1. Safety First:
- Pull over to a safe location, well off the main road, and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
- Apply the parking brake to secure your vehicle.
2. Locate Your Tools:
- Ensure your vehicle has a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench in the trunk. If not, you may need to call roadside assistance.
3. Loosen the Lug Nuts:
- Slightly loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire with the lug wrench, but don't remove them completely at this point.
4. Place the Jack:
- Position the jack under your car, near the flat tire, but make sure it's not on a soft or unstable surface.
- Follow the instructions in your car's manual to correctly position the jack.
5. Raise the Car:
- Use the jack to lift the car off the ground. Raise the car enough so the flat tire is about six inches off the ground.
6. Remove the Lug Nuts:
- Remove the lug nuts completely and take off the flat tire.
7. Place the Spare Tire:
- Set the spare tire on the wheel studs and start screwing the lug nuts back onto the wheel by hand.
- Do not tighten them fully at this point.
8. Lower the Car:
- Slowly lower the car with the jack until it is almost on the ground.
9. Tighten the Lug Nuts:
- Using the lug wrench, firmly tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. This pattern ensures even tightening and helps prevent warping the brake rotors.
10. Lower the Car Completely:
- Gently lower the car to the ground.
11. Final Check:
- Once the car is on the ground, give the lug nuts one final check to make sure they are securely tightened.
12. Put away the Tools:
- Store the flat tire, jack, and lug wrench back in your trunk for future use.
13. Get a Flat Tire Repaired or Replaced:
- A spare tire is only a temporary solution. As soon as possible, have the flat tire repaired or replaced by a professional tire shop.
Tips:
- For safety, avoid changing a flat tire on soft surfaces such as sand or mud, as the jack may sink.
- If you're not comfortable changing a flat tire or if the situation seems unsafe, call for roadside assistance.
- Keep a flashlight and a reflective vest in your car for nighttime emergencies.
- Familiarize yourself with your vehicle's jack and spare tire location before you need them.
