10 Easy Steps To Changing A Car Tyre

After an unplanned tyre changing lesson in a pupil's car, I decided to spend a few moments and write out a brief overview of how to change a car tyre. It's something that's not overly technical, and everybody should be able to do it.

1.First is safety. Where possible, try and park the car in a safe place, away from other cars if possible. A car park is perfect, failing that, quiet side roads would be ok. Make sure the ground is as flat as possible and is also firm (no grass or gravel surfaces).

2.Consider using your hazard warning lights if necessary, and again wearing a fluorescent jacket and using heavy duty gloves can make things that little bit safer.

3.Make sure you get the car jack, spare tyre and wrench ready. It's also worthwhile (if you haven't done already) checking the spare is in good condition and inflated properly. There's nothing more frustrating than having a flat spare tyre.

4.Use some form of wedge either side of the tyre diagonally opposite from the flat tyre. This, along with the handbrake and using either park (automatics) or reverse gear (manuals) will make sure the car stays put while on the jack.

5.Now onto the important part. Remove the wheel cover if you have one, and use the wrench to loosen each wheel nut slightly. They can be tight, so be careful. Do this before raising the car to make it as easy as possible.

6.Find the jacking point of the car. This is normally somewhere under the doors, near to the tyreswheels. Every car will be slightly different, so if you don't know where they are, take a look in the owner's manual.

7.Use the jack that came with the car, or a trolley jack to raise the car until the flat tyre is high enough off the ground to allow the good wheel to be fitted.

8.Use the wrench to take off the wheels nuts completely, and make sure you keep them somewhere safe (keep clear of drains!). Then carefully remove the wheel and put it out of the way, with the inside edge on the ground.

9.Now fit the spare, taking care not to damage the fittings. Then take the wheel nuts and do them up finger tight to begin with, before using the wrench to tighten them up some more in a X pattern (but only hand tight).

10.Now lower the car gently until all of the weight is off the jack. Then use the wrench to fully tighten up the wheel nuts, again in a X pattern.
That's it, all done. Now remember to pack up the flat tyre, jack and wrench and you're off.

As soon as possible, take your car to a garage where they can inspect the tightness of the wheel nuts, and they can also replace the flat tyre.