Every now and then, every driver experiences a tire problem while on the road. This is why putting on the spare tire is a necessary skill. Your car manufacturer provides the spare tire, so you’re equipped when something goes wrong with the ones that your car is using.
Usual emergencies that happen to everyone include a flat tire, which you usually don’t notice until you’re already behind the wheel and navigating your way through the road. Common reasons that cause flat tires are worn-out tires and punctures that cause the tire to leak or blow out.
Reading this will help you get out of it if you encounter this situation. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to put on a spare tire to replace a flat one.
Important reminder: Before we go on with the steps on putting a spare tire, you have to do this first. If this happens while you’re on the road, find a safe location where you can park and replace your tires. Once you’re parked, use your parking brake and turn on your hazard lights if it’s dark so other drivers will be able to see you.
Items that you need:
These are the necessary items that you need to put on your spare tire that usually comes with your vehicle:
- Jack
- Lug wrench
- Owner’s manual
Other items that you may require include a flashlight, gloves, wheel wedges, and a small cut of wood that you can use to secure the jack.
How to change tires
- Apply wheel wedges. In case you don’t have any, you can use any object present in your surroundings that is large enough to place in front of your front tires or behind your rear tires to ensure that your car doesn’t roll while you put your spare tire on. If you’re replacing a rear tire, place the wedges in front of the front tires. If you’re replacing a front tire, then put the wedges behind the rear tires.
- Remove the hubcap or wheel cover. If your vehicle has hubcaps covering the lug nuts, remove them using the flat end of your lug wrench or with whatever is indicated in your owner’s manual. If it doesn’t, then you can proceed to the next step.
- Loosen the lug nuts. Use the lug wrench to turn the lug nuts counterclockwise until you break resistance. Loosen them about ¼ or ½ of a turn, and don’t completely remove them.
- Place the jack under your vehicle. The jack is usually placed beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire you need to replace. For safety and to avoid damaging your vehicle, refer to the owner’s manual instructions on how to place the jack. While you’re at it, you can also check if you need to replace the other tires of your vehicle. For example, if you need a replacement for truck bus tires, look for them as soon as possible to prevent downtime.
- Raise the vehicle with the jack. To prevent the jack from settling under the weight of your vehicle and coming off balance, place a small cut of wood beneath it before trying to raise your vehicle.
- Unscrew the lug nuts. Since they’re already loosened, you should be able to remove them completely with ease, mostly by hand.
- Remove the tire. Grip the tire by the treads and pull it gently towards it until it’s completely free from the hub behind it, then set it aside.
- Mount the spare tire on the lug bolts. Place your spare tire on the hub by lining the rim with the lug bolts. Push gently until the lug bolts show through the rim.
- Tighten the lug nuts. Put the lug nuts back on the lug bolts and tighten them all the way by hand.
- Lower your vehicle. Use the jack to lower your vehicle so that the spare tire rests on the ground, but the vehicle’s full weight isn’t fully on the tire. Tighten the lug nuts again, but this time with your wrench by turning clockwise as much as you can.
Once you’re done, you can gather all your equipment and put them back in storage, possibly including the hubcap, assuming that it doesn’t fit your spare tire.
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to put on a spare tire, you don’t have to worry about possibly encountering a flat tire while driving. Instead, follow these steps, and it’ll only take you about 15 minutes to get back on the road again.
Author’s Bio:
Frank is an energetic salesman. On his free days, he spends his time writing and reading about quality tires and vehicular parts. He says it’s because of his love for cars ever since he was a kid when his dad started teaching him about automotive parts.