We’ve all been there. You’re out on the road, minding your own business, when suddenly you hear a terrible noise. You pull over to the side of the road and realize you’ve got a flat tyre. Don’t worry, changing a tyre is easy! With a few simple steps, you’ll be back on the road in no time.
Introduction
It is important to know how to change a tyre, as you may find yourself in a situation where you have a puncture and need to change the tyre. Here are some simple instructions on how to change a tyre.
Preparation
Before you begin, you will need to gather the following materials:
-A Jack
-A Wheel Brace
-A Spare Tyre
If you have an SUV, you will also need a block of wood to place under the jack.
Jacking up the car
If you have a flat tyre, you will need to jack up the car so that you can remove the wheel and change the tyre. Once you have located the jack, check that it is secure before proceeding. Place the jack under the car at the correct jacking point – consult your car’s handbook if you are unsure where this is.
Slowly turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the car until the tyre is clear of the ground. Do not attempt to remove the wheel until the car is securely supported by the jack.
Removing the old tyre
To remove the old tyre, you will need to:
– Use a jack to raise the car off the ground
– Remove the hubcap or wheel cover
– Loosen the lug nuts with a wrench
– Remove the lug nuts and wheel
– Place the new tyre on the wheel
– Hand tighten the lug nuts
– Lower the car to the ground and continue tightening the lug nuts
Fitting the new tyre
1. Park your car on a flat, level surface and turn off the engine. Apply the handbrake and engage the gearbox or transmission in first or ‘park’ position (consult your car’s handbook if you’re unsure).
2. Position your jack under the car – most cars will have a point where the jack can be attached just below the doorframe or sill (again, refer to your car’s handbook). Make sure that when the jack is fitted, it’s touching metal rather than plastic or rubber; if it can slip, reposition it.
3. Pump the jack handle up and down to begin lifting the car off the ground – stop when the wheel is clear of the ground but before you start to hear creaking from any part of the suspension. At this stage, you should also fit your wheel chocks to stop your car from rolling whilst you work (we advise putting them behind the front wheels if you’re changing a rear tyre).
4. The next step is to loosen – but not remove – each of the nuts or bolts holding your wheel in place using your wrench or socket set. You may find that some are easier to remove than others; if this is the case, target these ones first and come back to any that give you trouble later on (once they’ve been loosened a little, they should prove less troublesome). Once all of the nuts are loose, remove them completely by hand so as not to lose them.
Lowering the car
If you have a jack and wrench, you can change your tire. Before you begin, make sure that your car is in park and the parking brake is engaged. You will also want to place chocks or blocks behind the wheels on the opposite side of the one you are changing to keep your car from rolling while you work.
Once your car is secure, start by loosening the lug nuts on the wheel you are changing with your wrench. Do not remove them completely; just loosen them enough so that you can turn them by hand when the time comes.
Next, use your jack to raise the car until the tire is off the ground. Remove the lug nuts and take off the wheel. Put your spare tire on in reverse order, and make sure to tighten the lug nuts as much as possible by hand before lowering your car back down. Once your car is back on the ground, use your wrench to give each nut another quarter-turn to ensure they are completely tight before driving away.
Checking the tyre pressure
Before you start to change a tyre, it’s important to check the pressure of all the tyres on your car. You can do this easily with a tyre pressure gauge, which you can buy from most petrol stations and car accessory shops.
It’s best to check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold, as this will give you a more accurate reading. If you’ve just been driving, then wait for around 30 minutes before checking the pressure.
When you use the tyre pressure gauge, place it on the valve at the end of the air nozzle on the tyre. The valve is usually located in the centre of the wheel. Press down on the valve to release any air that might be inside the gauge.
Some digital models of tyre pressure gauge will beep or light up when they’re ready to give a reading. With analogue models, you’ll need to look at the dial to see when it has stabilised. Make a note of the reading and repeat for all four tyres.
Conclusion
So, there you have it — our quick guide on how to change a tire. As we mentioned before, it’s always a good idea to practice this procedure in your driveway or somewhere else off the road before you have to do it for real. And if you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to call for roadside assistance.
