How to Change a Car Tyre. A tyre blowout can be stressful, so make sure you’re in a safe spot and in a calm mood before following our tyre changing instructions. First and foremost, never attempt to change a tyre if your personal safety is in jeopardy or if you lack the necessary gear.
How to Replace a Car Tyre
If you are in a secure location, have the necessary tools, and are confident in your ability to change the wheel, the good news is that a spare wheel is the most reliable option to get back on the road. A narrow space-saver or a full-size spare will be included with your vehicle. The procedure for changing a wheel, however, is the same. If you only have a tyre repair kit and no spare wheel, go to our tyre repair page instead.
How to Change a Car tyre Step by Step
Make sure you have a safe parking spot before you begin. It’s preferable to go longer and risk destroying the wheel rim than to halt in a potentially unsafe location, such as on a small road. When parking, turn on your hazard lights. If you have one, put it on and position your warning triangle to warn oncoming traffic. It’s best to consult your car’s owner’s manual first. How to change a car tyre step by step.
What do you require in terms of equipment?
You’ll need the following items in addition to the spare wheel:
- Wrench – this is used to remove the wheel nuts.
- When the car is jacked up, a wheel chock is employed to keep it from rolling (bricks can be used instead)
- If locking nuts are used, a wheel nut key is required.
- For reference, there is a car handbook (e.g. on jacking points)
It’s also a good idea to have:
- Torch for late-night work (check batteries regularly)
- Gloves are required because the wheels will be dusty.
- Reflective jacket to help you stand out.
- To advise other drivers of a hazard/obstruction, use a warning triangle.
- A short piece of wood can be used as a level platform to keep the jack steady.
- Tyre pressure gauge – used to ensure that the new tyre is properly inflated.
How to Replace a Car tyre:
1. Prepare the car:
- Apply the handbrake and exit the vehicle with all occupants.
- Remove the spare wheel and any other tools from the boot.
2. Position the wheel chocks:
- While the car is jacked up, shocks keep it from rolling.
- Place a chock on the opposite wheel from the punctured one.
- Put a chock behind the right-rear wheel if your left-front tyre suffers a puncture, for example.
- A chock in front of the right-front tyre is required if the left-rear tyre is flat.
- If you have them, use chocks for both the front and rear wheels (as needed).
- If you don’t have a specialized chock, bricks or large pebbles will suffice.
3. Jack up the automobile
- All cars have specific jacking points; check your owner’s manual to find out where they are.
- Place the jack on the side of the vehicle, next to the ruptured tyre.
- A tiny plank of wood placed under the jack will aid in its stability.
- Slowly raise the car until the flat tyre is 10-15 cm off the ground.
4. Loosen the wheel nuts:
- While the car is on the ground, it’s easier – and safer – to do this.
- A plastic wheel trim may need to be levered off first.
- To loosen the nuts, crank the wheel wrench anti-clockwise until they can be turned by hand (warning: they may be difficult to loosen).
- But don’t get rid of them totally just yet.
5. Remove the tyre that is flat:
- Remove the wheel nuts completely, then pull the tyre towards you until it comes free.
- Place it on the ground flat.
6. Install the Spare tyre:
- Lift the spare wheel off the ground and place it on the protruding hub bolts or in line with the wheel nut slots (warning: this is a big job).
- Replace the wheel nuts and manually tighten them.
7. Lower the Vehicle Completely.
- Remove the jack and fully lower the automobile to the ground.
- Consider double-checking the wheel nuts for tightness.
- Place the jack and the other tyre in the boot of your vehicle, together with the rest of your gear.
- The old wheel will take up more space in the boot if your car has a space saver.
8. Take your tyre to be repaired if it has been Punctured:
- At the first chance, take your ruptured wheel to a garage or a tyre shop.
- They’ll tell you whether you should repair it or replace it.
- Don’t drive on a space-saving spare wheel for any longer than is absolutely essential; they’re only for emergencies.
9. Check the pressure in the spare tyre:
- Use a tyre pressure gauge to make sure the spare wheel is fully inflated if you have one.
- Drive cautiously to a gas station and use the gauge there instead.
- If necessary, inflate the tyre to the recommended pressure stated in the owner’s manual.
10. Lower the vehicle and secure the bolts:
- Drop the car down slightly with the jack so that the spare tyre is in contact with the ground.
- Tighten the wheel nuts completely using the wrench now.
