Experiencing a flat tire or a tire blowout is usually frustrating and, in some cases, frightening. Before going ahead to change your car tire yourself, ensure you’re not only in a calm condition but also in a safe place.
Firstly, do not change your car tire if you do not have the appropriate tools. However, if you are in a safe place and have the right pieces of equipment, and you are feeling confident to change your car tire, then this step-by-step guide is for you. Your vehicle will come with a full-size or narrow space-saver spare, but the wheel-changing process is essentially the same.
Before starting, ensure your car is parked in a safe spot. Do not park somewhere dangerous; try and drive over to somewhere safe. Your hazard lights should also be left on, and if you have a reflective coat, please put it on.
The pieces of equipment you will need:
- A spare wheel
- A jack for lifting your vehicle off the ground
- A wrench for taking off the wheel nuts
- A wheel chock prevents the car from moving when it is jacked up. Some people use objects like bricks as a replacement.
- Car manual for easy instructions and reference
- Wheel nut key in situations when there are fitted locking nuts.
Here’s a 10 step guide to changing a tire. It is a great life skill:
- Make sure your car is prepared
Use your handbrake. All passengers are also advised to leave the vehicle. Bring out all needed pieces of equipment, including the spare tire from the car’s boot.
- Ensure the wheel chock is positioned
Place a chock on the opposite wheel to the one with an issue (the puncture).
- Slacken the wheel nuts
This is usually more convenient to do while your vehicle is still on the ground.
- Jack the vehicle up
See your car manual or handbook to see the specific jacking point of your car. Usually, it is best to put the jack at the side of the vehicle, near the wheel that is punctured. Raise the vehicle steadily and slowly, usually until the punctured tire is 10-15 centimeters above the ground.
- Take off the flat tire
Do this by removing the wheel nuts. Once you take off the flat tire, lay it on the ground.
- Put in the spare tire
Mount the spare tire onto the hub bolts sticking out. Please be aware that carrying it off the ground is usually heavy. Put back the wheel nuts and fasten them with your hand.
- Put the car down and fasten the bolts
With the car jack, drop the vehicle only slightly to allow contact between the spare wheel and the ground. After this, with a wrench, fasten the car’s bolts.
- Now, fully lower your vehicle
Once this is done, ensure the wheel nuts are appropriately fastened for safety purposes.
- Gauge the spare tire’s pressure
You can use a tire pressure gauge to check or drive to a fuel station for such services.
Lastly, remember to take your bad tire to be repaired.