Been a little reluctant to try changing a tire on your own? Go ahead!…the weather’s beautiful…and it beats trial by fire along side a highway when you’re late for a meeting.
Here they are 3 steps…easy peasy, lemon squeezy:
- Loosen the Lugs – Once the car is on flat ground and the brake is set, break the lugs loose by turning them counterclockwise.
- Jack up the Car – Raise the car with the jack until the flat tire is completely raised off the ground.
- Off With the Flat – Once the car is off the ground, fully remove the wheel lugs and take off the flat tire.
Here’s the slightly longer version:
- Get to a safe spot
- Find your spare tire, jack and tire iron
- Loosen the wheel lugs
- Jack up the car
- Remove the flat tire
- Install the spare
- Lower the car and tighten the wheel lugs completely
- Important details about compact spare tires
Last month, I got a flat tire while I was on vacation. I kind stranger stopped to change the tire for me, but I really wish that I had known how to do that on my own. Thank you for the 8 tips above, but I do have a question about the jack. My car didn’t come with a jack, and so do you think that I can buy just any jack or do I have to get a jack that is specific to my vehicle?