How to Change a Flat Tire

Introduction

Replacing a flat tire requires only a few essentials. Know this easy (and all too common) automotive task, and you'll be rolling again in no time. After reading this eHow you'll be able to save yourself the hassle of waiting for AAA to come bail you out, you can just change the tire yourself.

By: eHow Cars Editor

Length: 2:53

Comments: 20

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

The best thing to have with your tire changing equipment is a strong, hollow pipe, about 2 feet long, to use for leverage.
If a lug nut sticks, squirt penetrating oil around its base and wait a moment, then try again. Repeat as needed.
Mind your hands when you remove a flat tire. Strands of steel may be sticking out of the back of the rubber (on a bald tire) and can cut you.
Check out all your tire changing equipment at home before you need it on the road!
Most people's spare tires are flat. Check the tire pressure once a month. Temporary spares (the small ones that have a "T" on them, require 60 PSI, regular sized spares need 32 PSI). A flat spare is useless.
Cars can slip off jacks. Be extremely careful. Never get under a car with only a tire changing jack holding it up.
To avoid bruised knuckles, pull rather than push when removing lug nuts.
To avoid a strained back, use your knees when pulling on the wrench and pipe rather than your back.

Step1

Put the car in park on level ground and apply the parking brake. Place manual transmission cars in gear. Make sure you have pulled off the road. Turn the engine off and turn on the hazard lights. You may want to open the hood to indicate to other drivers that you are stopped for repairs.

Step2

Place a wheel chock or a large rock behind (if facing uphill) or in front (if facing downhill) the diagonally opposing wheel to prevent the car from rolling. Do this even on a slight incline. Get out the spare, a lug nut wrench (tire iron) and the car jack.

Step3

Remove the hubcap, if necessary.

Step4

Loosen the lug nuts, which hold the wheel in place, before jacking up the car: Place one end of the lug nut wrench over a lug nut. Use a hollow pipe (about 2 feet in length) for leverage by slipping it over the end of the lug nut wrench. Turn the wrench counterclockwise to loosen the lug nut. Loosen the lug nuts in a star pattern, first loosen one a few turns, then loosen the one opposite. Work across the tire until all the lug nuts are loose and unscrewed slightly.

Step5

Carefully jack up the car (see 'Jack Up a Car Safely'). Check your owner's manual for the correct and safe place to put the jack. Jack the car up a little higher than is necessary to remove the old tire so there is room to put the new, full tire on.

Step6

Remove the lug nuts all the way and set them aside in a place where you won't lose them and they won't roll away. The flat tire should be hanging from the threaded studs now.

Step7

Remove the flat tire and set it aside.

Step8

Lift the new tire onto the wheel studs. If you're confused about which is the right way to put the new tire on, check for the valve where you add air, it always faces out.

Step9

Replace the lug nuts. Tighten them the same way you loosened them: Give each nut a few turns, first one, then the one opposite, working around the wheel in a star pattern. Try not to tighten adjacent nuts consecutively.

Step10

Slowly lower the jack and remove it.

Step11

Tighten the lug nuts again as much as you can.

Step12

Put the hubcap back on.

Comments

BluthGuy said

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on 1/29/2008 Thanks for some helpful information. This is also good, BTW: http://www.5min.com/Video/How-to-change-a-flat-tire-1526

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 If you don't have penetrating fluid or WD-40, a can of coke (or beer, never tried that but it is supposed to be just as good) will loosen the lug nuts right up. I am not kidding, it happened to a couple of cars and the coke worked great!

Anonymous said

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on 8/6/2007 Be careful with spray oils, as getting oil on brake discs is very dangerous.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Do not tighten the lug nuts as much as you can while the vehicle is still on the jack. I know this from experience; it could push the vehicle off the jack. Instead, tighten it until the lug nuts don't go any farther while tightening the nuts loosely. You can then tighten them the rest of the way.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Use a large hammer or mallet and a 2 X 4. Place the 2 X 4 against the back of the wheel with the emergency brake off and hit the wood. As you strike it, slowly spin the wheel. This will ensure that every section has been loosened.

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