Step-by-Step Guide to Changing a Flat Tyre

A flat tyre is an inevitable part of driving. Whether you hit a nasty pothole, run over a rogue nail, or experience a sudden blowout, knowing how to change a tyre yourself is a fundamental skill that will save you time, money, and a lot of stress. While it might seem daunting if you've never done it before, changing a tyre is a relatively straightforward mechanical task.

Here is our comprehensive, step-by-step guide to safely removing a punctured tyre and fitting your spare.

1. Prioritise Safety and Find a Safe Location

The moment you realise you have a flat, do not brake abruptly. Ease off the accelerator, turn on your hazard lights, and gently steer towards the side of the road. Never attempt to change a tyre on a narrow hard shoulder or in flowing traffic. If necessary, slowly drive on the flat tyre until you reach a flat, level, and solid surface, such as a car park or a wide lay-by. The cost of a ruined wheel rim is worth less than your life.

Once parked, apply the handbrake firmly and put the car in first gear (or 'Park' for automatics). If you have passengers, ask them to exit the vehicle and stand far away from the road.

2. Gather Your Tools

Open your boot and locate your spare wheel and the necessary tools. You will usually find these under the floor panel in the boot. You will need:

• The spare tyre (space-saver or full-size).
• A car jack.
• A wheel brace (lug wrench).
• Your locking wheel nut key (if your car is fitted with alloy wheels).

3. Loosen the Wheel Nuts (Before Jacking)

This is a crucial step. It is nearly impossible to loosen tight wheel nuts once the wheel is spinning freely in the air. While the car is still resting firmly on the ground, take your wheel brace and loosen each wheel nut on the flat tyre by about half a turn.

Turn the brace anti-clockwise to loosen. If the nuts are incredibly tight, you may need to carefully use your body weight by stepping on the brace.

4. Jack Up the Car

Consult your vehicle's handbook to find the designated jacking points. These are reinforced areas on the car's chassis, usually located just behind the front wheels and just ahead of the rear wheels.

Place the jack securely under the correct lifting point. Slowly turn the jack handle to raise the car. Continue lifting until the flat tyre is completely clear of the ground (aim for about two inches of clearance) so you have room to mount the fully inflated spare.

5. Remove the Flat Tyre

Now that the wheel is in the air, you can fully unscrew the wheel nuts. Keep them together in a safe place, such as your pocket or the hubcap. Grip the flat tyre with both hands and pull it straight towards you to remove it from the hub. Lay the flat tyre flat on the ground—ideally sliding it under the car next to the jack as an extra safety measure in case the jack slips.

6. Mount the Spare Tyre

Lift the spare tyre and align the holes in the wheel rim with the wheel studs on the hub. Push the wheel firmly onto the hub. Thread the wheel nuts back on by hand as far as you can. This ensures you don't cross-thread them.

Take your wheel brace and tighten the nuts slightly, just enough to hold the wheel flat against the hub. Do not tighten them fully yet.

7. Lower the Car and Tighten Fully

Carefully lower the jack until the new tyre is resting firmly on the ground, taking the weight of the car, but don't remove the jack completely just yet. Now, take your wheel brace and tighten the nuts as much as you can.

Crucial Technique: Tighten the nuts in a star or cross pattern (e.g., top, bottom, left, right). This ensures the wheel is seated evenly and prevents warping.

Once tight, lower the jack the rest of the way and remove it. Give the nuts one final, forceful tightening in the star pattern to ensure they are secure.

8. Stowing and Next Steps

Place your flat tyre, jack, and tools back into the boot. Remember that if your spare is a thin "space-saver" wheel, it will have a strict speed limit (usually 50mph) and is only meant to get you home or to a garage safely.

Your first priority after changing a tyre should be driving to a local tyre shop or garage to have the punctured tyre repaired or replaced, and to have the wheel nuts torqued to the correct specification by a professional.