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How to Change a Tire
Have you ever been totally struck on the side of the road with a flat tire? Do you want to attempt to be able to change a tire without having to ask for help? Fortunately, changing a tire is a simple task that anyone can accomplish, provided you’re willing to get a little dirty.
1. Find a flat, stable, and safe place to change your tire. You should have a solid, level surface that will restrict the car from rolling. If you are near a road, park as far from traffic as possible and turn on your emergency flashers (hazard lights). You MUST be aware of your surroundings. If you’re on a busy road, be particularly wary of vehicles driving by that might get too close. There are hundreds of people killed each year while changing a tire on the side of the road; don’t do this unless you must.
2. Apply the parking brake and put car into “Park” position. If you have a standard transmission, put your vehicle in first or reverse.
3. Place a heavy object (rock, concrete, spare wheel) in front of the front and back tires.
4. Take out the spare tire and the jack. Place the jack under the frame near the tire that you are going to change. Ensure that the jack is in contact with the metal portion of your car’s frame.
If you’re not sure about the right place to put the jack, read your owner’s manual.
5. Raise the jack until it is supporting (but not lifting) the car. The jack should be firmly in place against the underside of the vehicle. Check to make sure that the jack is perpendicular to the ground.
6. Remove the hubcap and loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise. Don’t take them all the way off; just break the resistance. It can take quite a lot of force to break your lug nuts free, but any adult should be strong enough to handle the task.
7. Pump or crank the jack to lift the tire off the ground. You need to lift it high enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with a spare. As you lift, make sure that the car is stable. If you notice any instability, lower the jack and fix the problem before fully lifting the car.
8. Remove the nuts the rest of the way. Turn them counterclockwise until they are loose. Repeat with all lug nuts, then remove the nuts completely.
9. Remove the tire. Place the flat tire under the vehicle so in the event of a jack failure the vehicle will fall on the old wheel, hopefully preventing injury. If the jack is placed on a flat, solid base, you shouldn’t have any problems.
10. Place the spare tire on the hub. Take care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts, then put on the lug nuts.
Tighten the nuts by hand until they are all snug. They should turn easily at first.
Using the wrench, tighten the nuts as much as possible using a star pattern. To ensure the tire is balanced, don’t completely tighten the nuts one at a time.
Moving in a star pattern around the tire, one nut across from another, give each nut a full turn until they are equally tight.
12. Lower the car without applying full weight on the tire. Tighten the nuts as much as possible.
13. Lower the car to the ground fully and remove the jack. Finish tightening the nuts and replace the hubcap.
CLEAN UP AND TIRE REPAIR
Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to a mechanic. Get an estimate for the cost of repair. Small punctures can usually be repaired for less than $15. If the tire is not repairable, they can dispose of it properly and sell you a replacement.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Jack
Lug wrench
Fully inflated spare tire
Vehicle owner’s manual
Road Flares (optional)
Safety Cones (optional)
Tips
Check occasionally to make sure that
When loosening and tightening the nuts, arrange the cross wrench so that you are pressing down (with gravity). This will remove risk of injury to your back and also allow you to use your body weight rather than just your arm strength.
Warnings
For safety, place an object such as a large rock or 2×4 under the vehicle after jacking, but before removing the tire. Place it so that it will stop the vehicle from dropping in case the jack is dislodged or shifts for some reason while the wheel is removed.
Don’t get under the car when it’s supported only by a jack.