How to Change a Tire on a Car: A Step-by-Step Guide
A flat tire doesn't warn you before it happens. Knowing how to change one — and having the right equipment in your car before you need it — is one of the most practical skills any driver can have. The process is straightforward, but a few variables affect how it plays out in practice.
What You'll Need Before You Start
Most vehicles come from the factory with a basic tire-changing kit in the trunk or under the cargo floor. Check yours now, before you're stranded. A complete kit typically includes:
- A spare tire (full-size or compact "donut")
- A jack (scissor jack or hydraulic floor jack)
- A lug wrench
- Your owner's manual
Some newer vehicles — particularly EVs and certain luxury models — don't include a spare at all. Instead, they may come with a tire inflation kit (sealant + compressor) or rely on run-flat tires. If that describes your car, a traditional tire swap isn't an option, and you'll need to know that before a flat leaves you guessing on the side of the road.
Optional but useful: a wheel wedge or chock, a flashlight, gloves, a rain poncho, and a reflective triangle or road flares.
Step-by-Step: How to Change a Tire
1. Get Safe First 🚗
Pull as far off the road as possible onto a flat, stable surface. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you have them, place road flares or reflective triangles behind the vehicle to alert other drivers. Apply the parking brake.
Never attempt a tire change on a soft shoulder, incline, or near active traffic if you can avoid it. If the location is unsafe, it may be worth calling roadside assistance instead.
2. Loosen the Lug Nuts Before Jacking
Before the tire leaves the ground, break the lug nuts loose with the lug wrench — about a half turn counterclockwise each. Don't remove them yet. Doing this while the tire still contacts the ground prevents it from spinning.
Lug nuts that have been overtightened with an impact wrench at a shop can be extremely difficult to break loose by hand. A longer-handled wrench or breaker bar helps. Some vehicles use locking lug nuts that require a special key socket — usually stored in the glove compartment or with the spare.
3. Position the Jack Correctly
Your owner's manual will show the exact jack points for your vehicle — reinforced areas along the frame or rocker panel designed to bear the weight. Using the wrong spot can crack plastic body panels, damage the frame, or cause the car to fall.
Scissor jacks that come with most cars are adequate for a roadside change but are not as stable as floor jacks. Work slowly and carefully.
4. Raise the Vehicle
Jack the car up until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground — enough clearance to remove the flat and install the fully inflated spare. Keep people and body parts clear while the car is elevated.
5. Remove the Flat, Install the Spare
Fully remove the lug nuts and set them somewhere they won't roll away. Pull the flat tire straight off and set it aside. Mount the spare by aligning the wheel holes with the bolts and pushing it flush against the hub.
Hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star or cross pattern — not in a circle — to seat the wheel evenly. Snug them as much as you can by hand before lowering the car.
6. Lower and Fully Tighten
Lower the jack until the tire contacts the ground but isn't bearing full weight. Tighten the lug nuts fully in the same star pattern, using your body weight on the wrench if needed. Then lower the car completely and give the nuts a final check.
7. Check the Spare's Pressure
Compact spare tires (donuts) typically require 60 psi and are rated for limited speed (often 50 mph max) and limited distance (often 50–70 miles). Full-size spares match your regular tires' pressure requirements. Either way, check the pressure with a gauge before driving. A spare that's been sitting in your trunk for years may have lost pressure.
Variables That Affect This Process ⚠️
Not all tire changes are the same:
| Variable | How It Changes Things |
|---|---|
| Spare type (donut vs. full-size) | Affects speed limits, distance, and handling |
| No spare included | Sealant kit or run-flat may be your only option |
| AWD/4WD vehicles | Mismatched tire sizes can damage drivetrain — check your manual |
| Locking lug nuts | Require a key socket; location varies by vehicle |
| Location and terrain | Unsafe locations may warrant roadside assistance instead |
| Vehicle height (trucks, SUVs) | Raises and lowers are more involved; spare may be mounted underneath |
AWD vehicles deserve special attention. Using a compact spare — even briefly — can force two axles to rotate at different speeds, potentially stressing or damaging the center differential. Some manufacturers prohibit it or limit use strictly. Check your manual.
After the Spare Is On
A spare is a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Get the flat inspected or replaced as soon as practical. Some flats are repairable (a nail in the tread, for example); others — with sidewall damage or large punctures — are not.
How long you can drive on a spare, what speeds are safe, and whether your AWD system has specific restrictions all depend on your vehicle's design and what your manufacturer specifies. That's the part no general guide can answer for you.
