How to change a tyre
At some stage, your car will need to have a new tyre fitted, whether that’s because the old ones have worn down and aren’t safe anymore, or because you’ve had a puncture or blowout. Whatever the case, knowing how to change a car tyre is a useful skill to have – because the need doesn’t always arise in close proximity to a handy mechanic.
Technically speaking, what most people refer to as changing a tyre is in fact changing the wheel, as you need specialist equipment to get the actual tyre on and off of the wheel itself. If you have a spare with your vehicle, it will be a spare wheel and tyre, and you’ll just swap both together when you need to use it.
Since tyres last for a long time, it might have been a while since you last had to change one. Below, we explain how you can easily change your own car tyre.
How to change a car tyre
First things first, if you’re going to change your tyre, you’ll need to have a spare to hand. Some cars come with these as standard, but many modern makes do not – it’s worth checking this before you travel so you know what items you have in case of the unexpected.
You’ll also need the right tools to do the job. These include:
- Wheel chocks (to stop the car from rolling when jacked up – bricks can be used instead)
- Jack (to raise the affected tyre off the ground)
- Wheel nut key (to open locking nuts if your car has these)
- Wrench (to remove the wheel nuts)
- Vehicle handbook (to find the dedicated jacking point for the affected wheel)
- Tyre pressure gauge (to check the new tyre is fully inflated).
Top tip! It’s wise to keep extra items like torches and reflective clothing in your car so that you can safely change a tyre at night.
Once you’ve got all your tools together and you’re parked in a safe place on the flat, you can begin the process of changing your tyre. Always make sure you’re parked somewhere safe – never change a tyre on the road or on the motorway, as you’d be at risk of injury from oncoming traffic. If you think it’s not safe or you’re not sure, call for recovery assistance instead of putting yourself in danger.
- Prepare your vehicle
Make sure your handbrake is on and your car is in first gear (manual transmission) or park (automatic). Turn the engine off and make sure all passengers and any heavy items like luggage are out of the car.
Use your wheel chocks (or handy bricks or large rocks, if needed) to secure the car’s position. At the very least, you’ll need to place a chock on the opposite wheel to the one you’re working on – so if you’re replacing your front left tyre, you’ll need a chock on the rear right one. If you have enough chocks, though, it’s best to place them on both of either the front or rear wheels as appropriate.
- Loosen the wheel nuts
You may need to lever off your wheel trim and open the locking nuts first. Then use your wrench to turn the nuts anticlockwise until they’re moving easily enough that you can turn them by hand.
Do not remove the wheel nuts at this stage.
- Jack the car up
Consult your vehicle handbook to find the dedicated jacking point for the wheel you’re working on. This helps to ensure a safer lift, as you’re using the intended area. Jack the car up roughly 10 to 15cm (4 to 6 inches) off the ground.
Top tip! If your jack isn’t steady on the ground, use a small plank of wood or similar material to give it a smooth, flat surface.
- Replace the tyre
Loosen the wheel nuts the rest of the way and remove the existing tyre by pulling it gently towards you. Place it flat on the ground – don’t stand it up as it may roll into the path of oncoming traffic and cause a hazard.
Mount the spare wheel into place – remember, it can be heavy, so you may prefer a friend to help you if possible. Once it’s in position, pop the wheel nuts back on and tighten them by hand. Then lower the car just enough for the tyre to touch the ground, and fully tighten the nuts with your wrench.
- Do the final checks
Lower the car back onto the wheels fully and remove the jack. Using your wrench, give each of the nuts a final turn to make sure they’re tight.
Use your tyre pressure gauge to check that the new tyre is inflated to the proper pressure – if it isn’t, inflate it or deflate it as needed. Then you can put all your tools and the old tyre back in the boot and continue with your journey.
As soon as you can, you should visit your local autocentre or tyre fitters to have your old tyre looked at. In some cases, it may be possible to have it repaired; in others, a replacement might be necessary.
Important! If your spare tyre is a space-saver, it’s designed for emergency use and shouldn’t be driven on for any longer than you absolutely need to. You should also keep to a maximum speed of 50 mph, as the difference in size between a space-saver and the rest of your tyres will make your vehicle more unstable at higher speeds. Replace your space-saver with a regular tyre at your earliest opportunity.
How long does it take to change a tyre?
As the above method shows, changing your car’s tyre isn’t a complicated process – but because you don’t have to do it very often, you might find you’re a little rusty when the time comes. Plus, if you need to change the tyre because of a puncture or a blowout, shock can leave you feeling shaky and mean it takes a little longer to get the job done.
Whatever the case, don’t be tempted to rush the procedure just to get on your way quicker. Take your time, and double check the steps if you can’t remember what to do next. If you really feel you’re not up to it, call an experienced mechanic to take care of it for you to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive.
UPDATED
