To change a car tire safely, park on a flat, safe spot, secure the car, swap the wheel using the jack and spare, then tighten the nuts and get the damaged tire professionally repaired or replaced soon after.
Get safe and set up
- Pull off the road to a flat, firm area away from traffic, turn on hazard lights, and set the parking brake; put the car in “Park” (automatic) or 1st gear (manual).
- Chock or block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat tire to reduce the chance of the car rolling.
- Get out the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench from the trunk or storage area, and quickly check the spare for obvious damage or very low pressure.
Loosen nuts and raise car
- If there is a hubcap, pry it off, then use the wrench to loosen (but not remove) the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise while the wheel is still on the ground.
- Find the jacking point near the flat tire in the owner’s manual or on the car’s frame, place the jack there, and raise the vehicle until the flat tire is just off the ground.
- Never put any part of the body under the vehicle while it is supported only by a jack.
Swap the wheel
- Remove the loosened lug nuts completely and keep them in a safe place, then pull the flat wheel straight off the hub.
- Lift the spare wheel onto the hub, align the holes with the studs or bolt holes, and push it on fully.
- Thread the lug nuts back on by hand and snug them in a criss-cross or star pattern, not all the way tight yet.
Lower and tighten
- Lower the car with the jack until the tire just touches the ground and cannot spin freely, then tighten the lug nuts firmly in a star pattern using the wrench.
- Fully lower the vehicle, remove the jack, and give each lug nut a final firm tightening in the same star pattern.
- Refit any hubcap that fits the spare, and put away the tools and the flat tire in the trunk.
After you’re rolling again
- Drive cautiously and avoid high speeds; most “donut” spares are meant only for short distances and typically up to about 50 mph.
- Go as soon as possible to a tire shop to repair or replace the damaged tire and to set all tire pressures to the recommended values.
- If at any point you feel unsafe or the conditions are poor (heavy traffic, soft ground, poor jack support), call roadside assistance instead of changing the tire yourself.
