A flat tire can be a minor inconvenience rather than a major disruption. Most vehicles come equipped with a spare tire, a jack, and essential tools to quickly get you back on the road.
Before you begin, ensure your safety by parking on a level surface and engaging the parking brake. For manual transmissions, put the car in gear. Turn off the engine. If you’re on an incline, use a rock or wheel chock behind a wheel opposite the flat tire to prevent rolling.
Locate your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Remove the hubcap, if present. Before jacking up the car, loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire. Don’t remove them completely, just break them free.
Consult your owner’s manual for the correct jacking points on your vehicle’s frame. Raise the car high enough to easily remove the flat tire and install the spare.
Now, fully unscrew the lug nuts and remove the flat tire. Mount the spare tire onto the wheel studs. Hand-tighten the lug nuts.
Lower the vehicle until the spare tire touches the ground, but the full weight of the car isn’t on it. Fully tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern to ensure even pressure. Lower the vehicle completely and remove the jack. Give the lug nuts a final tightening.
Replace the hubcap, if applicable. Remember to have your flat tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.