What happens when you change a tire
Changing a tire means removing a flat or damaged wheel and replacing it with a spare. You loosen the bolts holding the wheel in place, use a jack to lift the vehicle off the ground, take off the old wheel, put on the spare, lower the vehicle back down, and tighten the bolts again. The whole process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes if you have never done it before, and 5 to 10 minutes once you know the steps.
Most people change a tire because they have a flat — a puncture or leak that makes the tire lose air. Some change a tire because it is visibly damaged, cracked, or worn down to the tread wear indicator (a raised bar between the treads that appears when the tire is too thin to use safely). A few change a tire because they want to swap seasonal tires or because a tire shop told them one wheel needs replacement.
You do not need special training or expensive tools. Every car comes with a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench (the tool that loosens the bolts). If you have lost these items, you can buy replacements at an auto parts store for under $50 total. The hardest part is usually the physical effort of loosening the first bolt, not the knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- You will need your vehicle's jack, lug wrench, and spare tire — all of which come standard in most cars and are usually stored under the trunk floor or mounted on the back.
- Loosen the lug bolts while the tire is still on the ground, then jack up the vehicle, remove the wheel, and install the spare before lowering the car back down.
- Tighten the bolts in a star or cross pattern (not in a circle) to make sure the wheel sits evenly, and check the tightness again after driving a few miles.
- A spare tire is a temporary fix — most spares are smaller and slower than regular tires, so drive to a tire shop within a few days to have the flat repaired or replaced.
- If the lug bolts are stuck, you are on an unsafe road, or you do not feel confident, it is safer to call roadside information than to risk injury or damage.
Gather your tools and find a safe spot
Before you start, pull over to a flat, stable surface away from traffic. An empty parking lot is ideal. A shoulder on a busy highway is dangerous — if you are not comfortable stopping there, call roadside information instead. Turn on your hazard lights so other drivers see you.
Open your trunk and locate the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. On most cars, the spare is under the trunk floor (you may need to remove a cover or lift a panel). The jack is usually a small metal device that looks like a diamond or a scissor when you unfold it. The lug wrench is a metal cross or X-shaped tool with four different socket sizes. Some newer cars have a power jack that plugs into the car's battery — check your owner's manual if you are not sure which type you have.
Lay these items on the ground next to the flat tire so you do not have to search for them mid-repair. If it is dark, turn on your flashlight or phone light. If it is raining, work as quickly as you can, but do not rush so much that you make mistakes.
Loosen the lug bolts before lifting the vehicle
This step is crucial and straightforward to skip — but if you lift the car first, the wheel will spin freely and you will not be able to loosen the bolts. Place the lug wrench on one of the bolts (the metal studs holding the wheel to the car). Push down on the wrench with steady pressure. The bolt should turn counterclockwise (to the left). If it does not budge, put your full body weight on the wrench or ask someone to help you push.
Loosen all four or five bolts (depending on your car) by about a quarter turn each. You do not need to remove them completely yet — just break them loose so they will turn easily once the wheel is off the ground. This is the hardest physical part of the job, especially if the bolts were installed very tightly at a shop.
If a bolt will not budge after 30 seconds of firm pressure, stop. Forcing it can strip the bolt or hurt your hand. Call roadside information or a tow truck instead. It is not worth an injury.
Jack up the vehicle and remove the wheel
Locate the jacking point on your vehicle — this is a reinforced spot on the frame where the jack is meant to go. On most cars, there are two jacking points per side, one near the front wheel and one near the rear wheel. Check your owner's manual or look for a small notch or marking on the frame. Never jack the car up by the bumper, door, or any other part — you can damage the car or cause it to fall.
Position the jack under the jacking point and begin turning the handle or pumping the lever (depending on your jack type) to lift the vehicle. Raise it until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground — high enough that you can remove the wheel and fit the spare on. Do not lift it higher than necessary, as an unstable jack is a safety risk.
Now finish removing the lug bolts by hand and set them in a cup or small container so you do not lose them. Grip the wheel with both hands and pull it straight toward you. It may be stuck — if so, rock it gently side to side or tap the back of the tire with your heel to loosen it. Once it comes free, set it flat on the ground (not standing up, as it can roll away).
Install the spare and lower the vehicle
Pick up the spare tire and align the holes with the bolts on the hub (the metal center of the wheel). Push the spare straight onto the bolts until it sits flush against the hub. This usually takes a little force — do not be afraid to push firmly.
Thread the lug bolts back on by hand until they are snug. Do not use the wrench yet — hand-tight is enough at this stage. Then use the lug wrench to tighten them in a star or cross pattern: if you imagine the bolts as the numbers on a clock face, tighten 12, then 6, then 3, then 9, then back to 12. This pattern ensures the wheel sits evenly. Tighten each bolt until it is firm, but do not use all your strength — you can overtighten and damage the bolt or the hub.
Now lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle or lever in the opposite direction. Lower it slowly until the spare tire touches the ground and the car's full weight rests on it. Remove the jack and set it aside.
Tighten the bolts again and check your work
Once the car is on the ground, use the lug wrench to tighten the bolts one more time, again in the star pattern. They may have loosened slightly as the vehicle settled. Make sure each bolt is snug and does not turn easily, but again, do not use excessive force.
Step back and look at the spare tire. It should sit flush against the hub with no gaps. The car should not be leaning to one side. If something looks wrong, stop and double-check that all bolts are tight and the tire is seated correctly.
Put your tools and the flat tire back in the trunk. Before you drive away, check the spare tire's air pressure if you have a tire gauge — most spares should be at 60 PSI, though this varies by vehicle. If the pressure is very low, the spare may have a slow leak and you should drive slowly to the nearest tire shop.
Drive to a tire shop and get the flat repaired or replaced
A spare tire is a temporary solution, not a permanent one. Most spares are smaller than regular tires, have a lower speed rating, and are not meant for long-term use. Some cars have full-size spares (which are safer), but even those should be replaced with a matching tire as soon as possible.
Drive to a tire shop within a few days. Tell the staff that you are using a spare and ask them to inspect the flat tire. If the puncture is small and in the tread (not the sidewall), they may be able to patch it for $10 to $20. If the damage is too large or the tire is old, they will recommend replacement, which usually costs $100 to $300 per tire depending on the brand and type.
While you are there, ask them to check the pressure and condition of your other three tires. Uneven wear or low pressure on multiple tires can signal a suspension problem or a need for wheel alignment, which a shop can diagnose.
What to do if you cannot change the tire yourself
If the lug bolts are stuck and will not loosen, if you are on a dangerous road, if you do not have a jack or spare, or if you straightforward do not feel confident, call roadside information. Most auto insurance policies include roadside information at no extra cost — check your policy or call your insurer's roadside number. If you do not have insurance, you can call a tow truck directly or use a service like AAA (which requires membership but costs $50 to $150 per year).
Roadside information will send a technician to change the tire for you, usually within 30 minutes to an hour depending on your location. You will not pay extra if it is included in your insurance or membership. If you call a tow truck without membership, the cost is typically $75 to $150 for a tire change, though prices vary by region and time of day.
There is no shame in asking for help. A tire change is straightforward, but it is also physical and can be risky on a busy road. Your safety matters more than proving you can do it alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change a tire in the rain or at night?
Yes, but take extra precautions. Use your flashlight or phone light, and work slowly to avoid mistakes. Wet ground can make the jack less stable, so make sure you are on level pavement, not gravel or mud. If visibility or conditions are very poor, it is safer to wait for daylight or call roadside information.
What if my spare tire is flat or damaged?
You cannot use a flat spare. Call roadside information or a tow truck to tow you to a tire shop. Before this happens, check your spare tire's pressure once a month — a flat spare is useless in an emergency. If the spare is damaged, replace it at a tire shop before you need it.
How tight should the lug bolts be?
Tight enough that they do not turn easily by hand, but not so tight that you need all your strength. A good rule is to tighten until you feel firm resistance, then stop. If you overtighten, you can strip the bolt or make it impossible to remove next time. After driving a few miles, stop and check the bolts again — they may have loosened slightly as the tire settled.
Can I drive on the spare tire for a long distance?
Most spares are rated for 50 to 70 miles at speeds under 50 mph. Driving longer or faster can overheat the spare and cause it to fail. If you need to drive more than an hour to reach a tire shop, call ahead and ask if they can fit you in, or consider calling a tow truck instead.
Do I need to balance or align the wheel after changing a tire?
Not when ready. A spare tire does not need balancing because it is temporary. When you replace the flat tire at a shop, ask them to balance the new tire and check your wheel alignment — uneven wear on multiple tires can mean your alignment is off, which a shop can fix.