How to Change a Tire: A Step-by-Step Guide for Drivers
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Anyone who drives knows that car troubles can come out of nowhere. Your battery might die, or you could experience engine issues. You could also encounter a flat tire.
You never know when a flat might occur, so it's important to prepare for it by learning how to change a tire. If you know how to handle a flat tire, you can fix it yourself and be back on the road faster.
Introduction To Changing a Tire
Flat tires happen for several reasons, including:
- Wear and tear
- Punctures from sharp objects
- Damaged valve stems
- Vandalism
- Accidents
Driving on a flat can damage the rims and brakes or cause steering and suspension issues. Because of this, you'll need to pull over and fix the tire before traveling any further.
You can deal with a flat tire in several ways:
- Call roadside assistance. Roadside assistance — which provides car repair services when you encounter emergencies — is a service that comes with some auto insurance plans. When you call the roadside assistance number, they'll send a tow truck or mechanic to your stalled vehicle to make the necessary repairs.
- Call a friend or relative. If someone you know lives close to your location, you could call them for help.
- Change the tire yourself. When you learn how to change a flat tire, you can handle the task yourself.
If you can change a tire yourself, you won't have to make any calls or wait for someone to show up.
Essential Tools Needed To Change a Tire
Changing a tire requires a few special tools. Here's what you'll need:
- Lug wrench
- Tire iron
- Car jack
- Spare tire
Some people also use a wheel wedge to remove a flat tire. A wheel wedge is a device placed next to the tire to prevent the car from moving.
Preparing Your Vehicle for a Tire Change
A flat can happen while your car is parked or while you're driving. Regardless of how or when it happens, you can stay safe by following these tips when changing it:
- Find a safe place to park the car. For example, if you're on the highway, pull the car off the road as far from traffic as possible.
- Place your hazard lights on to alert other drivers.
- Apply the parking brake to lock your car in place.
Next, gather the tools you'll need for the job.
Step-by-Step Tire Changing Process
Learning how to change a car tire is helpful for times when a tire loses pressure or is punctured. Here are the steps for changing a front or rear tire:
- Loosen the lug nuts. Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Turn them counterclockwise, but do not fully loosen or remove them yet.
- Raise the vehicle. Use your car jack to lift the car up enough to let you remove the tire. Place it under your vehicle frame near the flat tire and raise the vehicle with it.
- Remove the tire. Remove the lug nuts and the regular tire. Then, place the tire under your car or set it aside.
- Put the spare tire on. Once you remove the flat, put the spare tire in place.
- Replace the lug nuts. Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern, alternating every other nut. Once they're all on, tighten them as much as possible.
- Lower the vehicle. At this point, you can safely lower the vehicle and check the lug nuts once again to ensure they are as tight as possible.
You can also replace the wheel cover or hub cap if you have one.
Final Safety Checks After Installing the Spare
Before driving the car after changing a tire, you may want to perform a few more steps for safety purposes. The first one is testing the air pressure if you have a tire gauge (this is a handy tool to keep in your car).
Secondly, make a plan to fix the flat tire if it's fixable. If not, plan on getting a new tire soon because you can't drive on a spare forever. A good rule of thumb is to limit your driving on a spare tire to 50 miles at 50 miles per hour.
Helpful Tips for Tire Maintenance
Caring for your tires might help you reduce your chances of encountering a flat tire. You can care for them by doing several things:
- Inspect them regularly to make sure they have enough tread and that the inner parts (wires) are not exposed.
- Rotate your tires.
- Check your tire pressure regularly.
- Replace your tires as needed.
Well-maintained tires present fewer risks.
Ensure You're Covered: Explore Roadside Assistance Insurance
Roadside assistance is a helpful service to have that many auto insurance plans include. It allows you to call for help when you experience car troubles. After calling, a service technician will come to you to help you solve the problem.
If your auto insurance doesn't include roadside assistance, find one that does. EverQuote can help you with this and other insurance needs. We'll calculate quotes for you from many insurance providers, ensuring you have the coverage you need at an affordable price.