A suspicious noise or signs that look deceiving, and here you are with a flat tire! You are now immobilized in the middle of nowhere. Statistics from the Automobile Club Association show that a flat tire occurs on average every 70,000 km in Europe. A flat tire is rare, but it happens to everyone. But how do you change a flat tire? What do you need to do to replace a tire quickly? To answer all your questions, discover below the steps and tips to effectively change a flat tire by yourself.

What Does It Take To Change a Tire?

Rest assured, it only takes 30 minutes maximum to change a tire. Before waking up your inner mechanic, the most important thing to do is to make sure your car has a spare tire. If it doesn’t, calling a professional is the best way to get out of this predicament.

If the vehicle has a spare tire, here is the equipment you will need:

– A jack;

– A wrench;

– The vehicle’s owner’s manual.

It is also essential to keep in your car:

– A pair of gloves;

– A flashlight;

– The contact information of your car assistance and breakdown service;

– Wheel chocks;

– A piece of wood to ensure the stability of the jack.

What Are the Steps To Change a Flat Tire?

If you are still a novice in this field, follow the instructions carefully. The replacement of a flat tire is done in four (4) distinct steps.

Step One:

Be aware that continuing to drive with a flat tire can seriously damage the wheel rim and may also put you at risk.

As soon as you have a flat tire, slow down immediately and find a safe place to park to perform your operation successfully. For this, a parking lot or wide shoulder would be perfect. Otherwise, an area with ample open space will do.

To increase your safety, it is recommended that you remain as visible as possible. To do this, the hazard lights should be on, then put on a yellow vest and position the triangle 30 yards away from your car.

Step Two:

Once your car is parked, apply the hand brake to keep the vehicle stationary.

Now use wheel chocks, rocks, or even sticks to avoid moving the vehicle.

Step Three:

It’s time to remove the flat tire. If the wheel has a hubcap, either remove it with a wrench or screwdriver or loosen the nuts to remove it, referring to your car’s owner’s manual.

To loosen the lug nuts of the flat tire, turn them counterclockwise. At this point, you don’t have to remove the nuts altogether, just loosen them a little.

After the car is lifted with a jack, you can completely remove the nuts to remove the flat tire and then install the replacement tire. Now, lightly tighten the lug nuts with a wheel wrench.

Step Four:

Lower the car by operating the jack to allow the spare tire to touch the ground slightly. Now tighten the lug nuts as tightly as possible. Lower the car completely to the ground by operating the jack to finish the operation. Continue on your way, and don’t forget to visit a garage to repair the flat tire.