{"id":2114,"date":"2023-08-24T00:00:50","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T00:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-telle-tire.pantheonsite.io\/?p=2114"},"modified":"2025-09-29T15:34:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T15:34:52","slug":"how-to-change-a-tire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.telletire.com\/blog\/how-to-change-a-tire\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Change a Tire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flats happen. Knowing exactly what to do when you get a flat tire or if you\u00a0experience a tire blowout<\/a>\u00a0is the best way to get through the inconvenience quickly and efficiently. At Telle Tire, we\u2019re dedicated to keeping you safe on the road, so we put together a step-by-step guide on how to change a tire.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that you should always pull your vehicle into a safe environment to change a car tire. Never put yourself in a situation where you might be struck by another vehicle.<\/p>\n

A Step-By-Step Guide to Changing a Tire<\/h2>\n

1. Secure Your Vehicle<\/h3>\n

First and foremost, get your vehicle to a safe location. Driving any amount of distance on a flat tire is not recommended as it can damage your rim or your\u00a0TPMS sensor<\/a>. However, if you\u2019re in a busy intersection or on the highway, drive extremely slowly with your hazards on to park your car in a safe location.<\/p>\n

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2. Put Your Hazard Lights On<\/h3>\n

Once you are in a safe location, keep your hazard lights on. This lets other vehicles know that you\u2019re experiencing an emergency and you need plenty of room. Consult your vehicle\u2019s manual if you\u2019re unsure how to turn your hazard lights on.<\/p>\n

3. Apply the Parking Brake and Use Wheel Wedges<\/h3>\n

Once you are in a safe location, put your car in park and apply the parking brake. Using the parking brake will help ensure your car doesn\u2019t roll while you are changing the tire. The parking brake may be a lever near the center console, an extra brake pedal placed off to the far left, or even a push button labeled with a circled \u201cP.\u201d If part of your kit, you can use wheel wedges to add extra security to prevent the vehicle from rolling during the tire change process. Place the wheel wedges in front of the front tires for a rear tire flat. For a flat front tire, place the wedges behind the rear tires.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup<\/p>\n

4. Loosen the Lug Bolts<\/h3>\n

Using the lug wrench included with your vehicle, loosen the lug bolts, also known as lug nuts, on your wheel, but do not remove them all the way just yet. There are typically 5 lug nuts per wheel. If your vehicle has hub caps or wheel covers, remove them before working to remove the lug bolts.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup<\/p>\n

5. Raise Your Vehicle with a Jack<\/h3>\n

If your vehicle is equipped with a spare tire, it should also be equipped with a car jack (usually stored in the trunk near your spare tire) to use in the event you need to change a tire or do\u00a0other maintenance work<\/a>\u00a0on the underside of the car. There are slight differences in jacks depending on your vehicle\u2019s make and model, so make sure you consult your manual to understand how to safely operate your specific jack.<\/p>\n

Once you have assembled your car jack,\u00a0position it under the jack point<\/a>\u00a0(consult your vehicle\u2019s manual to accurately locate this point). As you turn the handle clockwise, take your time and make sure that the jack remains stable as it lifts your car. You can stop turning the handle once your flat tire is fully off the ground.<\/p>\n

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6. Remove the Lug Bolts<\/h3>\n

Now you can fully remove the lug bolts on your flat tire wheel. Keep track of them by placing them in a secure spot, like a bowl or bag nearby.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re struggling to remove lug nuts due to rust or because they\u2019re stripped, there are\u00a0other removal methods<\/a>\u00a0you might have to try.<\/p>\n

\"Closeup<\/p>\n

7. Remove the Flat Tire<\/h3>\n

After you\u2019ve removed the lug nuts and placed them in a secure spot, you should be able to remove your flat tire. You might have to wiggle the tire slightly to loosen it enough to pull off your vehicle. Set the flat tire aside.<\/p>\n

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8. Mount Spare Tire on Lug Bolts<\/h3>\n

Now you can put your spare tire on your wheel. Spare tires are typically located in the trunk of your vehicle, sometimes under the cargo floor mat. Consult your vehicle\u2019s manual to determine where your spare tire is located. Line up the holes on the spare tire with the lug bolts and push the tire as far back as it will go.<\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

What if I Don\u2019t Have a Spare Tire?<\/h4>\n

It is becoming more common for newer vehicles to\u00a0no longer carry a spare<\/a>. If you have a flat tire with no spare, there are still options!<\/p>\n

Keeping a tire repair kit in your car to temporarily seal a puncture can save you enough time to get to a repair shop. Otherwise, calling roadside assistance is a safe option to get you back on the road or to a repair shop quickly.<\/p>\n

9. Hand Tighten Lug Nuts Gently to Avoid Thread Stripping<\/h3>\n

To secure the tire enough to lower your vehicle, hand tighten the lug nuts. They do not have to be extremely tight.<\/p>\n

10. Lower Vehicle with a Jack<\/h3>\n

By rotating the jack handle counterclockwise, you should see the vehicle lowering. At this stage, you do not want to lower the vehicle completely just yet. Stop lowering the vehicle once the spare tire makes contact with the ground.<\/p>\n

11. Finish Tightening Lug Nuts Once More to Completely Secure Tire<\/h3>\n

Using the lug wrench once again, tighten the lug nuts completely, making sure the tire stays straight as you tighten. Continue tightening them in increments until they will no longer budge.\"\"<\/p>\n

12. Lower Vehicle Completely and Remove Jack<\/h3>\n

Now you can lower the vehicle completely. Once the jack is completely released from the vehicle, pull it out from underneath the vehicle. It\u2019s a good idea to check the tightness of the lug nuts again with the lug wrench to ensure they didn\u2019t loosen up.<\/p>\n

13. Store All Equipment Used and Place Flat Tire in Trunk For Recycling<\/h3>\n

Congratulations, you just changed a car tire! Make sure you put all of your equipment (lug wrench, jack, safety equipment, etc.) back into your trunk or their designated areas. It\u2019s a good idea to load your flat tire in your trunk or your back space to take to Telle Tire for inspection.<\/p>\n

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Preventing a Flat Tire or Other Tire Problems<\/h2>\n

There are steps you can take to help prevent a flat tire or tire blowout.<\/p>\n