Have you been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire? Learning how to change a tire is a vital skill for all drivers. If you've never replaced a tire, follow these easy steps to fix the problem and be on your way in no time:
1. Find a flat, stable and safe place to change your tire. If you are near a road, park as far from traffic as possible and turn on your hazard lights. Don't park in the middle of a curve where approaching cars can't see you. Steer clear of soft ground and hills.
2. Put the car in park and set to emergency brake. Blocking the diagonally opposite wheel will help keep the car from rolling once the flat tire is up in the air.
3. Pry off the wheel cover using a screwdriver then loosen the lug nuts. Use the wrench when breaking the lug nuts. Don't remove the lug nuts completely; just get them loose enough to remove by hand after you jack up the vehicle. You can also try hitting the wrench arm with a rock.
4. Jack it up. The right place for the jack is usually beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire that's flat. Different car models may have different places to put the jack; consult your owner's manual for specific locations. Start cranking the jack until the wheel is high enough above the ground to remove the tire.
5. Unscrew the lug nuts and remove the flat tire off the car. Make sure to place the lug nuts in a a place where you won't lose them, and pull the tire straight toward yourself to remove it from the wheel base.
6. Place the spare on the car. Line up the lug nut posts with the holes in the spare, and slide the wheel on with the air valves facing out. One by one, replace the lug nuts in the same sequence that you used to loosen them. Do not tighten them completely.
7. Slowly lower your car back to the ground. Use the jack to lower the vehicle. Remove the jack and block. Finish tightening the lug nuts as tight as possible.
8. Put your flat tire and tools back in your trunk. Make sure you don't leave anything on the side of the road.
