Flat tyres are one of the most common reasons that drivers break down at the side of the road. While this is an easily fixable problem, many people lack the basic knowledge on how to change a tyre, and are thus unnecessarily stranded at the side of the road. It’s actually not too complicated to change a tyre, and you can be back on the road in no time at all by remembering a few simple instructions.
Here are some tips on how to change a tyre:
- Firstly, make sure that your car is parked in a safe location and preferably not on an incline. Check that your hazard lights are turned on and the parking brake is up.
- Remove the hubcap from your tyre and loosen all the lug nuts with a wrench, turning them counter clockwise (don’t take them off entirely)
- Place a jack beneath the vehicle frame alongside the flat tyre. Proceed to raise the vehicle with the jack, raising it about six inches above the ground
- Take off the lug nuts – since you’ve already loosened them, you can even do this by hand
- Remove the flat tyre and place on the spare tyre
- Place the lug nuts back on and tighten them by hand. Then, lower the vehicle with the jack and tighten the lug nuts clockwise with the wrench
- Place the hubcap back on, and you’re ready to hit the road again – it is advisable that you drive to a petrol station to get the tyre’s pressure checked
If you find this process beyond your skills or expertise, you can always sign up to Auto Club and call our roadside assist – a technician will be immediately dispatched to assist you.
