How to Change Car Tires

Casey Louw
Casey Louw
Extended Warranty Specialist
April 25, 2022
6
min. read
tire

It’s important to know how to change car tires, particularly how to change your own car tires. If you have a flat whilst out driving it’s good to be prepared with the right equipment and to know how to change tires on a car. We will also explore the idea of how often to change car tires. It’s not nice to be stranded on the open road with a flat. We will provide you with 10 simple steps on how to change your own car tires.

We will share 10 steps on how to change your own car tires so you can easily change them yourself.

10 Steps on How to Change Your Own Car Tires

A flat tire can happen at any moment, unexpectedly. How to change your tires on a car is similar whether you’re working on a truck, car, van or SUV. We will explore 10 simple steps on how to change car tires.

1.   Pull Over in a Safe Place

Make sure the ground is level so your car won’t roll. If you have pulled over on the side of the road, edge as far over away from traffic as possible. Don’t pull over near a bend, as it will decrease visibility for you and oncoming drivers. If it’s dark and unsafe, try to drive to a safer spot.

2.   Put on Your Hazards and Parking Brake

Put on your hazard lights to make yourself more visible. Put on your parking brake for the same reason, also minimizing the chance that your car will roll.

3.   Check Your Trunk For Materials You May Need

You will need a jack, wrench, and spare tire which you will have placed in your trunk ahead of the time. Extra items that may come in handy are as follows:

4.   You Need to Loosen Your Lug Nuts

If your car has wheel coverings/hubcaps, pry them off. Then use the wrench to loosen the lug nuts in a counter-clockwise direction. Follow this procedure for each lug nut, so they are loose enough to maneuver by hand.

5.   Jack Up Your Vehicle

Put the jack underneath the metal part of your vehicle’s frame. Don’t place it underneath plastic molding. Jack placement varies as per the car you have. Your car’s manual will give the best instructions on jack placement. Once in position, raise the tire you’re changing off the ground. The jack must be perpendicular to the ground area, always.

6.   Fully Remove the Lug Nuts and the Tire

Maneuver the lug nuts counterclockwise until very loose. Then, remove them altogether. Keep them together in a safe space, so you can put them back to secure the tire. After the lug nuts have been removed, your tire can be detached. Place your hands on it and pull it towards your body.

7.   Put the Spare Tire on Your Car

Now you need to align the holes on your spare tire with the lug nut positioning and put the spare tire on the wheelbase. Push it on as far as possible.

8.   Put the Lug Nuts Back in Place

Put the lug nuts back on the spare tire to secure it. Don’t fully tighten them. Your lug nuts need to be secured properly so your tire is secured evenly.

9.   Lower Your Car Down and Begin Tightening the Lug Nuts

Use the jack to lower your car down until the spare tire connects with the ground. This will keep it in place while you tighten the lug nuts. Tighten them in increments and alternate through the process. Assign a number to your lug nuts and tighten them as follows: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, and then repeat. This will ensure your tire is secured on the wheelbase straight.

10. Completely Lower Your Car and Finish Tightening the Lug Nuts

As soon as the lug nuts appear equally tight, lower your vehicle to the ground, completely. Once it’s on the ground properly, you might need to tighten the lug nuts a bit more. Do this in increments until they are fully secured.  Put your tools and old tire back in your trunk.  Those are the 10 tips on how to change tires on a car. They are very handy and make the process manageable.

How Often to Change Car Tires

You may wonder: how often to change car tires? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests drivers should change their cars’ tires every six years. Proper tire inflation is important in maintenance. Keep your tires inflated at the right amount according to your Car’s Manual. Too much or too little inflation can cause uneven or increased wear and tear.

Knowing How To Change Your Own Car Tires is Handy and Knowing the State of Your Car’s Coverage is Necessary Too

If your car needs extended coverage you have come to the right place. Chaiz’s search tool is easy to use and brings up the top protection plans in a number of seconds. You can avoid annoying robocalls with us. We only call you back if you request it. Our marketplace is fully-online and easy to use. It’s also important to be aware of the coverage you have for your vehicle. If you have had your car for a few years, your factory warranty may expire soon. If this is the case we recommend buying extended auto protection with Chaiz.

We offer you various vehicle extended coverage options on Chaiz. The term vehicle service contract is frequently referred to as an extended warranty. We bring you vehicle service contracts provided by third-party providers on Chaiz. You can choose the best extended coverage option for yourself according to your budget and driving needs. The benefits of third-party coverage plans are that they offer affordable options that sometimes come with extra perks, which will be discussed below.

Are There Extra Perks that Come with Extended Auto Coverage?

Some of the protection plans offered by the third-party coverage providers on Chaiz come with extra perks.

These extra perks include:

These extra perks make you feel safer on the road.

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