2. Once you’re safely parked:
◦ Turn off the car
◦ Apply the parking brake
◦ Turn on the emergency lights
◦ Open the car hood
3. You need four items to
successfully change your tire:
1. Spare tire
2. Car jack
3. Tire iron
4. Wheel chocks
Roadside kits can include
accessories such as:
◦ Road flares
◦ Gloves
◦ Flashlights
◦ Jumper cables
4. To chock the wheels:
◦ Place the chocks on the wheel diagonally opposite
of the wheel you’re replacing
Example:
◦ If you’re replacing the right rear wheel, you’d chock
the front left wheel.
5. Once the wheels have been secured, loosen
the wheel nuts by:
◦ Position the tire iron so the handle rests at nine
o’clock.
◦ Grasp the wrench near the end and pull up in a
counter clockwise direction.
◦ Loosen the wheel nuts about a half turn of the
wrench.
Loosening the wheel nuts before raising the car
prevents unnecessary strain on the emergency
brake. The weight of the car helps hold the wheel
in place so your tire iron turns the wheel nuts
rather than the wheel.
6. Now you’re ready to raise the car. To do so:
◦ Position the jack’s base on a solid, level surface
near the tire you’re changing.
◦ Insert the handle into the jack and slowly crank
clockwise until the wheel is high enough off the
ground to remove the tire.
Keep the car level!
7. To remove the wheel nuts:
◦ Unscrew and remove the wheel nuts
◦ Place them in a safe spot such as your pockets or in
the hubcap
8. Now you’re ready to replace the
flat tire with the spare tire:
◦ Grab the tire with both hands and
slide if off the lug bolts.
◦ Lay the tire on its side to prevent any
chance of rolling away.
◦ Place the spare tire onto the car by
aligning the wheel holes with the lug
bolts.
9. The hard part is over. Let’s put those wheel
nuts back on the hub.
◦ Double-check the wheel to ensure it’s all the way
back on the hub.
◦ Reinstall the wheel nuts and tighten them using
only your hands.
You don’t want to use the
tire iron at this point.
10. Slowly turn the jack handle counter-clockwise
to lower the car.
You’ll know the car is all the
way down when the jack
comes loose.
11. You’re just about finished.
Let’s tighten those wheel
nuts.
◦ Select a wheel nut – it doesn’t
matter which one.
◦ Using the tire iron, tighten the
wheel nut as tight as you can.
◦ Next, tighten the wheel nut
diagonally opposite the wheel
nut you just tightened.
◦ Continue this pattern for the
remaining wheel nuts.
12. That’s it. Check your
time. How’d you do?
Return the chocks, tire
jack, tire iron and flat
tire to their proper
storage place in the
trunk.
Once you’re back on
the road, head to the
nearest tire shop for
professional servicing. The spare tire is not
designed for long distances
or speeds over 50 miles per
hour.
Editor's Notes
IntroductionSooner or later, everyone gets a flat tire. And chances are it won’t happen a good time. I can hear some of you saying “Why should I learn to change my tire? I have road side assistance.” Roadside assistance isn’t always reliable, especially during the holidays or in remote areas. Consider the average response time for roadside assistance is thirty to forty minutes. In most cases, you can change your tire in less than ten! The best time to learn to change your tire is before you get a flat tire. That’s what this course is all about.We have a lot to cover so let’s get started!
Safety First If your tire goes flat while you’re driving, pull over to a dry, level place as far from the road as possible. It’s better to drive a short distance on a flat tire than risk your life changing the tire in an unsafe area. Once you’re safely parked: Turn off the car;Apply the parking brake;Turn on the emergency lights; and,Open the car hood.
Step 1: Gather Your ToolsGet started by taking the necessary tools from your trunk. Roadside kits vary, but you need four items to successfully change your tire. Those items are: a spare tire;car jack;tire iron; and, wheel chocks.Roadside kits can include additional accessories such as: road flares;gloves;flashlights; and,jumper cables.You don’t need them, but they’re good to have.
Step 2: Chock the WheelsWheel chocks are wedges of sturdy material placed behind the wheels to prevent accidental movement. If you don’t have chocks you can use bricks or wood blocks as long as they’re heavy enough to prevent the car from moving.To chock the wheels, place the chocks on the wheel diagonally opposite of the wheel you’re replacing.For example, if you’re replacing the right rear wheel, you’d chock the front left wheel.
Step 3: Loosen the Wheel NutsPosition the tire iron so the handle rests at three o’clock.Grasp the wrench near the end and pull up in a counter clockwise direction.Loosen the wheel nuts about a half turn of the wrench. They’re loose enough when you can turn them with your hands.Did you know? Loosening the wheel nuts before raising the car prevents unnecessary strain on the emergency brake. The weight of the car helps hold the wheel in place so your tire iron turns the wheel nuts rather than the wheel.
Step 4: Raise the CarNow you’re ready to raise the car. To raise the car:Position the jack’s base on a solid, level surface near the tire you’re changing. Most cars will have a small notch where the jack fits under the car frame. This area has been specifically reinforced to accommodate the jack.Insert the handle into the jack and slowly crank clockwise until the wheel is high enough off the ground to remove the tire. Two to three inches should be enough.
Step 5: Remove the Wheel NutsTo remove the wheel nuts:Using your hands, unscrew and remove the wheel nuts. Place them in a safe spot such as your pockets or in the hubcap.
Step 6: Replace the TireGrab the tire with both hands and slide it off the lug bolts.Lay the tire on its side to prevent any chance of rolling away.Place the spare tire onto the car by aligning the wheel holes with the lug bolts.
Step 7: Return the Wheel NutsDouble-check the wheel to ensure it’s all the way back on the hub.Reinstall the wheel nuts and tighten them using only your hands. You don’t want to use the tire iron at this point.
Step 8: Lower the CarSlowly turn the jack handle counter-clockwise to lower the car. You’ll know the car is all the way down when the jack comes loose.You can now remove the jack from under the car.
Step 9: Tighten the Wheel NutsSelect a wheel nut – it doesn’t matter which one.Using the tire iron, tighten the wheel nut as tight as you can.Next, tighten the wheel nut diagonally oppose the wheel nut you just tightened. If you tire has an odd number of wheel nuts, just select the nut almost diagonally opposite.Continue this pattern for the remaining wheel nuts.
Step 10: Clean UpThat’s it. Check your time. How’d you do?Return the chocks, tire jack, tire iron and flat tire to their proper storage place in the trunk.The spare tire is not designed for long distances or speeds over 50 miles per hour. Once you’re back on the road, head to the nearest tire shop for professional servicing.
