Being a motorist out on the road comes with many risks and dangers. You can never know for certain what is going to happen on your journey from A to B. Of course, we always intend to arrive at our destination safely and without any bumps or damage to our car, but things don’t always go to plan. One of the most common mishaps motorists have to deal with when driving is the dreaded flat tire.
Changing a tire can be a fairly simple process, especially if you have done it before and have a jack in the trunk. However, some unfortunate motorists find themselves with a flat tire and no jack to assist them! So how do you change a tire without a jack? If this is you, you will be pleased to hear you can change a car tire without a jack.
In this article, we share the various methods you can use to lift your car without a jack as well as a step-by-step guide to changing a tire without a jack for you to follow.
If you find yourself stuck with a flat tire and no jack to help you change it, firstly, don’t panic. The steps you need to take will vary depending on where exactly you are. For example, if you are on a busy highway you will need to safely pull over, put your hazard warning lights on and get yourself and any passengers to a place of safety. You will then need to call for a tow truck or roadside assistance to come and change the tire for you.
However, with the right knowledge and a few essential items, it is possible to change a car tire without a jack. Even if you pay for roadside assistance cover or know the exact location of all your local mechanics, it is still important to know how to change a car tire without a jack. Life out on the road can be unpredictable and it is also best to know in advance what to do if you come into any problems on your journey.
The purpose of a car jack is to lift your car up off the ground. The jack keeps the car lifted and you are then able to easily remove the flat tire and install the spare. Without a jack, you will need to find another way to safely lift your car up so you can remove the damaged tire with ease.
You can get your car wheel off the ground by using the ramp method. You will need to have a steel or plastic ramp, or you can build your own out of wood. However, be aware that ramps will have weight limits and you must check your car is not too heavy before driving it up a ramp.
Once you have your ramp, position it next to the good tire that is on the same side as the flat. Carefully drive up the ramp and the flat tire will now be lifted off the ground. If you cannot turn the flat tire freely, you may need to add some blocks under the ramp, this will help to lift the tire further away from the ground.
No jack and no ramp? Don’t worry, there are other methods you can try to lift your car safely without a jack.
Another way you get your flat tire up off the road is by using naturally occurring slopes and even footpath curbs to your advantage, You will need to drive at the slope at an angle to get the flat tire up off the ground. Reversing onto a slope at an angle will life the front wheels and driving upwards will lift the back.
If there are no slopes or curbs nearby, you can try using the lever method. If you are alone you may not find it possible to use a lever to lift your car as this method does require a fair amount of force and strength. You will first need to remove the tire from the sockets using a lug wrench. Next, you need to use a long piece of strong metal or wood to use as the lever, your chosen item will need to be able to channel the weight of the car.
You will need to place a robust stone or strong piece of wood to act as the pivot point for shifting the weight of the car. Place the pivot point closer to your car than to the end of your lever, this will stop it from snapping and make the task of elevating the car slightly easier. This method is likely to require at least two people. Apply downwards force to the lever to elevate the car.
To keep your tire off the ground, you will need to place a large piece of solid wood or a stone underneath the car.
If you find yourself in a situation where you have a flat tire and no objects to use as a lever, no ramp, and no natural slopes to use to elevate your car off the ground, do not despair. You can gain access to your flat tire by simply digging away the ground around the tire.
To successfully change your tire using this method you will need to drive your car until your flat tire is over open soil. You will then need to place a block (or some other strong padding material) between the axel and the ground. Using your hands, a stick, a wrench, or anything you can find, dig the ground away from underneath the tire.
You need the hole to be big enough for you to easily remove the flat tire and install the spare. Keep digging until the car axle is only resting on the block, you should now be able to change the tire with ease.
There are several methods you can use if you ever find yourself with no jack and you need to change a tire. Finding a way to safely access the flat tire is the first step. Once you have decided on a safe method, all you need to do is get to work on getting your tire changed.
Here is an easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to change a tire without a jack:
There are many ways a driver can change a tire without a jack, but it would be extremely difficult to change a tire without any tools at all. You can elevate your car tire without tools but removing the lug nuts may prove difficult without the use of a wrench.
There aren’t very many steps required in changing a tire and it is an essential skill all motorists should have. It can be difficult to loosen the lug nuts and put them back onto the spare tire tightly enough, using your body weight to help you should work though.
Unfortunately, over recent years the number of car models providing a spare tire and jack has declined. In 2018, it was found only around 60% of cars came with a temporary spare tire. The remaining 40% did not have a spare but came equipped with a sealant kit, a specially designed ‘run-flat’ tire and in some cases, no equipment or spare tires at all.
Before you attempt to change a flat tire without a jack, make sure you have looked in the right place for your car jack first. In most cars, the jack can be found in the trunk with the spare tire. You can find the jack in your trunk by lifting the floor covering, it will be in a space underneath. If you have an SUV, the jack should be under the cargo floor covering.
Changing a flat tire without a jack is possible and doesn’t need to be a complicated process. There are many methods you can use if you ever find yourself stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and no jack. We hope you have found this article useful and remember to follow our step-by-step guide if you ever need to change a tire without a jack.
Check out some of these related VehicleFreak topics:
How Long Does it Take To Change a Tire?
Can You Patch or Plug A Motorcycle Tire?
How Long Can You Drive On A Spare Tire?
