How to Change a Tire

HOW TO CHANGE A TIRE | SWANT GRABER MOTORS

No matter how often you check your tread depth, practice good driving habits, and keep an eye on the air pressure of your tires, the fact of the matter is that eventually, you're probably going to have to change a tire yourself. It's important to always be prepared for emergencies in case a tire blows while you're on the road. So what should you keep with you, and how exactly does one go about replacing a blown tire?

The three most crucial things you should always have in your vehicle while on the road are a spare tire, a wrench that's specifically made to loosen the lug nuts on your wheels, and a car jack. In a situation where you have to change your tire, you should take all three of these things out and have them sitting beside you so you can use them as you work.

Using the wrench, loosen the lug nuts, but don't take them out yet. Before you do, you need to put the car jack underneath your vehicle in order to lift it up. Usually, there is a recommended spot to put the car jack so you don't unintentionally damage your vehicle; check your owner's manual and see if there is a particular place you should be using. Once the tire is off the ground, loosen the lug nuts the rest of the way and take them out.

Once the lug nuts are out, then the easy part starts. All you have to do is removed the flat tire, set it aside, and replace it with the spare. Keep in mind that spares are smaller than regular tires and aren't made to last as long as other tires, so it's important to get it replaced as soon as possible. However, once the spare is on, do the same thing in reverse; place the lug nuts back in the wheel and tighten them somewhat, but don't tighten them all the way until you've lowered your vehicle back to the ground.

That's all you have to do in order to change the tire. Toss your tools and the old tire into your trunk (keep in mind there may be some recycling or repurposing program in your area before disposing of a used tire). Now, you can be on your way!