Changing a Tire

So, you need to change a tire?

It's happened to everyone. You're coasting down the road and enjoying the freedom that comes from driving home after a long day of work. Then your car bumps over something. Hard.

Even as you pray to every God you know, the feeling of a flat tire driving over the road can't be denied. The next step is obvious: pull over. but what happens after that?

Ideally, a call to your insurance provider. But that doesn't fix a tire.

Looks like you're going to have to get the job done yourself. Here's a list to follow step by step.

  1. Check for materials! You should know what your car has in it. But a tool box with the essentials should Ideally include: Flashlight, Gloves, Mat for kneeling, Rain poncho, Tire gauge,Your vehicle’s owner’s manual and a jack.

  2. Loosen The Lug Nuts! All tires usually have a hub cap that covers the lug nuts to some degree, so pry that off to make sure you have complete and full access to those nuts. Once the wrench is secure on one, and then turn it counter-clockwise until each nut is visibly loose.

  3. Time to jack it up! I tried very, very hard not to make a dirty joke there. Please Respect my restraint. Regardless, consult your car's manual for the ideal place to jack. The plastic frame of your car should NOT be used.

  4. Remove the nuts! Finish loosening your nuts in a counter-clockwise rotation until each one has completely come off. Don't lose them! Now, carefully remove the tire from the vehicle. Be careful, they are heavier than they seem.

  5. Once it's off, secure the tire somewhere in your vehicle and get the replacement. There should be holes in which the replacement should easily slide into.

  6. Now for the nuts! Take the lug nuts and put them in the appropriate holes for you tire; but do NOT tighten them yet.

  7. Slowly, lower your vehicle. Low enough to the point where the tire is touching the ground. But not so low that its taking the whole weight of your vehicle.

  8. Now tighten those nuts! With the tire on the ground, you should easily be able to tighten the lugnuts. However, make sure to tighten them in small increments. For example: assign each nut a number and then tighten them in this order. 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, and repeat. This way you’ll keep the tire on straight.

  9. Now lower your vehicle completely and finish tightening! After all this, clean up your materials and you should be good to go!