You can replace a flat tire yourself with basic tools and about 15 to 30 minutes

Replacing a flat tire is a straightforward task that does not require special training or expensive equipment. You need a jack (usually comes with your car), a lug wrench, a spare tire, and a flat surface. The process involves loosening the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground, raising the car with the jack, removing the flat tire, installing the spare, and tightening everything back down. Most people can do this on the side of the road without calling for help.

The hardest part is usually the physical effort of breaking the lug nuts loose — they are often very tight. Once you have done it once, the second time is much easier because you know what to expect and where each piece goes.

Key Takeaways

  • Loosen the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground, before you raise the car with the jack.
  • Raise the car high enough that the flat tire clears the ground by several inches, then remove the lug nuts completely and set them where you will not lose them.
  • Pull the flat tire straight toward you to remove it, line up the holes on the spare with the bolts on the wheel hub, and push it on until it seats.
  • Hand-tighten the lug nuts first, lower the car back to the ground, then use the lug wrench to tighten them in a star or cross pattern.
  • A spare tire is a temporary solution — have the flat tire repaired or replaced at a shop as soon as you can, because spares are not rated for highway speeds or long distances.

What you need before you start

Check your trunk or the underside of your car for the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Most cars come with these as standard equipment. The spare is often stored under the trunk floor or mounted on the back of the vehicle. The jack is usually a scissor jack (diamond-shaped when extended) or a bottle jack (cylindrical). The lug wrench is a cross-shaped metal tool with four different socket sizes.

If your car is missing any of these items, you will need to get them before you can replace the tire yourself. A spare tire costs $50 to $200 depending on the type and size. A jack costs $30 to $100 new. A lug wrench is usually $10 to $20. You can also call a roadside service like AAA or your car's roadside information program if you have one — they will send someone to do the work for you.

Park on a flat, stable surface away from traffic. If you are on a highway, pull as far onto the shoulder as you can. Turn on your hazard lights. Do not attempt this on a slope or soft ground like gravel or dirt, because the jack can slip and the car can fall.

Loosening the lug nuts before you lift the car

This step is critical and often skipped by people who have not done this before. You must loosen the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground and the car's full weight is on it. If you lift the car first and then try to loosen the nuts, the wheel will spin and you will not be able to break them loose.

Place the lug wrench on one nut and turn it counterclockwise. You are not removing it yet — just breaking it loose enough that it will turn by hand. Do this for all four or five lug nuts (depending on your car). You should feel resistance, but the nut should move. If it does not budge, try wrapping a cloth around the wrench handle for better grip, or stepping on the wrench handle to use your body weight. Do not use a hammer or pipe to extend the wrench — you can strip the nut.

Once all the nuts are loose, you can move to the next step. Leave them on the wheel for now.

Raising the car and removing the flat tire

Locate the jacking point on your car — this is a reinforced spot on the frame where the jack is meant to go. Check your owner's manual for the exact location, or look for a small notch or mark on the frame near the wheel. Place the jack under this point, not under the plastic trim or the door. If you use the wrong spot, you can damage the car or the jack can slip.

Raise the car until the flat tire is several inches off the ground. You should be able to fit your hand under the tire. Do not go higher than necessary — the higher the car, the less stable it is. If you have jack stands, place them under the frame as a safety backup, though most people do this without them on the side of the road.

Now remove all the lug nuts completely. Turn each one counterclockwise by hand — they should turn easily now that you have already loosened them. Place them in a cup or small container so you do not lose them on the ground. Grab the tire with both hands near the center and pull it straight toward you. It will come off the wheel hub. Set it flat on the ground nearby.

Installing the spare tire

Pick up the spare tire and line up the holes around its center with the bolts sticking out from the wheel hub. This takes a little maneuvering — you may need to tilt the spare slightly to get it to line up. Once the holes are aligned, push the spare straight onto the bolts. It should slide on smoothly. If it does not, the holes are not lined up correctly — pull it back off and try again.

Once the spare is seated on the hub, hand-tighten the lug nuts as much as you can. They do not need to be tight at this stage — just snug enough that the spare will not fall off when you lower the car. You are going to tighten them properly once the car is back on the ground.

Lowering the car and final tightening

Lower the car back to the ground by turning the jack handle counterclockwise (or using the jack's release mechanism — check the manual). Lower it slowly and make sure the car settles evenly. Once the car is fully on the ground and the spare is supporting its weight, you can remove the jack.

Now tighten the lug nuts properly using the lug wrench. Tighten them in a star or cross pattern — if the nuts are at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, tighten 12, then 6, then 3, then 9. This keeps the wheel balanced as you tighten. Turn each nut clockwise until it is snug. You should feel firm resistance, but do not over-tighten — you can strip the threads or make it impossible to remove the nut later. A good rule is to tighten until you feel solid resistance, then give it a quarter turn more.

If your car has five lug nuts, tighten them in a star pattern as well — imagine the points of a star and go around in that order. Once all the nuts are tight, give the spare tire a push to make sure it is find.

What to do after you install the spare

A spare tire is not a permanent solution. Most spares are rated for speeds up to 50 mph and distances up to 70 miles. Driving on a spare at highway speeds or for long distances can damage it and make your car unsafe. Take the flat tire to a tire repair shop as soon as you can — usually within a day or two.

A tire shop can often repair a flat for $15 to $30 if the damage is in the tread and not on the sidewall. If the tire cannot be repaired, you will need to replace it. A new tire costs $50 to $300 depending on the brand and size. Once the flat is repaired or replaced, the shop will put it back on your car and you can remove the spare.

Check your spare tire's pressure at a gas station or tire shop. A spare that has been sitting in your trunk for years may have lost air. If it is low, inflate it to the pressure listed on the spare itself (not the pressure listed on your driver's door, which is for your regular tires).

When you should not do this yourself

If your car does not have a spare tire, you cannot do this repair yourself. Some newer cars come with tire repair kits instead — these are small containers of sealant that you inject into the tire to seal small punctures. Others have run-flat tires that are designed to keep working even when flat. Check your owner's manual to see what your car has.

If you do not feel safe working on the side of the road, or if you are uncomfortable with the physical effort, call roadside information. AAA, your car insurance company, or your car's manufacturer may offer this service. You may also call a local tow truck company to have the car towed to a shop. This costs more than doing it yourself, but it is a reasonable choice if you are not confident or if the situation does not feel safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight should the lug nuts be?

Tighten them until you feel firm resistance and cannot turn them further by hand with the lug wrench. Over-tightening can strip the threads or make the nuts impossible to remove later. If you have a torque wrench, your owner's manual lists the correct torque specification — usually between 80 and 120 foot-pounds depending on the car.

What if I cannot loosen the lug nuts?

Try wrapping a cloth around the wrench handle for better grip, or step on the wrench handle to use your body weight. If the nuts still will not budge, they may be rusted or over-tightened from the factory. Call roadside information — forcing a stuck nut can break the wrench or strip the nut.

Can I drive on the spare tire to work and back?

You can drive short distances at moderate speeds, but a spare is not designed for regular use. Most spares are rated for 50 mph and 70 miles. Driving faster or farther can overheat the spare and cause it to fail. Get the flat tire repaired or replaced within a day or two.

What if the spare tire is also flat?

Check the spare's pressure at a gas station or tire shop. If it is low, inflate it. If it has a puncture or damage, you will need to call a tow truck to take your car to a shop, because you cannot drive on two flat tires.

Do I need to tighten the lug nuts again after driving?

It is a good idea to check them after driving a few miles, especially if you are not used to doing this work. Stop at a safe location and use the lug wrench to make sure they are still snug. This is not always necessary, but it is a safe habit.