What you need before you start
Changing a tire requires four things: a jack (usually in your trunk), a lug wrench (the cross-shaped tool that fits your wheel bolts), a spare tire, and a flat, stable surface away from traffic. Most cars come with all of these. Before you need to change a tire, open your trunk and confirm they are there — and that your spare is actually inflated. A flat spare is useless.
You will also want wheel wedges or heavy rocks to block the wheels that stay on the ground. This keeps the car from rolling while you work. If you do not have wedges, large stones or a piece of wood will do. Never rely on the parking brake alone.
Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty. You will be kneeling on pavement and handling a greasy wheel. If you are on a highway or in heavy traffic, consider calling roadside assistance instead — the risk of being hit is real, and most insurance plans or auto club memberships cover tire changes.
Key Takeaways
- Park on a flat, stable surface away from traffic, turn on hazard lights, and block the wheels that will stay on the ground before you lift the car.
- Loosen the lug nuts by a half-turn while the tire is still on the ground, then use the jack to lift the car high enough that the tire clears the ground by a few inches.
- Remove all the lug nuts, pull the tire straight toward you, and set it flat on the ground so it does not roll away.
- Line up the holes on the spare tire with the bolts on the wheel hub, push it on firmly, hand-tighten the lug nuts, lower the car, and tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern with the wrench.
- Drive slowly to a tire shop to have the lug nuts torqued properly and the flat tire inspected or repaired.
Finding a safe place to stop
If you are on a highway, do not stop in the travel lane. Drive slowly to the next exit, a rest area, or a wide shoulder well away from the roadway. If you cannot reach a safe spot, turn on your hazard lights and call for roadside assistance rather than changing the tire in traffic.
Once you stop, turn on your hazard lights, set the parking brake, and turn off the engine. If you are on pavement, place wheel wedges or rocks behind the two wheels that will stay on the ground — the ones diagonally opposite the flat tire. This is the single most important safety step. A car can slip off a jack, and you do not want to be under it when it does.
Loosening the lug nuts before lifting
Lug nuts are tight by design. If you wait until the tire is in the air to loosen them, the wheel will spin and you will not be able to turn the wrench. Always loosen them while the tire is still on the ground and bearing the car's weight.
Place the lug wrench on one nut and turn it counterclockwise. You only need to turn it a half-turn or so — just enough to break the seal. Do this for all the lug nuts before you touch the jack. If a nut is stuck, do not force it; spray it with penetrating oil, wait a few minutes, and try again. If it still will not budge, call for roadside assistance.
Jacking up the car
Every car has specific jacking points — reinforced spots on the frame where the jack is meant to go. Check your owner's manual or look for a small notch or mark on the rocker panel (the side of the car below the door) near the flat tire. Place the jack under that point, not under the door or bumper.
Pump or crank the jack slowly until the flat tire is a few inches off the ground. You need enough clearance to pull the tire off and slide the spare on, but you do not need to lift the car high. Stop and check that the car is stable before you proceed. If the ground is soft or uneven, the car may shift as you work — if that happens, lower it and find firmer ground.
Removing the flat tire and installing the spare
Now finish loosening the lug nuts by hand. Turn them all the way off and set them somewhere you will not lose them — a cup or a small container works well. Grab the tire with both hands and pull it straight toward you. It will come free with a little resistance. Set it flat on the ground so it does not roll away.
Take the spare tire and line up the holes around its center with the bolts sticking out from the wheel hub. Push the spare on firmly until it is seated. Hand-tighten all the lug nuts to hold the spare in place. Do not use the wrench yet — hand-tight is enough for now.
Lowering the car and tightening the lug nuts
Lower the jack slowly until the spare tire is fully bearing the car's weight and the jack is no longer supporting anything. Remove the jack completely. Now use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts the rest of the way.
Tighten them in a star or cross pattern: if you imagine the lug nuts as the points of a star, tighten one, then skip to the opposite side, then tighten the next one, and so on. This ensures the tire sits evenly on the hub. Tighten each nut firmly, but do not use all your strength — you can overtighten and strip the bolt.
What to do after the tire is on
A spare tire is a temporary fix, not a permanent replacement. Most spares are smaller and lighter than regular tires and are not meant for highway speeds or long distances. Drive slowly and directly to a tire shop to have the flat tire inspected and repaired, or replaced if it cannot be fixed.
At the shop, ask the technician to torque the lug nuts to the correct specification — usually between 80 and 120 foot-pounds, depending on your car. This ensures they are tight enough to be safe but not so tight that they cannot be removed later. Your owner's manual lists the correct torque for your vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I cannot loosen the lug nuts by hand?
Lug nuts can seize, especially if they have been on the wheel for years or if the car has been driven through salt or moisture. Spray the stuck nut with penetrating oil (like WD-40 or similar), wait 10 to 15 minutes, and try again. If it still will not budge, call roadside assistance — forcing it can break the bolt or the wrench.
Can I drive on the spare tire for a long distance?
Most spare tires are temporary and should not be driven more than 70 miles or faster than 50 miles per hour. Check your owner's manual for your car's specific limits. Driving too far or too fast on a spare can damage it and make the car harder to control. Get to a tire shop as soon as you can.
What if my car does not have a spare tire?
Some newer cars come with tire repair kits or run-flat tires instead of spares. Check your trunk and your owner's manual to see what you have. If you have a repair kit, follow the instructions in the kit. If you have run-flat tires, you can drive to a shop at normal speeds, but the tire must be inspected and likely replaced.
Do I need to replace the flat tire or can it be repaired?
Many flat tires can be patched if the damage is small and in the tread area. A technician at a tire shop can inspect it and tell you whether repair or replacement is the right choice. Sidewall damage usually means replacement; punctures in the tread can often be fixed.
Should I carry a jack and wrench if I do not have a spare?
If your car has a tire repair kit or run-flat tires, you may not need a jack and wrench. Check your owner's manual. If you do have a traditional spare, always keep the jack and wrench in your car — you cannot change a tire without them, and roadside assistance may take time to arrive.