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How to Change a Tire
A complete, safety-first walkthrough of changing a wheel: preparing the vehicle, loosening the nuts, lifting at the correct points, fitting the spare and tightening to the right torque — plus the moments when a professional should take over.
Direct answer
To change a tire: park on firm, level ground away from traffic, set the parking brake, and chock the opposite wheel. Loosen the lug nuts a quarter turn before lifting. Raise the vehicle at its jacking points until the flat tire clears the ground, remove the nuts and the wheel, then fit the spare. Hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern, lower the vehicle, and tighten to the manufacturer’s torque specification in the same star pattern.
Before you begin
Confirm you have everything you need: a spare tire in usable condition, a jack rated for your vehicle, a lug wrench that fits, wheel chocks and, ideally, a torque wrench and the vehicle’s torque specification. Read your owner’s manual for the jacking points, the lug nut torque figure and any special instructions for your model. If the ground is not firm and level, or the location is unsafe, do not start.
Step-by-step guide
Prepare before you lift anything
The quality of your preparation decides how safe and how quick the change will be. Find firm, level ground away from traffic, set the parking brake, and if the vehicle is automatic place it in Park, or in gear if it is manual. Turn on your hazard lights.
Chock the wheel diagonally opposite the one you are removing. A couple of sturdy blocks or purpose-made chocks do the job; anything solid that will not roll or crush will help. Then lay out the tools: the jack, the lug wrench, the spare and, if you have one, a torque wrench.
Read the manual first
Your owner's manual tells you the exact jacking points, the lug nut torque figure, and whether your vehicle has any special requirements such as locking wheel nuts or a wheel cover that must be removed first. This is worth a few minutes of reading before you are crouched at the roadside.
Break the lug nuts loose
While the tire is still firmly on the ground, loosen each lug nut about a quarter turn. Do this before the vehicle is raised. Trying to loosen a tight nut with the wheel in the air simply spins the wheel and can topple the jack.
If a nut is very tight, use firm, steady pressure rather than a sudden jerk. Loosen the nuts in a star pattern so the wheel does not bind on the studs.
Raise the vehicle at the correct points
Position the jack under the correct jacking point, as shown in your manual. These points are reinforced for the purpose. Lifting anywhere else can crush body panels, damage the underside, or let the jack slip.
Raise the vehicle until the flat tire is just clear of the ground — no higher than necessary. A jack is a lifting device, not a support: never place any part of your body beneath a vehicle held only by a jack.
Remove the wheel and fit the spare
Once the tire is clear of the ground, remove the lug nuts and set them somewhere you will not lose them. Lift the wheel straight off the studs and lay it flat, or stand it on end out of the way.
Position the spare on the studs, aligning the bolt holes. Refit the lug nuts by hand and tighten them gently in a star pattern while the wheel is still in the air, just enough to hold it square against the hub.
Lower and tighten to specification
Lower the vehicle until the tire is firmly on the ground, then remove the jack. Now tighten the nuts in a star pattern, working opposite each other. Use a torque wrench and the figure from your manual wherever you can.
If you must tighten by feel, aim for firm and even rather than as tight as possible; over-tightening stretches the studs and can warp brake rotors. Have the torque checked properly as soon as you reach a shop.
Safety first: If the spare is a compact temporary type, do not exceed its speed and distance limits. It is there to get you to a repair, not to become your everyday tire.
After the change
Check the pressure of the spare as soon as you can, and arrange to have the damaged tire inspected and either repaired or replaced. Re-torque the wheel nuts after around fifty miles of driving, and while you are at it, check the other tires' pressures and condition. If flats are becoming a habit, look for a slow leak, a damaged valve or a bent rim.
If at any point the situation feels wrong — unstable ground, traffic too close, tools that do not fit — stop and call for professional help. A changed tire is never worth an injury.
Mistakes and warning signs
These mistakes cause injuries, damaged wheels and loose nuts — avoid every one of them.
Jacking at the wrong point
Lifting the body or a component rather than the manufacturer's jacking point can crush panels or slip dangerously. Locate the reinforced points in your owner's manual.
Lifting before loosening the nuts
Trying to loosen a tight lug nut with the wheel in the air spins the wheel and can topple the jack. Break each nut loose a quarter turn while the tire is still on the ground.
Using only the jack to support the vehicle
A jack is for lifting, not for supporting. Never put any part of your body under a vehicle held only by a jack.
Tightening in a circle
Tightening the nuts around the rim in sequence can leave the wheel seated unevenly. Always use a star or cross pattern.
Relying on feel instead of a torque figure
Over-tightening stretches studs and warps rotors; under-tightening lets wheels come loose. Use a torque wrench and the specified figure where possible.
Can you change this tire yourself?
Use this to decide whether to proceed or call for help.
| Condition | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Firm, level ground, safe from traffic, correct tools | Proceed carefully following the steps below. |
| Soft, sloped or unstable ground | Move to firmer ground or call for assistance. |
| Busy road or poor visibility | Call roadside assistance rather than work at the roadside. |
| Spare is a compact temporary type | Proceed, but drive within its speed and distance limits. |
| No usable spare, jack or wrench | Call for professional roadside help. |
Tire changing checklist
- ✓Park on firm, level ground, away from traffic; set the parking brake and place in Park or gear.
- ✓Turn on hazard lights and chock the wheel diagonally opposite the flat.
- ✓Loosen each lug nut about a quarter turn while the tire is on the ground.
- ✓Position the jack at the correct jacking point and raise until the tire clears the ground.
- ✓Remove the lug nuts and lift the wheel off, keeping it flat.
- ✓Fit the spare, aligning the bolt holes, and hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern.
- ✓Lower the vehicle fully and remove the jack.
- ✓Tighten the nuts in a star pattern to the specified torque.
- ✓Check the spare's pressure and drive cautiously to a tire shop.
Related tool
If you are fitting a temporary spare, understand its limits before you drive.
Plan how far you can go on a temporary spare.
Questions readers ask
Short, accurate answers to the questions this topic raises most often. These are answers, not a promise of any search feature.
Always tighten in a star or cross pattern — opposite nuts in turn — rather than around the rim in sequence. This seats the wheel evenly and reduces the risk of warping.
Tighten them to the torque figure in your owner's manual using a torque wrench. If you do not have the figure or a torque wrench, have the nuts torqued by a professional as soon as possible.
Yes. Break each nut loose about a quarter turn with the tire still on the ground. Attempting it once the wheel is in the air can spin the wheel and topple the jack.
No, unless it is the only option and you have taken extraordinary precautions. A jack can slip or tip on a slope. Move to firm, level ground first if you can.
It depends on the spare. A compact temporary spare typically has a low speed limit and a short distance limit; a matching full-size spare is far more capable. Check the tire and your manual.
Related resources
The safety sequence before you start.
Understand and reduce jacking risk.
Choose jacks, wrenches and torque wrenches.
Match your driving to the spare you fitted.
Part of Tire Changing. Browse all tire guides.
Sources and references
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — Tires
- Your vehicle owner's manual — jacking points, torque figures and spare limits
- Tire and wheel manufacturer guidance — mounting and torque practice
This guide is general information maintained by the TireHelpGuide editorial team. It links to primary sources above and is not a substitute for your vehicle and tire manufacturer’s guidance or a professional inspection. We do not publish a reviewer name or review date until a qualified reviewer can be verified.