How to Change a Flat Tire
Knowing how to change a flat tire on an SUV, car or truck is critical in order to avoid getting stranded on the side of the road. Still, there are other reasons for changing a tire, where you’re performing a tire rotation or trying to get access to your brakes. Whether you need to learn how to change a tire, or you’re looking for other DIY car tips like how to change windshield wipers and how to change your oil, the team of experts at CarHop can help!
Tire-Changing Tools
Before you get started on changing your flat tire, you need to first make sure you have the following tools handy:
- Spare tire (if you’re dealing with a flat and not just rotating tires or accessing the brakes)
- Carjack
- Lug wrench
- Wheel wedges
- Work gloves
- Tire repair kit (if you’re attempting to fix your flat tire)
- Flare/reflective triangles (if you’re changing the tire on the side of the road or in a parking lot)
Steps for Changing a Tire
Now that you have all the essentials, it’s time to change your tire. It may seem like a big task, but all you need to do is follow these simple steps:
- Make sure you’re in a safe location and that your flares/reflective triangles are out if you’re parked near the road.
- Secure the vehicle for safety by putting the wheel wedges against the tires on the other side of the one you’re changing.
- Take off the hubcap.
- Loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
- Place the jack under the car
- Engage the jack until the tire you’re changing is about half a foot off the ground.
- Unscrew the lug nuts the rest of the way and remove them.
- Take the tire off the hub.
- Align the replacement or spare tire with the open lug bolts.
- Tighten the lug nuts by hand.
- Put the jack down until the replacement tire is on the ground.
- Tighten the lug nuts the rest of the way with the lug wrench.
- Put the hubcap back on.
- Make sure your replacement tire is adequately inflated.
Changing a Flat Tire is Simple With CarHop in Your Corner
Let CarHop be your source for DIY auto maintenance tips, including how to fix a check engine light, or how to change automatic transmission fluid and filter. You can also visit any of our locations today to check out our impressive selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale if you are ready to upgrade your pre-owned car, truck or SUV. Contact us with any questions or to set up a test drive today!
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