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(Updated August 2026: Added roadside safety precautions, wheel-chock guidance, correct jacking and lug-nut procedures, updated spare-tire limits, and guidance for vehicles without a spare.)
Hey there, you’re on the side of the road, aren’t you? Take a breath and check your surroundings before touching the tire.
If the car is close to moving traffic, on a narrow shoulder, around a blind curve, or on unstable ground, do not attempt the change yourself. Move to a safer location if the vehicle can be driven there slowly without losing control. Otherwise, call roadside assistance.
Once you are safely away from traffic, follow these eight steps carefully.
Quick Answer: How Do You Change a Flat Tire?
Park on solid, level ground away from traffic. Turn on the hazard lights, set the parking brake, switch off the engine, and place wheel chocks around the tire diagonally opposite the flat.
Slightly loosen the lug nuts before raising the car. Position the jack only at the jacking point identified in the owner’s manual, install the spare, lower the vehicle until the tire touches the ground, and tighten the lug nuts in a star or cross pattern to the manufacturer’s torque specification.
Never crawl underneath a vehicle supported only by a jack. If the location, weather, traffic, tools, or vehicle condition makes the job unsafe, call roadside assistance.
Tools Needed
You will need:
- Your vehicle owner’s manual
- The correct spare tire
- The vehicle’s approved jack
- A lug wrench
- Wheel chocks
- A tire-pressure gauge
Helpful optional items include:
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Reflective vest and warning triangles
- Work gloves
- A kneeling pad
- Torque wrench
- Rain jacket
Check the spare tire’s pressure before installing it whenever possible. A spare that has been sitting unused for years may be dangerously underinflated.
Not every vehicle includes a spare tire and jack. Some use run-flat tires or a temporary inflator and sealant kit instead. Check the owner’s manual before assuming a spare is hidden somewhere in the car.
8 Steps to Change a Flat Tire
Here are the 8 steps to change a flat tire.
Step 1: Take a Breath and Find a Safe, Level Location
Before changing the tire, slow down and focus on getting out of danger.
Pull as far away from moving traffic as possible and look for solid, level pavement. Avoid soft shoulders, loose gravel, mud, steep slopes, blind curves, and narrow highway shoulders.
If necessary and the tire is still mounted securely, you may drive a very short distance at low speed to reach a safer location. Stop if the tire begins separating, the wheel starts scraping, or the vehicle becomes difficult to control.
Turn on your hazard lights. If you cannot get completely away from traffic or cannot find stable ground, remain somewhere safe and call roadside assistance.
Step 2: Secure the Vehicle and Gather Your Tools
Put an automatic transmission in Park. For a manual transmission, follow the owner’s manual, which will usually direct you to select first gear or reverse.
Set the parking brake firmly, turn off the engine, and remove the key. Ask passengers to exit on the side away from traffic and wait in a safe location.
Place wheel chocks in front of and behind the tire diagonally opposite the flat. For example, if the left-front tire is flat, chock the right-rear tire.
Take out the spare, jack, lug wrench, and owner’s manual. Place the tools where you can reach them without stepping toward traffic.
Step 3: Loosen the Lug Nuts Slightly
Before raising the car, remove the wheel cover or hubcap if it blocks access to the lug nuts.
Fit the lug wrench securely onto each lug nut and turn it counterclockwise. Loosen each nut only about one-quarter to one-half turn. Do not remove any of them yet.
The vehicle’s weight keeps the wheel from spinning while you apply force. If the lug nuts will not move without jumping on the wrench or using unsafe leverage, stop and call for assistance.
Some vehicles use wheel bolts instead of nuts and studs, but the same basic rule applies: loosen them slightly while the wheel is still on the ground.
Step 4: Position the Jack and Raise the Vehicle
Check the owner’s manual for the exact jacking point beside the flat tire. Do not guess based on which piece of metal looks strongest.
Using the wrong location can bend the body, damage the battery or underbody components, or allow the vehicle to slip off the jack.
Place the jack on firm, level ground and make sure its lifting surface is correctly seated against the approved jacking point. Raise the vehicle slowly until the flat tire is several inches off the ground and the inflated spare will fit.
Do not put any part of your body underneath the vehicle. Do not sit inside, start the engine, lean against the car, or allow passengers to remain inside while it is raised.
The emergency jack supplied with the vehicle is designed for changing a wheel, not for supporting the car during repairs underneath it.
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Step 5: Remove the Flat Wheel
Remove the loosened lug nuts or wheel bolts and place them somewhere clean where they cannot roll away.
Grip the wheel with both hands and pull it straight toward you. If it is stuck to the hub, do not crawl underneath the car or strike it aggressively while the vehicle is raised. Reinstall a few lug nuts loosely and call for help if you cannot remove it safely.
Once removed, lay the flat wheel flat on the ground so it cannot roll into traffic.
Step 6: Install the Spare Tire
Lift the spare by holding the tire and align the wheel with the hub studs or wheel-bolt holes.
Push the wheel fully against the hub. Install each lug nut or bolt by hand first to avoid cross-threading.
Tighten them lightly in a star or cross pattern so the wheel sits evenly against the hub. Do not apply final torque while the wheel is still completely off the ground.
Step 7: Lower the Vehicle and Tighten the Lug Nuts Correctly
Lower the vehicle slowly until the spare tire touches the ground firmly enough that it cannot rotate, but do not put the vehicle’s full weight on it yet.
Tighten the lug nuts in a star or cross pattern. Use a torque wrench set to the specification in the owner’s manual whenever one is available.
Do not use “as tight as possible” or whether you grunt as a measurement. Overtightening can damage wheel studs, distort brake components, or make the wheel difficult to remove later. Undertightening can allow the wheel to loosen.
Lower the vehicle completely and remove the jack. Check the lug nuts again in the same pattern.
If you do not have a torque wrench, drive cautiously to a tire shop and have the lug nuts checked to the correct specification as soon as possible.
Step 8: Check the Spare’s Limits and Get the Flat Tire Inspected
A compact temporary spare, often called a donut, is not a permanent replacement tire. Check its sidewall and the owner’s manual for its maximum speed, maximum distance, inflation pressure, and any restrictions on where it can be installed.
Many temporary spares are limited to 50 mph, but the permitted distance is not universally 50 miles. Restrictions vary by vehicle and spare design.
Drive cautiously and avoid hard braking, rapid acceleration, sharp turns, heavy loads, and towing. Go to a qualified tire shop as soon as possible.
A full-size matching spare may have different restrictions, but you should still confirm its age, condition, pressure, and compatibility.
The shop should inspect the flat tire from the inside before deciding whether it can be repaired. A small puncture in the central tread area may be repairable, but sidewall damage, large punctures, severe internal damage, or a tire that was driven while flat may require replacement.
Depending on the remaining tread depth and your vehicle’s drivetrain requirements, the shop may recommend replacing one tire, a pair, or more than one tire.
How to Find Your Jack, Spare Tire, or Inflation Kit
Start with the owner’s manual. It will tell you whether the vehicle has a spare tire, run-flat tires, or a temporary inflator and sealant kit.
In many cars, the spare and jack are underneath the trunk or cargo-area floor. They may also be stored behind a side panel.
On some trucks, SUVs, and vans, the spare hangs underneath the rear of the vehicle and must be lowered with a tool. Other vehicles store it on the tailgate or outside the cargo area.
Many newer vehicles do not include a spare at all. If yours has only an inflator kit, follow its instructions carefully. Sealant kits cannot fix every type of damage, especially a torn sidewall, a large puncture, or a tire that has separated from the wheel.
Check the spare’s inflation pressure during normal tire maintenance. Waiting until a roadside emergency is a bad time to discover that it is flat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to change a tire on the highway shoulder?
Only if you can get completely away from traffic onto solid, level ground. If the shoulder is narrow, traffic is passing close to the vehicle, or you cannot safely reach the damaged wheel, call roadside assistance.
Should I use the parking brake when changing a tire?
Yes. Put the vehicle in Park or the gear specified in the manual, set the parking brake, and use wheel chocks to reduce the chance of movement.
How tight should the lug nuts be?
Tighten them in a star or cross pattern to the torque specification listed in the owner’s manual. Do not rely on guesswork, body weight, or an impact wrench alone.
Can I drive normally on a donut spare?
No. Follow the speed and distance restrictions printed on the spare and listed in the owner’s manual. Temporary spares can affect handling, braking, traction, and stability.
Can every flat tire be repaired?
No. Repairability depends on the location and size of the puncture and whether the tire was driven while flat. Sidewall damage and many run-flat or severely damaged tires require replacement.
What if my car does not have a spare tire?
Use the manufacturer-provided inflator kit or run-flat procedure only if the damage qualifies. Otherwise, contact roadside assistance or arrange a tow.
Get the Spare Checked and the Flat Tire Inspected
Congratulations on changing your flat tire. If this was your first time, pat yourself on the back. It is an important skill for any driver.
Before getting back to normal driving, confirm that the spare is properly inflated and that the lug nuts are tightened to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification.
Follow the spare’s speed and distance limits and take the damaged tire to a qualified shop as soon as possible. The spare gets you out of an emergency. It does not finish the repair.
If the roadside location ever feels unsafe, leave the tire change to roadside assistance. Saving time or towing costs is never worth working inches away from moving traffic.
