Comments on How to Change a Flat Tire

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!

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!

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

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

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.

It is always easier to loosen the lug nuts by pulling up, rather than pushing down, on the lug wrench. If this still will not loosen the lug nut, sometimes with an "L" shaped lug wrench, if you can place it so that you can carefully step on the end of the lug wrench with one foot. Make sure nothing is underneath it, but the weight is sometimes enough to loosen the nut.

To keep lug nuts from seizing to the studs, I always add just a dab of grease when I reinstall them. One tiny dab on each stud is all that is needed. It will spread evenly when tightening and keep rust away.

After you put on the spare tire, tighten the lug nuts in two stages: First, tighten the nuts while the the tire is lifted up on the jack. Second, after the tire is touching the ground, tighten the lug nuts as tight as you possibly can. I learned this one from sad experience when I lost a tire.

After installing the spare on the hub, try to fully tighten all lug nuts BEFORE lowering the jack (the hand brake or transmission will keep the wheel from turning). If it's the front wheel on a rear wheel drive car then slowly lower the tire to where it just touches the ground to fully tighten the lug nuts. Only then should you let the weight of the car back on the wheel to ensure that the installation is perfectly flush against the hub.

Some people are in the habit of standing on the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts. That's a bad idea. First of all, it can over-tighten the nuts and you will know it when you have to loosen them later on. Secondly, it can damage the threads on the lug nuts. I usually push down on the lug wrench using my upper body weight to tighten them. This should be sufficient to tighten them enough.

If the tire doesn't want to come off after the lug nuts are removed, give it a good kick on the side. It should pop right off.

As a smaller person, I often have trouble loosening lug nuts--especially if they've been tightened at the garage. I carry a tire iron that is cross-shaped and which gives me great leverage, because I can push and pull at the same time.

Consider getting a full-sized spare if it will fit in the spare tire space in your vehicle, particularly if you will be driving through remote areas or in harsh conditions. Don't drive an inch more than necessary on a temporary spare.

Use a longer tire wrench if you have problems with your arm strength. Use your feet to help turn the lugs.

To keep lug nuts from seizing to the studs, I always add just a dab of grease when I reinstall them. One tiny dab on each stud is all that is needed. It will spread evenly when tightening and keep rust away.

Some people are in the habit of standing on the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts. That's a bad idea. First of all, it can over-tighten the nuts and you will know it when you have to loosen them later on. Secondly, it can damage the threads on the lug nuts. I usually push down on the lug wrench using my upper body weight to tighten them. This should be sufficient to tighten them enough.

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.

If the tire doesn't want to come off after the lug nuts are removed, give it a good kick on the side. It should pop right off.

It is always easier to loosen the lug nuts by pulling up, rather than pushing down, on the lug wrench. If this still will not loosen the lug nut, sometimes with an "L" shaped lug wrench, if you can place it so that you can carefully step on the end of the lug wrench with one foot. Make sure nothing is underneath it, but the weight is sometimes enough to loosen the nut.

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.

Removing lug nuts can be especially difficult for women, since in general, we have less upper body strength. I learned to carry a hammer in my trunk, along with tire changing essentials. If you place the tire tool on the lug nut and give it a firm whack with the hammer, this will most often shock the lug nut loose and ease in it's removal. I have done this more than once, and it works about 95% of the time.