How to Change a Tire

W hether your car gets a puncture or whether you are changing your wheels for the winter, it is useful to know how to change the tire to avoid the many hassles and unnecessary waste of time at the side of the road, where it can be dangerous. If you don’t know how to change a tire because it seems too difficult or you simply never learned, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help and teach you what to do if you ever have car trouble and need to change the tire in an emergency.  

If you need to change your car’s tire on the side of the road, remember to wear your reflective vest, turn on your emergency lights, and position your traffic cone 30 to 40m in front of the car.

Steps To Change a Tire

• Position your vehicle on a flat surface. Never change a wheel on a sloping street, you might see your vehicle leave without you. When changing your tire in an emergency, you need to be extremely cautious and assess all the factors. That can be the very thing that helps you get back on the road in no time. 
• Similarly, avoid soft surfaces such as soil. Under the weight of the car, your jack will sink into the ground. If you have no choice, you can remedy this problem by positioning a board strong and large enough to distribute the car's weight.
• Apply the handbrake or use the parking position on an automatic gearbox. Remove the hubcap if you have one.
• Start slightly unscrewing the bolts of the tire you want to change before lifting the vehicle. To unscrew the bolts, you must turn them counterclockwise. Do not remove the bolts, just unlock them. To unlock the bolts, use the cross or release key in your trunk, near the spare wheel.
• Position the jack under the "jack point" closest to the wheel to be changed. Be careful that the jack is straight and does not lean.
• Lift your vehicle until the wheel no longer touches the ground. If you are changing a flat tire, think about the fact that the tire you are going to put on will be larger, because it is full of air. Thus, lift the vehicle a few centimeters more.
• Completely remove the bolts. Your wheel may struggle to dislodge from the axle because of rust. In this case, press the tire to unravel the rim. Place the wheel under your vehicle to hold your vehicle in case the jack fails. In the event of a vehicle falling, it will be much cheaper for you to repair or change the damaged rim than to repair the broken axle.
• Place the spare wheel on your axle. Once stable, screw the bolts by hand without forcing too much until it is locked. Make sure that your bolts are clean and that there is no dust or pebbles that fit in the screw thread.
• Screw the bolts with the clamping wrench or cross while respecting the right order to screw the nuts of a rim. There is no need to squeeze like crazy to avoid unbalancing the car.
• Gently descend the vehicle with the jack. Once on the ground, remove, and store the jack. Tighten the bolts with the key or cross. No need to stand on the cross to tighten the nuts. Manual tightening is sufficient. If you tighten it too hard, you may damage your rim and axle. Similarly, you will have difficulty loosening them when you change the tire next time.
• Replace the hubcap if necessary. Store your punctured wheel in the trunk, as well as the jack and the cross or clamping key.

That's it, your tire has been changed and you can get back on the road! The important thing throughout the process of changing your car’s tire yourself is to remain calm and follow the steps in a steady and efficient manner. Do not panic because it might cause you to miss a step and cause more trouble for yourself. The most important thing is to keep a steady mind and be patient and that’s all you need. 

Now you know how to change a tire and if the need ever arises, you should have no trouble and get it over within no time. Safe driving!

• This post is tagged in:

• driving
• cars
• Car Maintenance
• Tire
• Wheel