Change a tire?! Me?!?

It took me YEARS before I could change a tire. I was raised to be independent, but when it came to this, I became a damsel in distress. To keep you independent royalty, let’s jump right in…

Step-by-step guide to changing a tire (with pics)

1. Get to a safe, flat spot

• Action: Pull over away from traffic on firm, level ground. Turn on hazard lights, put the car in Park, set parking brake.
• Safety Note: Be sure to get far to the side; you want to allow enough space for you to safely make the change. Be mindful of traffic, and when it’s clear, block your space with flares, caution triangles, etc. TURN ON YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS!!!

2. Gather your tools and spare

• Action: Take out the jack, lug wrench, and spare tire from the trunk. If you have wheel chocks, place them behind the wheel opposite the flat.
• Note: Wheel chocks will usually look like thick, triangular blocks that prevent your car from rolling off while you work. This is a great thing to have handy in general and could help in many situations.

3. Loosen the lug nuts

• Action: Before lifting the car, use the lug wrench to turn each lug nut counterclockwise about a half turn. Don’t remove them yet.

4. Position the jack correctly

• Action: Place the jack under the manufacturer’s jack point near the flat tire (usually a reinforced metal seam). Check your owner’s manual if unsure.
• Note: When lifting your car with the jack, there should be NO bending seen with the exterior of the car. The jack point tends to feel like uncoated, stiff steel. The image below depicts the typical locations of a car’s jack points, front->rear.

5. Raise the vehicle

• Action: Pump or turn the jack until the flat tire is a few inches off the ground. Make sure the jack is straight and stable.

6. Remove the flat tire

• Action: Unscrew the lug nuts completely and set them in a safe spot. Pull the flat tire straight off the hub.

7. Mount the spare tire

• Action: Lift the spare onto the hub, align the holes with the studs, and slide it on. Thread the lug nuts on by hand until snug.

8. Lower the car partially and tighten

• Action: Lower the car until the tire just touches the ground but the full weight isn’t on it. Tighten the lug nuts firmly in a star pattern.

9. Fully lower the car and final torque

• Action: Lower the car completely and remove the jack. Re-check each lug nut, tightening them again in the same star pattern.

10. Stow equipment and check the spare

• Action: Put the flat tire, jack, and tools back in the trunk. If you have a compact “donut” spare, drive slowly and get to a tire shop soon.

We LOVE this simple video from THE Rupaul!