Let’s face it, we’ve all been in a situation where a tire on our car has gone flat and after pulling over to the side of the road we have faced the challenging task of replacing the flat tire with a healthy tire and getting our car back on the road.
For some people this might seem like an easy task, but for the rest of us, the reality is that we may have no idea where to start – and this can leave us with a long time sitting on the side of the road waiting for someone to help us out.
Taking the time to learn how to change a tire may seem like a complete waste of time – until you find yourself in a situation where you need to use these skills – and if you are prepared to learn and you want to know the basics of changing a tire then this quick guide will give you the information that you need to get started.
Changing a tire
Every car is different, but in general the technique of changing a tire is relatively similar across the board and if you do find yourself stuck on the side of the road then it’s crucial that you take the following steps:
- Turn off the engine, hazard lights and any other electrical element of the car. Ensure that the car is fully parked and that the handbrake is on, this ensures that the car won’t move while you are changing the tire
- Remove the wheel trim and take the jack from the boot of the car and place it under the car in the recommended lifting point. Ensure that it is locked and fully extended to push the car to the appropriate height
- Take the wheel nut wrench and loosen the wheel nuts and bolts (this is usually done in an anti-clockwise direction). Loosen all wheel nuts before you start to remove the tire to ensure that none are jammed or stuck
- Remove the wheel nuts and in turn remove the tire. Grab the spare tire and put it in the place of the old tire. Replace the nuts, starting from the top first and working your way around. Lower the wheel carefully and then finish tightening the nuts once your wheel reaches the ground.
- Replace your tire and equipment safely in the boot in a secure position where they won’t roll around and make sure you purchase another spare tire for the next time this happens!
If you don’t feel confident changing a tire then practice. There is nothing worse than being stuck out in the middle of nowhere and not knowing how to change a tire – help might not just be around the corner. So if you have a spare hour or two at the weekend or even one night after work, consider a quick practice tire change and it could save you a lot of hassle if you do end up with a flat tire.
