by Keith Worth

Created on: December 18, 2010   Last Updated: December 21, 2010

Flat tires are a fact of life. They can happen at any time, and often occur without warning.  A blown tire doesn’t have to mean a missed appointment or a ruined day. By following these five steps anyone can be back behind the wheel and moving on with their day with minor delay.

1. Make sure you have the tools for the tools for the job. To change a tire quickly and easily you will need a few things. First and foremost, a spare tire is essential. Check to make sure the spare is in good condition. You will also need a lug wrench and a jack. These three things are critical inventory for any vehicle owner and should always be available.

2. Loosen the four lug nuts with your lug wrench. If you have a hub cab you may have to remove it to complete this step. Do not remove the lug nuts yet, just loosen them. This may take some effort as the lugs nuts can be very tight but remain calm and use an object to hammer on the lug wrench if needed to get the nuts to shift. Remember to turn them counter-clockwise (to the left). Once you have the nuts loosened slightly are you ready to proceed to the next step.

3. Jack the vehicle off the ground. Be mindful of where you put the jack, as there is no one universal location that works for all makes and models. Try to find a spot as close to the blown tire as possible where the jack will not bend or otherwise harm the frame of the vehicle. Once you’ve a location, use the jack to elevate the vehicle to about six inches off the ground.

4. Remove the lug nuts and the tire. It should be as simple as pulling on the tire and it will come free. From there, place the spare tire on and reverse the steps above install the new tire. Be sure that the lug nuts are as tight as you can get them to ensure that vibration and other factors don’t cause the tire to fall off while driving. If you removed your hub caps: be sure to replace them now.

5. Clean up and get going. Load up your old tire and tools in your vehicle and you’re good to go. Be sure not to leave anything on the side of the road as there could be fines resulting from littering.

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