How to Change a Tire on an Expedition

Everyone should know how to change a tire on his or her vehicle. These skills should be practiced often to reach optimum comfort in changing a tire. I thank my mom, who was a single mother, for requiring me to know how to change the oil, drive a stick shift and change a tire before I got my license. This is something I practice with my own 6 children, 2 of whom are driving. The steps that follow are based on changing a tire on an Expedition.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Acquire your jack tools and jacking instructions. These items are located under the access panel located in the floor compartment behind the rear seat.

2. Take out the jack and tools assembly tray from the compartment by rotating the wing-nut counterclockwise to reduce tension against the jack assembly tray. From the plastic tray unsnap the wheel lug nut wrench, jack extension and handle.

3. Unsnap the wheel lug nut wrench, jack extension and handle from the plastic tray. Find your spare tire which is under the vehicle, just beyond the rear bumper and collapse the rear seat down.

4. Get the jack handle and winch extension from the tray and put them together.

5. Release the spare tire winch access plug in the bottom of the compartment just behind the third row seat, very close to the jack and tools tray. Put in the winch extension tool assembly through the access hole in the floor and engage in the winch.

6. Turn the handle counterclockwise until the tire is lowered to the ground and the cable is slightly slack to remove the spare tire. Slip the retainer through the center of the spare tire wheel.

7. Activate hazard flashers, park on a level surface, and set the parking brake.

8. Be sure the Engine is OFF, put gearshift lever in P (Park), and block the diagonally opposite wheel. (While changing a tire on a grade, block the diagonally opposite wheel on the downward side of the grade.)

9. Get the spare tire and jack tools from their storage area.

10. Utilize the tip of the jack handle to remove any wheel trim. Loosen each wheel lug nut one-half turn counterclockwise. This is not to be done until the wheel is raised off the ground.

11. Situate the jack according to the jack locator arrows found on the frame and turn the jack handle and extension tool assembly clockwise. Raise the vehicle so the tire is not further than 2.5 cm (1 inch) off the ground when changing the spare tire.

12. Eliminate the lug nuts with the lug wrench.

13. Substitute the flat tire with the spare tire, noting that the valve stem is facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts making sure the wheel is snug against the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the jack and the wheel has been lowered.

14. Bring down the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise. Take away the jack and fully tighten the lug nuts and reinstall the wheel cover. Also release the lock on the wheels.

15. Set flat tire, jack, lug wrench and tools back in their place. A securely fastened jack will alleviate any rattling when you drive.

16. Remember that during the changing tire process you might have turned off the air suspensions. Now is the time to turn on the air suspensions switch (if equipped).

Tips & Warnings

• If a flat tire occurs while driving, do not apply the break heavily but gradually decrease your speed and pull over to the side of the road.
• Do not put any part of your body under the vehicle while changing a tire; this can put you at risk for personal injury.
• The jack is only meant for changing a tire and not for starting your engine on.
• The use of tire sealants may damage your tires and also damage your tire pressure monitoring system.
• To help avoid the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be sure the parking brake is on, then block (in both directions) the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed.
• For vehicles equipped with Air Suspension, you must turn OFF the Air Suspension switch prior to jacking, hoisting or towing your vehicle.