter clockwise about a quarter turn to break each nut loose. Do not remove them yet.

If a nut is stuck, use controlled force. Put your foot on the wrench and step down carefully while keeping the wrench seated squarely. Avoid bouncing on it.

Jack up the vehicle

Find the jacking point nearest the flat tire. Most cars have reinforced pinch welds or marked points behind the front wheel and ahead of the rear wheel. Many have a small notch or arrow on the rocker panel.

Place the jack on firm ground directly under the jacking point. Keep it vertical. A tilted jack can kick out.

Raise the car until the flat tire clears the ground by about 6 inches (15 cm). That gives room to pull the wheel off and fit the spare.

Never put any part of your body under the car while it sits on a roadside jack.

Remove the flat tire

Finish removing the lug nuts. Put them somewhere clean so they do not roll into traffic.

Pull the wheel straight toward you. If it is stuck on the hub, give the tire a firm kick with the sole of your shoe at the 3 o clock and 9 o clock positions, alternating sides. Keep your face clear of the wheel.

Slide the flat tire under the car near the jacking point. This adds a backup support point if the jack slips.

Mount the spare tire

Lift the spare and line up the holes with the wheel studs or bolts.

Push the spare onto the hub until it sits flush. If the wheel wobbles or stops short, pull it back off and realign. A wheel that does not seat flat will not tighten correctly.

Tighten lug nuts by hand

Thread each lug nut by hand first. Start each nut a few turns before tightening any of them. Hand threading reduces the risk of cross threading.

Snug them in a star pattern. On a five lug wheel, go across the circle, not around it. This seats the wheel evenly.

Lower the car and tighten

Lower the jack until the spare touches the ground and takes some weight, with the full vehicle weight still not fully down. The wheel should not spin.

Tighten the lug nuts with the wrench in the same star pattern. Apply firm, steady force.

If your car has a specified torque value and you have a torque wrench, use it. Tightening too little risks a loose wheel. Tightening too much can stretch studs and damage threads.

Lower completely and final check

Lower the vehicle fully and remove the jack.

Tighten the lug nuts one more time in the star pattern. This final pass catches any nut that settled as the wheel seated.

Refit the hubcap only if it fits the spare. Many temporary spares do not accept the original cover.

Stow equipment and check pressure

Put the flat tire, jack, and tools back where they belong. Secure the spare system so it does not rattle loose.

Check spare tire pressure again if a gauge is available. If the spare looks low, drive slowly and stop for air right away.

Drive safely

Drive straight to a tire shop for a proper repair or replacement. A plug or patch repair depends on puncture location and tire condition.

If you are on a temporary spare, keep speed low and avoid long distances. Many temporary spares list a maximum of 50 mph (80 km/h) on the sidewall. Treat that number as a hard limit.

Key tips

Lug nut pattern

Always tighten in a star or diagonal pattern. That pulls the wheel onto the hub evenly and reduces rotor and wheel distortion.

Wheel blocking

Chocks beat rocks. If rocks are the only option, pick heavy ones that cannot crumble and place them tight against the tire.

Temporary spare limits

Temporary spares have less grip and less heat capacity than a full size tire. Keep speed down, avoid hard braking, and avoid sharp lane changes until the proper tire is back on the car.

When not to change it on the roadside

If the shoulder is narrow, the ground is soft, visibility is poor, or traffic is flying past, do not risk it. A tow or roadside service is cheaper than a serious injury.

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