How to Change a Car Tyre? - A Step-by-Step Guide

Posted on: Feb 8, 2022 | | Written by:

How to Change a Car Tyre? - A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on February 08, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

A flat tyre usually springs up on you when you are least expecting it. And it can be frustrating. It can also get dangerous, especially if you are driving at a high speed, as the car could lose control. So, if you end up with a flat tyre, find a safe space by the side of the road to park the car before you assess the situation. Repairing a flat tyre is usually covered by insurers with their 24x7 roadside assistance facility. Which is why, it’s strongly advised to renew car insurance on time so that you’re covered under such circumstances. It assumes even more significance if there’s damage to the car as a result of the tyre puncture.

Now, changing a tyre is not as challenging as you think. It does not require superhuman strength or advanced technical ability. All you need are the right tools and a calm mind, and you’ll be able to do it yourself.

What are the tools required?

• Jack

• Wheel spanner

• Jack handle

• Spare tyre

And here’s the step-by-step guide on changing the tyre:

1. Find a safe spot

Drive to the side of the road and find a spot to park the car. Ensure the ground is flat and free from gravel or mud. Avoid slopes and soft ground and park as far away from traffic as possible. Switch on the parking or hazard light.

2. Stabilise the car

Put your car in gear and put the handbrake on. Putting your car in gear prevents it from moving. You have the added security of the handbrake. If you’re driving an automatic, put the car in parking mode. Finally, exit the car and find bricks or heavy stones to place in the front and back of your tyres to secure your vehicle.

3. Loosen the wheel nut

The tools that you need to change a tyre are all kept in the boot of the car, under the carpet. Here, you will find the spare wheel, and the tool kit which will include the wheel spanner, the jack, and the jack handle. Remove the plastic wheel cap from the wheel. They can usually be removed by pulling carefully, though sometimes they may be screwed on. In which case, find the right spanner for the bolts, and unscrew the wheel cap.

Now you would have exposed the nuts of the wheel. Use the wheel spanner to loosen the nuts. This will require some strength. You can attach the spanner to the nut and use your leg to push down (like you would kickstart a bike) counter-clockwise on the spanner, in order to loosen the nut. Loosen the nuts diagonally, i.e., top left and bottom right first, followed by the bottom left and top right. Only loosen the nuts – do not remove them completely.

4. Place the jack

Cars are usually marked underneath to indicate the placement of the jack. If you can, find a wooden block to place the jack on for more stability. However, if the ground is flat and stable enough, you wouldn’t need it. Ensure that the jack is absolutely flat on the ground, with no room to slip or bend under the weight of the car.

5. Lift the car

Raise the jack with the handle provided. Most jacks come with the crank handle that needs to be turned to raise the jack. Modern jacks come with a pump-like action for convenience. Raise the car to the appropriate level – not too high that there’s a danger of upturning the car, and not too low that you can’t take out the wheel comfortably. If you find the car moving or getting unstable, stop immediately and readjust.

6. Remove the tyre

Now remove the wheel nuts completely, by hand, and place them safely in the pocket or a pouch. Remove the tyre (this may require from nudging) and place it below the car as a precautionary measure, in case the jack slips.

7. Attach the spare tyre

Align the tyre with the wheel bolts, and screw in the wheel nuts with your hand, diagonally. This ensures stability of the wheel as you screw in the other nuts. It’s strongly advised to not use the spanner at this stage, not until you lower the vehicle. Once the weight of the vehicle is on the tyre, it will remain in place, allowing for secure tightening of the wheel nuts.

8. Lower the car

Use the jack to lower the vehicle. Ensure the full weight of the car is not on the tyre, yet. Now tighten the nuts completely with the spanner and reattach the wheel cap. Finally, lower the car completely and remove the jack.

9. Put away the tools

Safely store the tyre and tools back in their place. Ensure you leave nothing behind on the road – not a single screw or nut or a wrench. Once you’ve packed everything away, start the engine and drive out slowly at first to test the integrity of the repair work. Once you’ve regained confidence, continue driving.

Conclusion

Ensure you get your spare tyre fixed at the earliest, as there’s no predicting when the next puncture will occur. Keep checking your spare tyre for air at regular intervals, so that it’s ready for use when you need it. If you’re not entirely confident with changing your tyre, it’s advised to practice at home, so you know exactly what goes into it. And remember to renew car insurance without fail, so that any such incident can be taken care of by the insurer, without you having to worry about it.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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