How to change a flat tire
To change a flat tire, get onto flat, firm ground away from traffic, loosen the lug nuts before you lift anything, raise the car at the jack point, swap the wheel, then snug the nuts down crosswise, in a star. Most people were never shown this. A first change takes about 30 minutes, and one practice run in your driveway makes it faster.
About 25 minutes to learnTake care: injury or damage if careless
Mark it once you can do it without this page open.
How to do it
- Roll slowly onto flat, firm ground as far from traffic as you can, even on the flat.
- Turn on the hazard lights, pull the parking brake, shift to Park or first gear, and chock the wheel diagonally across from the flat.
- Take out the spare, jack and lug wrench, and find the jack point in the owner's manual.
- With the wheel still resting on the ground, break each lug nut loose with half a counterclockwise turn.
- Raise the car at the jack point until the flat is just clear of the ground.
- Remove the nuts, keep them together, and pull the wheel straight toward you.
- Fit the spare and thread every nut on by hand, then snug them in a star pattern.
- Lower the car fully, tighten the nuts firmly in the same star pattern, and check the spare's pressure soon.
Stop and call a professional if
- You are on a highway shoulder, a bend or a bridge with traffic close by: stay in the car with your seatbelt on or behind a barrier and call roadside assistance.
- A lug nut will not move, is stripped, or needs a locking key you do not have.
- The spare is flat too, or the car shakes or pulls after the change.
Common mistakes
- Trying to loosen the lug nuts after the car is in the air, so the wheel just spins.
- Jacking on soft ground, gravel or a slope, where the jack can tip or sink.
- Putting a hand, arm or leg under the car while it is held up only by the jack.
- Driving on a small temporary spare for weeks at highway speed.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to change a flat tire
What to say
To change a flat tire, get onto flat, firm ground away from traffic, loosen the lug nuts before you lift anything, raise the car at the jack point, swap the wheel, then snug the nuts down crosswise, in a star. Most people were never shown this. A first change takes about 30 minutes, and one practice run in your driveway makes it faster.
What to show, in order
- Roll slowly onto flat, firm ground as far from traffic as you can, even on the flat.
- Turn on the hazard lights, pull the parking brake, shift to Park or first gear, and chock the wheel diagonally across from the flat.
- Take out the spare, jack and lug wrench, and find the jack point in the owner's manual.
- With the wheel still resting on the ground, break each lug nut loose with half a counterclockwise turn.
- Raise the car at the jack point until the flat is just clear of the ground.
- Remove the nuts, keep them together, and pull the wheel straight toward you.
- Fit the spare and thread every nut on by hand, then snug them in a star pattern.
- Lower the car fully, tighten the nuts firmly in the same star pattern, and check the spare's pressure soon.
When to stop and call a professional
- You are on a highway shoulder, a bend or a bridge with traffic close by: stay in the car with your seatbelt on or behind a barrier and call roadside assistance.
- A lug nut will not move, is stripped, or needs a locking key you do not have.
- The spare is flat too, or the car shakes or pulls after the change.
The check question
Ask: When should you loosen the lug nuts?
Related skills
- What to keep in your car emergency kit
- How to check tire pressure and tread
- How to use a socket wrench and torque wrench
- Every skill in Car and Road
Words on this page
Sources
- Your vehicle's owner's manual, for your model year. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .