How to Change a Tyre: A Step-by-Step Guide | Eurorepar

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How to Change a Tyre: A Step-by-Step Guide

Man Changing a Tyre

Photo Credit: Pexels Andrea Piacquadio

Changing a tyre is never convenient and can seem like a daunting prospect, especially if you have a blow out and you need to change one on the spot. But, don’t panic, because it’s actually fairly straightforward.

Yet with as many as 50% of all UK drivers unable to do it, it’s a skill many people need to learn. So, here’s our essential step-by-step guide on how to change a car tyre. Keep reading to learn how to change a flat tyre, your essential tools, and what to do afterwards to stay safe on the roads.  

Contents

 

 

The tools you need

Check whether your car has the following list of tools and if not, buy them to create your own wheel tyre changing kit to ensure that you are equipped to change a tyre if you need to.

  1. A spare wheel: When you change a tyre, you’re really changing the whole wheel. Make sure you have the correct model and size and that it is fully inflated.

  2. The car’s handbook: This may give you specific advice for the model of car and tell you where tools like the jack are located.

  3. A jack: This is used to raise the car, so you can take the wheel off easily.

  4. A wheel wrench: Used to take the nuts off the wheels.

  5. Wheel wedges: These are placed against the wheel diagonally opposite the one being changed to stop the car moving. Your car may come with these already, but if you don’t have any, look for any solid object you can wedge against the wheel to stop it moving, like a large rock.

  6. Gloves: Wheels are dirty and can have sharp edges, so we advise wearing a pair of work gloves when changing a tyre.

  7. Other tools specific to your car: Some cars also come with tools like a nut key to unlock nuts or a wheel alignment tool. If your car has these, the handbook will explain where they are and how to use them.

You may also want to add a torch and a high-visibility jacket for safety, plus a mat to kneel on too.

If you’re reading this by the side of the road, and you don’t have all the tools you need to change a tyre, don’t attempt to do so. You’ll need to call an emergency roadside assistance service or a friend who does have the tools, depending on the seriousness and urgency of the situation.

How long does it take to change a tyre?

This varies by person and by model of car. Typically, once you’ve prepared your car and are facing the blown tyre, it can take between 10 and 30 minutes to change it.

How to change a car tyre: Step-by-step

If you don’t even know where to start when it comes to changing a tyre, keep reading for our expert step-by-step guide.

Step 1: Park the car in a safe place

  1. Park away from traffic: Don’t attempt a tyre change on the motorway hard shoulder, or anywhere you’re at risk, if you can avoid it.

  2. Park on firm, level ground: Don’t try to change a tyre on an incline, or on soft or loose ground, as the car could slide off its jack.

Step 2: Prepare the car

  1. Switch off the engine

  2. Put the hand break on

  3. Put a manual car into first gear, or an automatic car into park

  4. Turn your hazard lights on

  5. Place a warning triangle 45 meters behind the car, if you have one

  6. Get all passengers out of the car and into a safe location

  7. Take the tools and spare wheel out of the car, lay them down in front of the wheel you need to change

Use your wheel wedges

  1. Place a wheel wedge in front of and behind the wheel diagonally opposite the one being changed

  2. Use another solid object if you don’t have wheel wedges, like a brick or a stable piece of wood

Wheel Wedge Changing Tyre

Image by Manfred Richter from Pixabay 

Step 4: Loosen the wheel nuts

  1. It’s safest to loosen the nuts when the car is still level

  2. Lever off the wheel trims if your car has them

  3. Turn the wrench anticlockwise to loosen the nuts – don’t entirely remove them

Step 5: Lift the car using the jack

  1. All cars have jack points where a jack can be placed to avoid damaging the car’s body. You may see it indicated near each wheel. Check the handbook to be sure

  2. Position the jack at the jack point closet to the wheel being changed

  3. Turn the jack slowly and carefully to raise the wheel around 10cm off the ground

Step 6: Remove the wheel

  1. Use the wrench to loosen the nuts all the way, then take them off and lay them on the ground where they won’t be lost or knocked

  2. Pull the wheel slowly towards you to take it all the way off

  3. Place the removed wheel flat on the ground so it can’t roll away

Step 7: Mount the spare wheel

  1. Line-up the bolts of the car with the holes in the middle of the wheel, then carefully slide it into place

  2. Make sure the wheel is fully-on

  3. Turn the bolts clockwise to tighten them part of the way, either with your hand or with the wheel wrench

Step 8: Lower the car and tighten the nuts

  1. Use the jack to lower the wheel until it’s just touching the ground

  2. Tighten the nuts all the way with the wrench

Step 9: Lower the car all the way

  1. Lower the car all the way down using the jack

  2. Remove the jack

  3. Give the nuts one last check to make sure they’re tightened all the way

  4. Put the old wheel in the boot

  5. Put all the tools away in their relevant places

  6. Replace the warning triangle, turn your hazard lights off and get everyone back in the car

Step 10: Check the pressure of the new tyre

  1. Use a tyre pressure gauge if you have one

  2. If not, drive carefully to the nearest petrol station to use the pressure gauge there

  3. Put more air in the tyre, if needed, using your own pump or the pump at a petrol station

Step 11: Take your car to a mechanic

A mechanic will:

  1. Check the wheel you’ve replaced to make sure it’s safe to drive on

  2. Repair or replace the punctured tyre

And there you have it. We hope you’ve found our expert guide to changing a tyre easy and simple to follow. If you’ve replaced a tyre and need to see a mechanic, you can bring your car to your nearest Eurorepar centre.

 

 

 

 

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