How to Change a Tire

The process of changing a tire can be long and tedious. However, if you have the correct tools and know the proper steps, you can reduce stress and save time. When you discover your vehicle has a flat tire, you should first move it to a safe location. Once you are in a safe place, you then must gather the tools needed to perform the task, which include a tire iron, a jack, and most importantly a spare tire. Remove these items from your trunk. If you have passengers, for safety purposes, ask them to step out of the car. Next, position yourself in front of the tire that you intend to change. Using the tire iron, loosen the lug nuts on the tire one at a time, beginning with the top then the bottom, left then right. This will enable the tire to come off evenly. Once the tire is loosened, position the jack. If it is a back tire, position the jack about six inches in front of the tire. If it is a front tire, position the jack about six inches behind the tire. Then, begin raising the car by manually pumping the jack. Raise the car slowly until there is about four inches between the bottom of the tire and the ground. Then, finish removing all of the lug nuts. Gather all of the lug nuts together in order to reduce the chance of them getting lost. Next, remove the tire and place it out of the way. Now you are ready to place the spare tire on your vehicle. Hold the tire in place with one hand and screw several of the lug nuts on to hold it in place. Once it is stable, screw the remaining lug nuts on, making them finger tight. Then, slowly lower your jack. Once the jack is down, place it out of your way. Next, tighten the lug nuts on your vehicle, beginning with the top then bottom, left then right. This process will ensure that the tire is on the car evenly and will not vibrate. Finally, place the old tire into your trunk. Restow the jack and tire iron, and your ready to move on with your day.