What you need before you start
Changing a tire takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you have the right tools and know the steps. You will need a jack (usually comes with your car), a lug wrench (the cross-shaped tool that fits your wheel bolts), and a spare tire. Check your owner's manual to find where these are stored in your vehicle — most cars keep them in the trunk or under the cargo floor.
Before you start, move your car to a flat, stable surface away from traffic if possible. Turn on your hazard lights. If you are on a highway, pull as far onto the shoulder as you can. Do not attempt a tire change on a steep hill or in heavy traffic.
Gather your tools and the spare tire and lay them on the ground near the flat tire. If the ground is soft or muddy, place a board or flat rock under the jack to prevent it from sinking. Check that your spare tire has air in it — a flat spare will not help you.
Key Takeaways
- Loosen the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground, then raise the car with the jack before removing the wheel completely.
- The jack should be placed on the frame or jacking point under your car, never on plastic trim or the door — your owner's manual shows the exact spot.
- Remove all five lug nuts (or however many your car has) and set them in a cup or container so you do not lose them on the ground.
- Mount the spare tire by aligning the holes with the bolts, push it on firmly, and hand-tighten the lug nuts before lowering the car.
- After lowering the car, tighten the lug nuts in a star or cross pattern, not in a circle, so the wheel sits evenly.
Loosening the lug nuts before you lift
This step is critical and straightforward to skip — do it while the tire is still on the ground. Use your lug wrench to loosen (but do not remove) each lug nut by turning it counterclockwise. You may need to put your weight on the wrench to break them free, especially if they were installed with power tools at a shop.
Loosen all the lug nuts a quarter or half turn each. They should spin freely by hand after that, but do not take them all the way off yet. If you remove them now, they will roll away or get lost, and you will be stuck with a wheel off the ground and no way to find it.
Raising the car with the jack
Find the jacking point on your car — this is a reinforced spot on the frame designed to support the jack. Your owner's manual shows exactly where it is, usually near the wheel well. Do not place the jack under plastic trim, the door, or the bumper. These will crack or collapse under the weight of the car.
Position the jack under the jacking point and raise the car slowly until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground. You should be able to fit your hand under the tire. Stop and check that the car is stable before you continue. If the jack is on soft ground, it may sink — if that happens, lower the car, place a board under the jack, and try again.
Removing the wheel and mounting the spare
Now remove the lug nuts completely and set them in a cup, small container, or even a hubcap so they stay together. Remove the flat tire by pulling it straight toward you. It may be stuck — rock it gently side to side to loosen it, or tap the rim with the heel of your shoe.
Lift the spare tire and align the holes with the bolts sticking out from the hub. Push the spare onto the bolts firmly until it sits flush against the hub. Hand-tighten all the lug nuts to hold the wheel in place. They do not need to be tight yet — just tight enough that the wheel will not fall off when you lower the car.
Lowering the car and final tightening
Lower the car slowly by turning the jack handle or crank. Once the spare tire is touching the ground and the car is resting on it, lower the jack all the way and remove it from under the car.
Now tighten the lug nuts fully using the lug wrench. The key is to tighten them in a star or cross pattern, not in a circle. If your wheel has five lug nuts, tighten the top one, then the bottom one, then the left one, then the right one, then the remaining one. This ensures the wheel sits evenly on the hub. Tighten each nut firmly — you want them snug, but do not use all your strength and risk stripping the bolt.
What to do after you change the tire
Put the flat tire, jack, and lug wrench back in your car. Drive slowly to a tire shop or service station — most spare tires are temporary and not meant for highway speeds or long distances. Check your owner's manual for the speed and distance limits of your spare.
Have the flat tire inspected and repaired if possible. If it cannot be repaired, you will need to buy a replacement. Once you have a full-size tire back on the car, have a technician re-tighten the lug nuts with a torque wrench to the correct specification — this ensures they are tight enough but not over-tightened, which can damage the bolts.
When to call for roadside help instead
If the lug nuts are stuck and will not budge, do not force the wrench — you may break it or hurt yourself. If the jack is sinking into soft ground and you cannot stabilize it, stop and call for help. If you are on a busy highway and traffic is heavy, it is safer to call roadside information and wait inside your car than to change the tire yourself.
If your spare tire is flat or missing, or if your jack is broken or missing, you cannot change the tire yourself. Call roadside information, a towing service, or a nearby tire shop. Many insurance policies and roadside information memberships cover this call, so check your policy before you pay out of pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tight should the lug nuts be?
Tight enough that you cannot turn them by hand, but not so tight that you need to stand on the wrench or use a hammer. The correct tightness depends on your car's make and model — your owner's manual lists the torque specification in foot-pounds. A tire shop can tighten them to the exact specification with a torque wrench after you have the flat tire repaired.
Can I change a tire in the rain or snow?
Yes, but it is harder and slower. Wear gloves to keep your hands dry and warm. Make sure the ground under the jack is stable — wet or snowy ground can shift. If you are on a highway in heavy snow or ice, it is safer to call for help and wait in your car than to risk being hit by passing traffic.
What if the spare tire looks old or cracked?
A spare tire with visible cracks, bulges, or dry rot should not be driven on. If your spare looks damaged, call roadside information or a towing service instead of attempting to drive on it. Have the spare inspected and replaced if needed before you rely on it again.
Do I need to tighten the lug nuts again after driving?
Yes. After driving a few miles on a newly changed tire, stop and re-tighten the lug nuts. The wheel may have settled slightly, and the nuts may have loosened a bit. Check them again after 50 miles if you are driving on a temporary spare.
What if I cannot get the flat tire off the rim?
Rock the tire gently side to side while pulling toward you. If it is still stuck, tap the rim lightly with the heel of your shoe or a rubber mallet. Do not hit it hard — you can damage the rim. If it will not come loose after a few minutes, call for roadside help rather than risk breaking the rim or the bolts.