Tools and Materials
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How Long Does It Take to Change a Tire?
As long as you have the right tools, it should take only about 15 to 30 minutes to change a tire in most cases. While changing a flat tire takes some strength and effort, the repair itself can be a beginner-level process.
In addition to ensuring you’re not stranded on the side of the road with a tire puncture or blowout, learning how to replace a tire can give you confidence to take on other vehicle maintenance and repair projects.
The Tools You Need to Change a Tire
Everything you need to change a flat should come with your car. In addition to the obvious, a spare tire, you need:
- A jack
- A lug wrench
Check your manual for specifics as well as the storage location and how to assemble the jack if necessary.
If your car doesn’t include these tools, you’ll need to purchase them. Since the tire-changing tools that come with a car are usually compact and basic, you may want to purchase a set of full-size tools to make changing a tire a bit easier.
While some of the tools we list below won’t fit in your trunk, having them in your garage will simplify tire changes at home and will make maintenance and repair work easier. We’ve also included some helpful supplies that you’ll want to have on hand.
If your car has wheel locks — lug nuts that require a specific tool or key to remove — make sure you have the key as well. Typically, it’s a socket specially designed to fit the individual pattern on the lock nuts. Without the key, it’s very difficult to remove the wheel locks.
You don’t need a complete auto mechanic tool box to change a tire but a fully stocked mechanics tool set will include tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, ratchets and sockets that you’ll need for other vehicle maintenance and repairs. Plus, you’ll find that an auto mechanic tool set is useful for other do-it-yourself projects.
How to Change a Tire
We’ll take you step-by-step through the general process of changing a tire, but your vehicle manual will give you instructions specific to your car. Always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s steps and safety procedures.
Familiarize yourself with the steps for changing a tire and the tools you’ll need before you actually have to deal with a flat tire.
Steps for Changing a Tire
Step 1: Park the Car Safely
Park in a safe, level location. Ideally, you need a firm, sturdy surface such as pavement or concrete for the jack. A parking lot or side street might be good a good option, but always be aware of your surroundings.
If you’re in an area that doesn’t feel safe or you can’t park along a straight section of road well away from traffic, you may need to turn on your hazard lights and drive slowly to a better location. While this can damage the wheel and further damage the tire, it might be necessary for safety.
Once you’re in a safe location, stop the car and turn off the engine.
If your car has an automatic transmission, put the car in Park.
For a manual transmission, put the car in first gear. If you have to park on a slope with the car pointing down the slope, leave the shifter in Reverse.
Engage the parking brake and make sure your hazard lights are on. If you have a reflective roadside triangle kit, set it up. If you have wheel chocks, use them as an added measure to keep the vehicle from rolling.
Step 2: Collect Your Tools and Spare Tire
Take out your spare tire and tools and put them within easy reach. Many auto manufacturers secure the spare tire and tools in or under the trunk so you’ll need to remove the hardware holding them in place. The tools may require a bit of assembly. If you have trouble finding them, removing them or setting them up, check your manual.
Be careful moving the spare tire. Even if you have a temporary spare with a small tire and small wheel, it’ll still have some weight and it may be in a location that makes moving it awkward.
Keep a pair of work gloves in your trunk with your tools. They’ll give you a better, more comfortable grip on the tools. They can also protect your hands if the lug wrench slips while you’re working or if there’s metal cording exposed due to a tire blowout. In addition, tires and wheels are usually very dirty. Gloves will keep your hands clean.
Step 3: Begin Loosening the Lug Nuts
Each of your car’s wheels have lug nuts that secure it to a wheel base. If your car has hub caps or wheel covers, you may need to remove the one on the wheel with the damaged tire to reach the lug nuts. Your car’s lug wrench will probably have a flat blade on one end for this purpose. Pry the cap or cover away from the wheel.
Before you lift the car with the jack, begin loosening the lug nuts. Don’t loosen them too much or remove them, just give them a half-turn to break them loose from the resistance holding them against the wheel. This will likely take some effort and it’s easiest to do it when the wheel is on the ground and can’t rotate. Your manual may have a recommendation for loosening the lug nuts in a particular order to minimize stress on them.
Some older-model vehicles use reverse-thread lug nuts on the left-side wheels. Unlike standard lug nuts, you turn these to the right to loosen them. If you have a car from the mid-20th century, check your manual to see if the left-side lug nuts are reverse threaded.
Step 4: Raise the Car
Find the jack point closest to the damaged tire. Jack points are designated areas on a car that will accept a jack. Your manual will indicate their locations. Using a jack at any other location may damage the car.
Place the jack under the appropriate point and use the jack to lift the car until the tire is several inches clear of the pavement or concrete. Make sure the jack stays steady and straight.
Don’t work in a position that puts any part of your body underneath the car. If the jack begins to shift or the car feels unsteady, lower it immediately, tighten the lug nuts and reposition the car as needed.
It’s helpful to have a small piece of wood that fits under your jack. The weight of the car can force the jack into soft ground or in some cases, asphalt, making it unstable. The wood will give the jack more stability in these situations. Cut the wood to size and keep it with your jack.
Step 5: Finish Removing the Lug Nuts
Once you’ve raised the car, finish removing the lug nuts. Place them in a safe location where you won’t accidentally kick or knock them away. The tire should now be resting loosely on the wheel studs.
Tires can generate a lot of heat when you’re driving, so the lug nuts may be hot.
Step 6: Remove the Damaged Tire
Pull the tire and wheel assembly toward you. Be careful as you take the assembly off of the studs; it can be heavy and, depending on the damage, sharp metal cording may be exposed on the tire. You’ll put the wheel assembly in your trunk after you’ve got the spare on, but for now just place it out of the way.
Step 7: Place the Spare on the Wheel Studs
Pick up the spare tire and align the stud holes in the wheel to the studs on the wheel base. Place the wheel assembly onto the studs, sliding it back along the studs as far as possible.
Step 8: Replace the Lug Nuts
Begin twisting the lug nuts onto the wheel studs. At this point you just need to hand-tighten them enough to hold the tire in place so it doesn’t shift. Don’t use the lug wrench to secure them yet.
Step 9: Partially Lower the Car and Tighten the Lug Nuts
Lower the car until the spare tire touches the asphalt or concrete. Don’t lower the car completely, you just need to keep the wheel stationary.
Now use the lug wrench to tighten the nuts. You need to tighten them in a particular pattern to help keep the tire straight. In addition, you typically need to tighten the lug nuts in increments. Your manual should indicate the pattern and details. Tighten the first one a bit, then the others according to the pattern. Then tighten the first more, and so on until the lug nuts hold the wheel firmly against the wheel base.
Step 10: Finish Securing the Lug Nuts
Finish lowering the car so its full weight is on the tires. Give each lug nut one final turn with the lug wrench according to the pattern you used above.
Use a tire gauge to check the pressure of the spare. Your manual should indicate the correct pressure and the information should also be on a decal on the driver’s door frame. If necessary, you can use a portable inflator to bring the spare to the correct tire pressure. If you’ve got a temporary spare, check it for a label indicating the maximum safe driving speed.
Collect the damaged tire, your tools, caution triangles, etc. and place them back in your trunk. Secure them if possible. If you removed a hub cap or wheel cover, replace it or put it in the trunk as well. Make one final check of the area to ensure you haven’t missed anything.
Your manual should specify a torque or tightness for the lug nuts. If you’re working in a home garage and have a torque wrench, tighten them accordingly. See our tips for using a torque wrench.
Step 11: Take the Flat Tire to a Mechanic
Replace the damaged tire or have a mechanic repair it as soon as possible. Most spare tires are for temporary use only and aren’t safe for driving long distances.
Drive carefully and don’t exceed the maximum safe speed for the spare. Depending on your speed and the speed of traffic around you, it may be a good idea to keep your hazard flashers on.
Even if you have a full-size spare that you can drive on normally, you still need to take care of the damaged tire so you have a functional spare. You also need to have the lug nuts checked to ensure they’re tightened correctly. Lug nuts that’re too tight or too loose can lead to a damaged tire, wheel or studs.
Tips for Changing a Tire
While changing a tire usually isn’t particularly complicated, there are some tips that can make the work easier and quicker.
- Check the air pressure of your spare regularly and keep it inflated to the recommended pressure.
- As you’re checking the pressure of the spare, inspect it for damage and check the treadwear. Replace it if necessary so you always have a spare that’s in good shape.
- Make sure the tools you need for changing a tire are always in your car.
- Check the manual and read through the steps for changing a tire on your vehicle. Make sure you know the location of the jack and other tools and how to use them.
Tires and Installation Services
It’s never a good time for a flat tire. We know you do all you can to get your tire changed so that you can get back on the road quickly and safely. However, when your car’s tires are nearing the end of their lifecycle and you need to replace one, two or all four, you’ll be glad to know that Lowe’s sells tires. We also offer convenient installation services. Find the tire shop nearest you to get started.
