A Woman's Guide To Changing A Tire, by Something Fishy on YouTube. 4 min 37 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 37 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pull off the road onto a flat, level spot as far from traffic as you can. Turn on your hazard lights and set the parking brake.
Take out the spare tire, jack and lug wrench. Put on a reflective vest and place a warning triangle or flares well behind the car if you have them.
Loosen each lug nut about half a turn with the wrench while the tire is still on the ground. Turn them counterclockwise.
Put wheel chocks or a brick in front of and behind a good tire. Place the jack under the lift point nearest the flat, as shown in your owner's manual, and raise the car until the tire clears the ground.
Remove the lug nuts and keep them in a pocket or cup. Pull the flat tire straight off and set it aside.
Line up the holes in the spare with the wheel studs and push it on. Hand tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
Lower the car until the tire touches the ground, then tighten the nuts firmly in a star pattern.
Check the spare's pressure with a gauge and pack the tools away. Drive below 50 mph (80 km/h) to the nearest garage to get the flat repaired or replaced.
Tips and common mistakes
Loosen the lug nuts before you jack the car up, because the wheel will spin once it is off the ground.
Never put any part of your body under a car that is held up only by a jack.
Check your spare's air pressure every few months, since a flat spare leaves you stuck.
Most spare tires are temporary and rated for limited speed and distance, so get the damaged tire fixed soon.
Questions
Do I need to loosen the lug nuts before jacking the car up?
Yes. Crack each nut loose about half a turn while the tire still grips the ground. Once the wheel is in the air it will just spin.
How fast can I drive on a spare tire?
Most temporary spares are limited to about 50 mph (80 km/h) and a short distance. Check the sidewall or your manual for the exact limit.
What if I cannot loosen a lug nut?
Try a longer wrench or stand on the wrench handle with the car on the ground. If it still will not move, call for roadside help rather than forcing it on a raised car.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
