How to Change a Spare Tire Safely | Chuck Anderson Ford
Roadside Know-How from Chuck Anderson Ford
How to Change a Spare Tire Safely
A flat tire is frustrating, but the right preparation and a calm, careful process can help you get moving again. Use this guide only when you can work well away from traffic on stable, level ground.
If the location is not safe, do not attempt the tire change.
Stay inside the vehicle with your seat belt fastened when practical, turn on the hazard lights, and contact roadside assistance or emergency services. Do not work next to fast-moving traffic, on a narrow shoulder, on a steep grade, or on soft or uneven ground.
Prepare before you need it
What comes with your vehicle—and what may not
Equipment varies by model, trim, model year, and prior ownership. Some vehicles include a compact spare; others use a tire-sealant and inflator kit, and some do not include either. Check your owner's manual and inspect your vehicle now—not after a tire goes flat.
Commonly supplied with the vehicle
Owner's manual with approved jacking points and procedures
Vehicle jack designed for that specific vehicle
Lug wrench or jack-handle/lug-wrench combination
Compact temporary spare or full-size spare, when equipped
Tire sealant and 12-volt inflator kit on some vehicles without a spare
Fuel-funnel or specialty tools on certain models—not necessarily tire-changing tools
Important: A factory inflator kit cannot repair every puncture, sidewall damage, a separated tire, or a tire that has come off the rim. Sealant also expires and should be checked periodically.
Smart items to add yourself
Wheel wedges or sturdy wheel chocks
Reflective safety vest and warning triangles or road flares
Work gloves and a kneeling pad or old towel
Bright flashlight or headlamp with fresh batteries
Accurate tire-pressure gauge and portable inflator
Breaker bar and correctly sized socket, if approved for your wheels
Torque wrench for final tightening to factory specification
Rain poncho, shop towels, and a small weatherproof supply bag
Charged phone, charging cable, and roadside-assistance information
Also verify: If your wheels use locking lug nuts, make sure the wheel-lock key is in the vehicle and that you know where it is stored.
Before a road trip, locate your spare or inflator kit, jack, lug wrench, wheel-lock key, and the manufacturer-approved jacking points.
Step-by-step
How to replace a flat tire with a spare
Your owner's manual is the final authority for your vehicle. If its instructions differ from this general guide, follow the manual.
Move to the safest possible location
Slow down gradually. Pull as far away from traffic as possible onto a firm, level surface. Avoid sudden braking or sharp steering. Turn on the hazard lights, shift into Park (or into first gear/reverse for a manual transmission), apply the parking brake, and turn off the engine.
Make yourself visible
Put on a reflective vest if you have one. Place warning triangles according to their instructions only when it is safe to exit and walk around the vehicle. Keep passengers and pets in a protected location well away from traffic.
Find the spare, tools, and instructions
Consult the owner's manual. The spare and tools may be under the cargo floor, beneath the vehicle, behind an interior panel, or mounted externally. Confirm that the spare appears inflated and usable. Locate the wheel-lock key if needed.
Chock the vehicle and remove the wheel cover
Place wheel wedges in front of and behind the tire diagonally opposite the flat tire. Remove the hubcap or wheel cover if it blocks access to the lug nuts, following the manual so you do not damage it.
Break the lug nuts loose
With the flat tire still touching the ground, fit the wrench fully onto each lug nut and turn counterclockwise. Loosen each nut about one-half turn, but do not remove any yet. Use controlled pressure and keep the wrench square to the nut.
Place the jack at the approved lift point
Find the exact jacking point shown in the owner's manual—often a reinforced area along the pinch weld or frame. Position the jack on firm, level ground and make sure its saddle is correctly engaged.
Never jack against the floor pan, suspension component, battery enclosure, or an unapproved location.
Raise the vehicle
Lift slowly until the flat tire is several inches off the ground and there is enough room for the inflated spare. Watch for vehicle or jack movement. If anything shifts, lower the vehicle and reposition safely.
Never place your hands, feet, or any part of your body under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Never start or run the engine while the vehicle is raised.
Remove the flat tire
Finish removing the loosened lug nuts and place them somewhere clean where they cannot roll away. Grip the tire at roughly the 3- and 9-o'clock positions and pull it straight toward you. Lay it flat so it cannot roll into traffic.
Mount the spare and hand-tighten
Align the spare with the wheel studs or bolt holes and slide it fully into place. Install all lug nuts by hand, turning clockwise. Tighten them in an alternating star or crisscross pattern until snug. Hand-starting helps prevent cross-threading.
Lower, tighten, and pack up
Lower the vehicle until the spare just touches the ground and cannot spin. Tighten the lug nuts in a star or crisscross pattern. Then lower the vehicle completely and remove the jack. Use a torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the exact specification in the owner's manual; if one is unavailable roadside, have the torque checked as soon as possible.
Store the flat tire, jack, tools, wheel cover, and warning equipment securely. Check the area before leaving.
You're not finished yet
What to do after installing the spare
A compact spare is a temporary solution, not a permanent replacement.
Before driving
Confirm the spare is inflated to the pressure printed on the spare or listed in the owner's manual.
Make sure every lug nut is installed and tightened in the proper pattern.
Verify that the jack and all loose items are secured.
Check for unusual wobbling, noise, or warning lights as you begin moving.
On the road
Follow the speed and distance limits printed on the spare tire and stated in the owner's manual.
A common compact-spare limit is 50 mph, but your tire's marking controls.
Drive smoothly and allow extra braking distance; handling and traction may be reduced.
Have the damaged tire repaired or replaced—and the lug-nut torque checked—as soon as possible.
Common questions
Spare tire FAQs
Does every vehicle come with a spare tire?
No. Some vehicles include a compact or full-size spare, some have a sealant-and-inflator kit, and some may include neither. Equipment varies by vehicle. Check the owner's manual, cargo area, and factory equipment list.
Where is my vehicle's jack?
Common storage locations include beneath the cargo floor, behind a trim panel, beneath a rear seat, or with the spare-tire assembly. Your owner's manual identifies the exact location and approved lifting points.
Can I change a tire on a hill or soft shoulder?
No. A jack can shift or sink on sloped, soft, icy, or uneven ground. Move to a firm, level location if the vehicle can be driven safely. Otherwise, remain in a protected location and call roadside assistance.
Can tire sealant fix any flat?
No. Sealant kits are intended only for certain small tread-area punctures. They generally cannot repair sidewall damage, a blowout, a tire separated from the rim, or many larger punctures. Follow the kit instructions exactly.
How often should I check my spare tire?
Check its condition and pressure at least during routine tire maintenance and before long trips. Compact spares often require much higher pressure than road tires. Use the pressure molded on the spare or specified in the owner's manual.
Not sure what your vehicle carries?
The service team at Chuck Anderson Ford can help you locate your factory tire equipment, inspect your spare, explain your vehicle's jacking points, and help with tire repair or replacement.
