HOW TO

CHANGE A
FLAT TIRE

Will Lazration
4/11/10
 INTRODUCTION

If you drive a vehicle, chances are that at some point in your lifetime you will experience a flat tire.
Problem is; you can’t predict when it will occur. Chances are it’s going to happen when you least
expect it.

You can always call AAA (if you have their service), ONSTAR (equipped on newer GM vehicles),
call a towing company, or call a friend to come change your tire. These either cost money, or take time
for them to arrive. This can all be avoided. Knowing how to change your tire with the tools provided
with your vehicle will get you back on the road in about twenty minutes to a half hour, and cost you
nothing.

The following set of detailed instructions will show you the thirteen steps required to properly change
a flat tire and get you back on the road.

The following list of items that you will need to change a flat tire
can be found within your car:

 Jack (See Image 1)

Image 1: Scissors Jack and Wrench

 Lug Wrench (See Image 2)

Image 2: Lug Wrench

 Spare Tire (See Image 3)

Image 3: Spare Tire (Donut)

NOTE: Refer to owner’s manual before changing a flat tire. The owner’s manual will contain
specific information to your particular car about changing a flat tire. This can typically be found in
the glove box.

GETTING STARTED
CAUTION: Although this process is simple, serious injury can occur. Use proper
judgment and safety to avoid personal injury.

STEP 1:

The first step is to park the vehicle on a level surface (preferably concrete or asphalt). This will keep
the vehicle from rolling away, and keep the jack from sinking into the ground.

NOTE: If the flat tire is a front tire, put the emergency brake on for added safety.

NOTE: If need-be, the vehicle can be parked on compacted gravel instead of

concrete.

WARNING: NEVER park the vehicle on grass, the weight of the vehicle could push the
jack into the ground.

STEP 2:

Read owner’s manual to locate spare tire and jack location. This will also give instructions on
removing these items.

Figure 1: Scanned Image from 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Owner’s Manual

NOTE: The owner’s manual is an excellent source of tips and should be referenced at any time if
uncertain.

TIPS:
 Spare tires and jacks are normally located in the trunk of most cars
 Spare tires are located underneath the bed and the jack is located behind the seat of most
pickup trucks and SUV’s

STEP 3:

Once located, remove spare tire and jack.

 Figure 2: Spare tire and jack in trunk of 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse

STEP 4:

Loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench. This is done by turning the wrench in a counter-clockwise
direction. (figure 3) DO NOT Completely remove the lugs nuts at this time. It could cause the wheel
to fall off and cause damage to your vehicle.

Figure 3: Breaking lug nuts loose

CAUTION: The lug nuts are often very tight, and require a large force to break them loose. Know
your limits. Pulling to hard could lead to personal injury.

NOTE: If you car is equipped with wheel locks (one per wheel), you will need the special
wheel lock remover to loosen that particular lug nut.

TIP: If you can’t break the lug nuts loose, try rotating the wrench on the nut. This places the
wrench at a different angle, and can sometimes give you extra force.
STEP 5:

Using the owner’s manual, locate the jacking point closest to the tire that is flat (figure 4). This is
typically designated by a divot in the frame of the vehicle (figure 5).

Figure 4: Diagram from 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse Figure 5: Divot in frame designating
showing jacking point locations jacking point
WARNING: Jacking the vehicle at a point other than the jacking point could cause
serious damage to the vehicle.

STEP 6:

Place the jack underneath the jacking point and using the jack wrench, turn the nut clockwise to raise
the jack and lift the vehicle off the ground. (figure 6) This is a slow process, and can take several
minutes, depnding on your particular jack. Jack the vehicle high enough so that the flat tire is
completely off the ground. (figure 7)

Figure 6: Jacking the vehicle up Figure 7: Vehicle jacked high enough

so that tire is completely off
the ground
WARNING: For your own safety, Do Not crawl under the vehicle at any time! If the
vehicle suddenly slips off the jack, you could be crushed.

STEP 7:
 Remove the loostened lug nuts (figure 8) and
remove the flat tire (figure 9).

Figure 8: Removing loosened lug nuts Figure 9: Removing flat

tire
TIP: If you remove all of the lug nuts and the tire doesn’t come off easily, try rocking the tire
back and forth to free it. If this doesn’t work, bump the tire on top and bottom to free the
wheel.

STEP 8:
Place the spare tire on the wheel studs, and start lug nuts by hand(figure 10).

Figure 10: Placing spare tire on wheel

studs installing lug nuts

CAUTION: Do not cross-thread lug nuts when starting them. If lug nut is hard to turn, DO NOT
continue to tighten it. This will damage to the wheel stud. Instead, remove the lug nut, and try re-
start.

STEP 9:
Tighten lug nuts with lug wrench in a star pattern by turning the lug wrench clockwise (figure 11). Start
with number 1, and finish with number 5.

3 4

5 2

Figure 11: Tighten lug nuts in star pattern, starting with 1.

NOTE: Only tighten the lug nuts until the wheel starts to spin. The final tightening will be done
once the vehicle is on the ground.

NOTE: If the vehicle only has four wheel studs, or more than five, you still need to tighten the lug
nuts in a star pattern. This centers the wheel on and prevents wheel vibrations.

STEP 10

Lower the vehicle down to the ground by turning the nut on the jack counterclockwsie. One jack is
fully lowered, remove jack from underneaith vehicle.
 CAUTION: Keep toes out from underneath tire while lowering the vehicle back to the ground.

NOTE: This is just the reversal of step 5.

STEP 11:

Tighten the lug nuts to the required torque listed in the owners manual in the same star pattern that was
used in step 8(figure 12).

Figure 12: Tighten lug nuts in star pattern to

manufacturer’s specified torque.

CAUTION: Know your limits. Trying to tighten the lug nuts too tight could lead to personal injury.

NOTE: Unless the vehicle has a special torque wrench, tighten lug nuts as tight as possible with
lug wrench. Stop at nearest service station and have them check the lug nuts for proper torque to
guarantee safety.

WARNING: Failure to tighten lug nuts to proper torque may result in lug nuts
vibrating loose, resulting in excessive wheel vibrations, or worse may
cause the tire to work its way off.

STEP 12:

Place flat tire, jack, and lug wrench back in vehicle.

STEP 13:

Drive to local service station and get flat tire repaired to replaced. If time is of the essence, continue to
your destination, but within one day make sure you get tire repaied or replaced.

NOTE: If the vehicle is equipped with a full-size spare (same size as other 3 tires) then go to tire
shop at own convenience to get flat tire repaired or replaced.

WARNING: Most cars are equipped with a spare tire called a donut (small & skinny).
These tires are only rated for safety below a certain speed limit, and last
a certain distance. Be sure to read the owner’s manual for specific speed
limits and distance limitations. Typically these are rated for 45-50 MPH
and 50 miles. Failure to follow the limitations may result in crash or
personal injury.

CONGRATULATIONS,
YOU JUST SUCCSSSFULLY CHANGED A FLAT TIRE
 Works Cited

Image 1: http://www.b2bhydraulicjacks.com/rimages/531/scissor-jack-KTB075T.jpg

Image 2: https://mercedessource.com/files/imagefield/product/Earlylugwrench.jpg

Image 3: http://www.bavauto.com/fland.asp?part=M3%20SPARE
%20KIT&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googlebase&utm_source=M3%20SPARE%20KIT

Figures 1-12: Personal Pictures taken on 3/21/2010