What happens when you change a tire
Changing a tire means removing a flat or damaged wheel from your vehicle and putting a working wheel in its place. You do this by loosening the bolts that hold the wheel on, lifting the car with a jack, taking the wheel off, putting the spare wheel on, tightening the bolts back down, and lowering the car. The whole process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes if you have never done it before.
You will need four things: a spare tire (which comes with most vehicles), a jack (a tool that lifts the car), a lug wrench (a tool shaped like a cross that loosens the bolts), and a flat surface to work on. If your car has a full-size spare, the process is straightforward. If it has a temporary spare (a smaller wheel), the steps are the same, but you should drive carefully and get the flat tire repaired or replaced as soon as you can.
Key Takeaways
- You will need your spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and a flat, stable surface away from traffic before you start.
- Loosen the lug bolts while the car is still on the ground, then lift the car with the jack before removing the wheel.
- Put the spare wheel on, hand-tighten the bolts, lower the car, and then tighten the bolts fully in a star or cross pattern.
- If you have a temporary spare, drive slowly and get the flat tire fixed or replaced within a few days.
- If the spare is flat, the jack is broken, or you cannot loosen the bolts, call roadside information rather than forcing it.
Prepare your vehicle and workspace
Pull over to a flat, stable surface as far from traffic as possible. If you are on a highway, turn on your hazard lights and move to the shoulder. If you are in a parking lot, move to an empty area away from other cars. Turn off the engine and engage the parking brake.
Open your trunk and locate your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Most vehicles store these under the trunk floor or in a compartment on the side. Check that the spare tire has air in it by pressing on it with your hand — it should feel firm, not soft or flat. If the spare is flat, you will need to call for roadside information; you cannot drive safely on a flat spare.
Gather all your tools and the spare tire and place them on the ground next to the flat tire. Make sure you have enough space to work and that the ground is level. If you are on gravel or soft ground, place a flat board or piece of wood under the jack to keep it from sinking.
Loosen the lug bolts before lifting the car
This step is critical: loosen the bolts while the car is still on the ground and the tire is supporting the weight. If you lift the car first, the wheel will spin when you try to loosen the bolts, and you will not be able to turn them.
Position the lug wrench on one of the bolts. The wrench has four sides; one of them should fit the bolt snugly. Push down on the wrench with steady pressure to turn the bolt counterclockwise. You are not trying to remove the bolts completely — just loosen them enough that you can turn them by hand. Loosen all four or five bolts (depending on your vehicle) by about half a turn each.
If a bolt is very tight and will not budge, do not force it. Stop and call roadside information. Forcing a stuck bolt can strip it or damage the wrench, and you may end up unable to remove the wheel at all.
Lift the car and remove the flat tire
Locate the jacking point on your vehicle. This is a reinforced spot on the frame where the jack is meant to go. Your owner's manual shows where it is, or you can look for a small notch or mark on the underside of the car near the wheel. Position the jack directly under this point — not under the door, bumper, or any other part of the car.
Pump or crank the jack handle to lift the car. Raise it until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground. Stop and check that the jack is stable and the car is not tilting. If anything feels wrong, lower the car and reposition the jack.
Now finish unscrewing the lug bolts by hand and set them aside in a safe place where you will not lose them. Pull the flat tire straight toward you to remove it from the wheel hub. It will be heavy — brace yourself. Set it on the ground behind you, out of the way.
Install the spare tire and hand-tighten the bolts
Pick up the spare tire and align the holes in the wheel with the bolts sticking out from the hub. Push the wheel straight onto the bolts until it sits flush against the hub. This takes some force; do not be afraid to push hard.
Thread the lug bolts back on by hand, turning them clockwise. Tighten them as much as you can with your fingers, but do not use the wrench yet. The bolts should be snug enough that the wheel does not move, but you are not trying to make them fully tight. This hand-tightening keeps the wheel centered while you lower the car.
Lower the car and tighten the bolts fully
Slowly lower the car by operating the jack in reverse. Lower it until the tire is fully on the ground and the car's weight is resting on the spare. Then lower it the rest of the way until the jack is no longer supporting any weight. Remove the jack.
Now use the lug wrench to tighten the bolts fully. Tighten them in a star or cross pattern: if you imagine the bolts as the points on a star, tighten the top one, then the bottom one, then the left one, then the right one, then back to the top. This pattern keeps the wheel centered and seated evenly. Tighten each bolt firmly, but do not over-tighten — you should not need to strain with all your weight on the wrench.
Once all the bolts are tight, put the flat tire, jack, and lug wrench back in your trunk. You are done with the physical work.
What to do next with a temporary spare
If your spare is a temporary wheel (smaller than your regular tires, often bright colored), it is not meant for long-term driving. Temporary spares are designed to get you to a repair shop, not to replace a regular tire permanently. Drive slowly — no faster than 50 miles per hour — and avoid highways if you can.
Visit a tire shop or your vehicle's dealership within a few days to have the flat tire repaired or replaced. Temporary spares can wear out quickly, and driving on one for too long can damage your vehicle's transmission or other parts. If the flat tire can be patched, repair is usually cheaper than replacement. If it cannot be patched, you will need to buy a new tire.
When to call for roadside information instead
Do not attempt to change the tire yourself if any of these situations explore: the spare tire is flat, the jack is broken or will not work, you cannot loosen the lug bolts no matter how hard you try, the ground is too soft or unstable to support the jack, or you are not comfortable doing the work. Roadside information services like AAA, your insurance company's roadside program, or your vehicle manufacturer's roadside service will send someone to do it for you.
If you are on a busy highway and feel unsafe, stay in your car with the doors locked and call for help rather than working on the side of the road. Your safety is more important than changing the tire yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tighten the bolts again after driving on the spare?
Yes. After driving for a few miles on the spare, pull over in a safe place and use the lug wrench to check that all the bolts are still tight. They can loosen slightly as the wheel settles. Tighten them again in the star pattern if needed.
What if I only have three bolts instead of four or five?
Some vehicles have three, four, or five lug bolts depending on the model. Loosen and tighten whichever number your car has. The process is the same regardless of how many there are.
Can I drive on a temporary spare in the rain or snow?
Temporary spares have less tread and grip than regular tires, so they are more slippery in wet or icy conditions. Drive even more slowly than usual, avoid sudden turns or braking, and consider calling a tow truck instead if the weather is severe.
What if the flat tire has a nail or puncture in it?
Do not try to remove the nail yourself. Take the tire to a repair shop and let them assess whether it can be patched or needs to be replaced. A small puncture in the tread can often be patched for $10 to $20, but damage to the sidewall usually means replacement.
How much does it cost to replace a tire?
Tire prices vary widely depending on the size, brand, and type. Budget $50 to $200 per tire for most vehicles, though specialty or high-performance tires can cost more. A repair shop can give you a quote once you bring the flat tire in.