A flat or damaged tyre is one of the most common car problems, and it can happen to you anytime, anywhere, when you least expect it. If you have a spare tyre fitted to your vehicle, as well as a jack and a wheel brace (these items usually come standard in vehicles now), then changing a tyre is something you can attempt yourself, and this blog will guide you through all the steps.
If you get a flat or damaged tyre while you’re driving, it’s important for you to try and pull over safely to the side of the road. When a tyre is flat, it can make handling the car quite difficult, so it helps to put your hazard lights on immediately, slow down, and be very wary of other vehicles on the road. Changing a tyre is also much easier if you are on a flat and firm surface, such as the side of a highway.
If the tyre has a hubcap, remove it and place it aside. Perhaps the most difficult task is loosening the nuts on the wheel with the wheel brace; start by doing one full turn of the wheel brace on each nut, turning it anti-clockwise. If it’s difficult to turn the wheel brace with your hands, you can try standing up and pushing down on the brace with your foot.
Next, place the jack under the car on a flat and solid surface; your manual will tell you the correct spot to place it, so that it will lift up the car properly and not do any damage to it. You will find that raising the car with the jack is relatively easy, and you want to raise it until there is a gap of around 5-10cm between the base of the tyre and the road.
After the tyre has been raised, you can now remove the wheel nuts completely.
Next, remove the spare tyre from the boot or tyre holder and place it under the side of the car – as an added support in case the jack fails – then remove the flat tyre from the hub and replace it with the spare one.
Once the new wheel is in place, put the nuts back on the bolts and tighten them as much as you can with your hand, then lower the car gently.
Once the car has been lowered, remove the jack and tighten the nuts fully with the wheel brace, clockwise, then place the hubcap back on, if there is one.
Finally, put the flat tyre back where the spare tyre is housed, place the jack and wheel brace in the car, and then you’re good to go!
And remember: if you don’t feel confident changing a tyre by yourself, let Jim’s Mobile Tyres do the work for you. Our mobile emergency tyre service can come to you, 24 hours a day. Also, so that you’re not driving around for too long with a flat tyre and no spare, it’s a good idea to replace the flat tyre quickly, which Jim’s Mobile Tyres can also help you do.
