How to a Change a Tire When You Have a Flat

If you’re a driver, you are bound to get a flat tire at least once, since they can happen anywhere at anytime.

When it comes to changing a flat tire, you have one of two options: pay a professional to change a tire, or do it yourself.

If you’re reading this article, we’re assuming that you want to learn How to change a flat tire yourself.

Knowing how to change a tire yourself is an important skill for all drivers. In the event that you catch an unexpected flat on your way to an important meeting, you will surely save yourself time and money if you can change a tire yourself.

You’re probably wondering….

How hard it is to change a tire?

Actually, changing a tire is really easy! With the right tools, anybody can change a tire.

And the best part? 

Car manufactures are aware that flat tires can be a common occurrence, so they have made the tire changing process a fairly simple one, so anybody can do it. In addition, changing a tire only costs you time. Most cars already have the tools you need in the trunk, and a spare tire to boot! You won’t have to spend any money to get the car rolling again. However, if you take the car directly to the shop, it could cost $20-50 to patch the tire, or $40-100 to replace it. That doesn’t even include the cost of towing!

Please note:  “Changing a tire” usually means swapping out a flat tire AND RIM with a spare tire and rim. Changing a tire ON the rim is called mounting and balancing a tire, and requires specialized equipment. That task is best left to mechanics.

In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to quickly change your vehicle’s flat tire in 18 simple steps. You don’t need to be a mechanic or an expert to remove a flat tire and put on the spare or donut replacement tire.  After reading this post, you will BE an expert, well prepared for any unexpected flat that may arise, rain or shine, day or night, on city or country roads, highways or in your garage.

Let’s get started!

Tools You’ll Need to Change a Tire

It’s important to be prepared in life, and as a driver. You should strive to be informed, and have the right products on hand, in the event that help is unavailable on the road. Here are few things to keep in your car that will make this unexpected task a little smoother.

These items will most likely be in your car already:

• Car jack (There are two types: a scissor jack and a hydraulic jack.) Either is acceptable.
• Tire lug wrench or tire iron.
• a fully inflated spare tire or donut tire.
• Your vehicle owner’s manual.

What’s not included in this list is a breaker bar. That is simply a long, non-ratcheting bar that is used with socket wrench-style sockets. It gives you more length than a standard tire wrench, and allows the same amount of force to create a lot more torque. You will find that it may come in handy if your lug nuts are stuck and hard to remove.  A breaker bar will make it easier to loosen and tighten lug nuts.

If you don’t have all of these items, you need to purchase new ones immediately. (We included Amazon purchase links in the items above and below for you, if you need to buy any of the items you are missing.)

You cannot change a tire without a jack or these other items.

For what it’s worth,

Make sure you have those tools.

Also, make sure you stay on top of you tire maintenance and regularly inflate the spare tire, so it will be ready in an emergency. You should always check the spare tire’s air pressure when you check the other tires. Routine tire maintenance should be done every month. 

In addition to the things you NEED to change a tire, here are some items that you may want to stow in your car for emergency roadside repairs:

• a flashlight with new batteries
• rain poncho
• two small wood blocks to brace the jack
• durable work gloves
• wheel wedges
• Flares and reflective triangles
• AAA Emergency Roadside Assistance Kit
• Jack Stands

Now,

Let’s cover those steps.

How to Change a Tire

1. Park Safely

When you notice you have a flat tire, don’t brake or make any sudden turns. Reduce your speed and look around for a level, open area on the roadside with a wide shoulder. Also, you want to work on a straight stretch of road, rather than on a curve, because other drivers are more likely to see you. The best option, of course, is an empty parking lot.

Level ground is vital, because it keeps your car from rolling over you. Never stop and change a tire on a hill or incline.

Seriously.

Never try to change a tire on a narrow shoulder or near oncoming traffic. Keep slowly driving until you find a safe area to stop. Even though driving on a flat may damage your rim, replacing a rim is easier than being hit by a car.

(Make sure you check your manual for any instructions on changing tires specific to your vehicle.)

2. Turn on your Hazard Lights

Your hazard lights or “flashers” will make sure other drivers see you while you are broken down. Make sure you turn them on as soon as you pull over, or even as soon as you realize you need to.

3. Set the Parking Brake

Once stopped, always use the parking brake when preparing to change a tire. This will minimize the possibility of your vehicle rolling and injuring you.

4. Brace the Wheels with the Wedges

Wheel wedges go in front of or behind the wheels, to make sure the vehicle doesn’t roll while you change the tire. If you’re changing a back tire, put them in front of the front tires. If your flat tire is in the front, put the wheel wedges in back of the back wheels.

Do not use large rocks or bricks instead of actual wheel wedges.

5. Remove the Wheel Cover

If your tires have hubcaps over the lug nuts, you should remove the hubcap before jacking your vehicle up.

If you can see the lug nuts, skip ahead to Step 6.

Take the flat end of your lug wrench and use it to remove the hubcap. This works on most cars, but some wheel covers need a different tool to remove them. As covered earlier, read your owner’s manual for the exact needs of your car.

6. Loosen Lug Nuts

Use your tire iron and turn the lug nuts counterclockwise until it moves. If your lug nuts get stuck, use your handy breaker bar as we discussed in the “Tools You’ll Need to Change a Tire” section, and it will help you loosen those pesky lug nuts.

You may have to use your body weight, and that’s normal. Use your foot or the breaker bar, if necessary.

Loosen the lug nuts about a half of a turn, but don’t take them all the way off just yet. It is best to wait until after you’ve raised the car to remove the wheel.

Now get this: 

We’re a third of the way there, since you just finished the first 6 steps.

Changing a tire is really that simple.

The truth is,

The next few steps will require a bit more elbow grease.

So stick with us here as we cover the remaining easy steps.

How to Jack up a Car

7. Place Jack Under Car

You must position the jack correctly to safely raise the car.  It goes under the vehicle’s outer frame, on the side and end where the flat is. Many vehicles today are mostly molded plastic on the bottom. However, you should see an obvious section of exposed metal designed for the jack.

Make sure you follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle’s manual, so you don’t cause damage to your car.

8. Safely Raise Your Car With the Jack

Now that your car is in park and your wheels are blocked, you can safely jack up your car.

You may want to use wood blocks or bricks to brace the jack, before jacking up the car . For extra safety, you can use jack stands to hold your vehicle up safely, but often times they aren’t needed just recommended. After all, safety does come first.

With the jack properly in place, to use a scissor jack, turn the crank and lift the vehicle. Raise the flat about half a foot off the ground. If you’re using a hydraulic jack, pump up and down to lift your vehicle.

Keep in mind that the flat tire has less air in it than the spare.

Avoid putting your body under the car while jacking or after lifting the vehicle on the jack. Obviously, this is for safety purposes.

If you decided to use Jack Stands, please follow these 4 steps:

• After your jack is properly in place, first place your jack stands under the vehicle near where the jack is touching.
• Next, you’re going to raise your stands just high enough to put under the vehicle and lock them into place.
• Once positioned, you can lower your jack until your vehicle is resting on the jack stands.
• Lastly, give your car a little wiggle to make sure that it’s securely resting on the jack stands, and remove the jack, if you like.

And you’re good to go!

You’ve finished with the hard part, it only gets easier from here.

9. Unscrew Lug Nuts

Now, that you have “safely jacked up” your car, you can remove the lug nuts.

You should be able to unscrew them by hand, since you loosened them already, earlier in step 6.

10. Remove Flat Tire

Holding the tire by the outside, pull it firmly towards you, until it’s completely free from the wheel hub. Set it to the side so that it doesn’t get in the way or become a hazard.

11. Mount Spare on Lug Bolts

Now you are ready to place the spare tire on the hub. Make sure to correctly line the rim up with the lug bolts. Push firmly until all the lug bolts come completely through the rim.

12. Tighten Lug Nuts by Hand

Screw the lug nuts onto the lug bolts, and hand tighten them. We recommend that you alternate tightening lugs, to better distribute the weight. This prevents mounting the tire unevenly. Once they are all in place, you must check that the tire is seated properly, and tighten each as much as possible BY HAND. You will tighten them with the wrench later, after bringing the vehicle back to the ground. Once again, this is for safety reasons.

13. Lower Car and Fully Tighten Lug Nuts

When you’re finished, replace the jack if you removed it after setting up your jack stands, then remove the stands. Next, lower the vehicle to the ground using the jack, so that the tires are resting on the ground, but some weight remains on the jack.

Now it is safe to tighten the lug nuts with the tire iron, turning clockwise, as hard as you can. Use the full weight of your body or the breaker bar, if needed, to get a good tight nut.

14. Remove Jack

Next, bring the vehicle all the way to the ground and remove the jack. Check the lug nuts one more time with the wrench to ensure they’re as tight as can be.

15. Replace Wheel Cover

If the hubcap from the flat tire will fit your spare, put it on the spare. If it won’t fit, put it away on the flat tire when you stow your tools in the trunk.

16. Stow your Gear

Make sure you scan the area before you leave. Don’t forget any of your tools, the tire and hubcap. Put them all in your car before driving off.

17. Check Air Pressure in the Spare Tire

You should look at the tire before driving away. Does the spare tire look like it has low air pressure? If it does, carefully drive to a gas station and fill the tire.

18. Replace or Repair Flat Tire

Temporary “donut” spare tires are not made for driving at high speeds or for long distances. Make certain you drive carefully until you’re able to get “a real tire” on there.

A professional mechanic will know if your tire needs a patch or replacement.

And you’re DONE!

Now you know how to successfully change a flat tire!

It really is that simple.

But you’re probably wondering…

How Long does it Take to Fix a Flat Tire?

It shouldn’t take more than 15 to 30 minutes to change a tire on most cars. Just make sure you follow our instructions carefully.

It’s best to practice how to change a tire in your garage or driveway, before you have to do so on the open road. This way, you will know you’re able to handle the project when it happens to you.

But wait – there’s more

Fixing a Tire Without Removing it

Some drivers want to fix their flat without removing the tire. That CAN be done in some cases, but isn’t recommended. First, you will need a can of CO2 and aerosol tire patch, like “Fix-A-Flat”. Second, you’ll need to examine the tire.

Can you find the puncture? If it is in the tire tread, you can use the tire patch spray. If the leak is in the sidewall, this method will not work. You cannot patch a hole in the sidewall, and it must be replaced. Just follow the instructions on the spray can carefully. Remember that this method is only a temporary repair, and you will still need to take the tire in for patching or replacement.

Essential Tire Maintenance Tips

Knowing how to change tires is a great skill to have, but regular tire maintenance is equally important. Smart drivers remember to always:

• Keep your wheels inflated properly.
• Monitor tread wear. If you insert a penny into the tread, and you cannot see the top of President Lincoln’s head, it is time to replace that tire. Most drivers have to replace their car tires every 2 to 4 years.
• Rotate your tires according to the schedule in your owner’s manual.

All of these tips will help your tires last longer, and reduce the chances of getting a flat. In addition, it doesn’t cost anything to change tires yourself.

Keep Calm and Change Tires

While there’s no way to totally prevent flat tires, proper maintenance will improve your car’s performance and help your tires last longer. This, coupled with your new knowledge of how to change a tire, will help you get the most out of your ride.

Once your spare is safely and securely on your car, take your flat tire to a repair shop. We advise you not to drive long distances at high speeds on a spare. So, make sure you replace or repair your flat tire as soon as possible.

One last thing. Before attempting to take on this DIY repair, make sure you have all the needed tools stored in your trunk and in good condition. If you notice rust or damage to your jack, don’t use it. Call AAA or a tow truck to assist you.

Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Are you going to start by changing your tires in your garage? Or are you going to buy the tools to need to prepare yourself for such an event?

Are you going to use jack stands or a hydraulic jack?

Either way, leave a quick comment below.