How To Change A Flat Tire

Have you ever had to change a flat tire on your car? Some people have never had to change a tire, or do not even know how to start or finish a tire change. There are a few basic steps on how to change a tire.

1. Find a safe place to pull off the road. When you pull off the road make sure you are completely off the road. Do not pull on a hill or an incline, the vehicle needs to be on flat ground. Be sure to set your parking brake, and turn on your hazard lights.

2. Get your tools. Get the jack, wrench, and spare tire. Put your tools where the tire is flat.

3. Loosen the lug nuts with a wrench. First, you need to remove your hubcap. Then, loosen the lug nuts but do not completely take them off just loosen them. If you are not sure which direction the wrench needs to go, turn it counter-clockwise. Sometimes to lug nuts are too tight to loosen, stand on the wrench while on the nuts; your body weight will help loosen the lug nut.

4. Lift your vehicle off the ground with the jack. Once the jack is in place, jack your vehicle about 6 inches off the ground. Jack your vehicle enough where you can spin your tire freely.

5. Remove the lug nuts and the flat tire. Once your vehicle is jacked up you can remove the lug nuts, make sure you put them all in the same place so none of them are lost.

6. Put the spare tire on and put on the lug nuts. Put the spare tire on, line up the lug nut posts and push the tire all the way to the wheelbase. Next, put all the lug nuts on but do not tighten them.

7. Lower your vehicle to the ground and tighten the lug nuts. Lower your vehicle to the ground using the jack and remove the jack from under your vehicle. Tighten the lug nuts now that your vehicle is back on the ground. When tightening your lug nuts tighten 50% then move to the opposite nut (across the circle), keep doing this till the lug nuts are as tight as they can be.

8. Put your tools and flat tire back in your trunk. You have completed your tire change. Put all your tools flat in the trunk. Remember the tire you have on your vehicle is a spare and not a tire to be driven on for a long time, it needs to be replaced.

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