Things You'll Need:
- Spare tire (donut)
- Jack
- Lug wrench
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Step 1
All cars are equipped with a tire changing kit from the factory. Make sure your car has everything you need. You should have a spare tire, often referred to as a donut, a jack, and a lug wrench. Most likely, the lug wrench will be the handle of the jack's pump handle.
If you find yourself with a flat tire while driving, don't panic. Calmly pull over to the right side of the road. Try your best not to pull over to the left side if on a divided highway. It's much more dangerous. Better to scrap your rim than get seriously hurt or killed. -
Step 2
Hydraulic jacks are much easier to use and carry more weight.Once you are safely parked, unscrew the butterfly nut to release the spare tire and other accessories. Personally, I like using a third party hydraulic jack, which can cost anywhere from 15 dollars to 50 dollars depending on size and place purchased. Hydraulic jacks, though more bulky, are much safer and easier to use. They are much more stable and can handle much more weight.
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Step 3
Typically, this isn't a good idea. But there are times when you may need something under the jack for stability.No matter what jack you use, place the jack under the car frame, close enough to the blown tire for stability but not too close that it gets in the way when turning the lug nuts. Your car manual will probably have the best suggestions for placement. But the important thing to remember is; never use your bumper or the skin of the car. You must make sure it is directly under a part of the frame. Also, make sure you have the bottom of the jack on solid and relatively level ground. You don't want the jack to be tilted in any way. If it is, try to move the car a bit.
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Step 4
Different models have various numbers of lug nuts.Once the jack is secure give it a couple of pumps, but don't raise the car yet. Just give it enough pumps so you can assess stability and proper location. Next, loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Remember Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey. You always want to place your hands near the end of the lug wrench for best leverage. With even and steady pressure, loosen and remove the lug nuts. You may have to use the weight of your body. Then give the jack a few more pumps so the tire is off the ground and remove the tire.
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Step 5
Raise the jack to accommodate the spare tire. Then align the tire so the lugholes match the lug screws. Place the tire on the hub and hand tighten the lug nuts. Once all the lug nuts are on and hand tightened, use the lug wrench to tighten more. The tire will spin when you do this, but you want to ensure the tire is secure against the hub and not tilted one way or another. Always tighten the nuts in staggered sequence. Top bottom left and right for even placement.
Once you know the spare tire is well placed and snug, slowly lower the jack and remove it. Then tighten the lug nuts in the same staggered sequence. It's difficult to say exactly how tight to tighten the nuts but unless you are the Hulk, you probably won't over tighten. Just don't under tighten! -
Step 6
Now that your spare tire is on, just make sure you replace the jack, lug wrench and blown tire in your trunk. A spare tire is usually rated to drive no more than 50 miles. I've driven much longer, but it is not recommended. Get to a gas station or repair shop as soon as possible for a new tire.
If your rim was damaged while moving to the side of the road, this can be an additional expense. If the damage is minor, they can usually fix it. Otherwise, you will probably have to buy a new rim.
Good luck and I hope you never have to do this.
Comments
finsyourfriend said
on 2/2/2009 Very detailed and informative. 5*
imagery said
on 2/2/2009 Good article!
Addonis said
on 2/2/2009 great work Brian. All the right steps.
5*