All too often a flat tyre will happen at the worst time, whether you’re on a road trip and stuck in the middle of nowhere or on your way home late at night. If you've never changed a tyre before or just need a refresher, here's what you need to know.
Step 1: Be prepared
Find somewhere to safely pull over and give yourself plenty of room for passing traffic. Get out all the gear you need, including wheel wedges, jack, gloves and a torch if required.
Step 2: Apply brakes
Before you set up the jack, apply the handbrake and put the vehicle in park or in gear if manual. Next, use a wheel block on the side not being lifted to further prevent your car from rolling. If your flat is at the rear, place the blocks in front of the front tyres. If the flat is at the front, place the blocks behind the rear tyres.
Step 3: Loosen the lugs
Remove the hub cap or wheel cover if fitted. Then loosen the wheel/lug nuts with the wheel wrench while the vehicle is on the ground. Don't pull the lugs off all the way yet.
Step 4: Raise the car
Using your owners manual, find the car's jacking point. Place the jack underneath this and slowly raise the vehicle to a point where you can safely remove and replace the tyre.
Step 5: Remove the wheel and mount the spare tyre
Finish unscrewing the lugs and gently pull the wheel off by gripping the tyre treads. Slowly push the new tyre in place by lining up the lug bolts. Push until the bolts show through the tyre's rim.Once the tyre is on, begin to tighten the lug nuts by hand. Don't use a wrench until the vehicle is on the ground.
Step 6: Lower the vehicle
Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the lugs. Refit the hubcap, wheel cover or centre cover.
Step 7: You're done!
Replace all your gear. The old tyre should fit in your boot. Most spare tyres can be driven for a limited time and have a maximum speed so it's best to get a new tyre organised as soon as possible.
Now you know how to change a tyre, but do you know how to check your tyre pressure? We've got the low-down.
01 Feb