Have you ever been stuck on the side of the road with a wheel on the ground? Do you want to learn how to change it without having to ask for help? This is a fairly simple task; you just need to know how to do it and be willing to work a little.
Steps
Step 1. Find a flat, stable and safe surface to change the tire
You need a solid, level surface to keep the car from moving. If you are close to the roadway, try to park as far away from traffic as possible and turn on the hazard lights (improperly called "four arrows"). Avoid soft terrain and sloping roads.
Step 2. Apply the handbrake and place the shift lever in "P"
If you have a car with a manual gearbox, shift into first gear or reverse.
Step 3. Place a heavy object (such as a rock, concrete brick, spare tire, and so on) in front of the front and rear wheels
Step 4. Remove the spare tire and jack from the trunk
Insert the jack under the frame, near the tire to be replaced, and check that it makes contact with a metal portion of the frame.
- Many cars have a plastic skirt along the base. If you don't fit the jack in the right place, you could break the plastic as you start lifting the car. If you don't know where exactly to insert the accessory, read the machine's user manual.
- On modern self-supporting cars there should be a small incision or mark on the bodywork in front of the front and rear wheels. This indicates where to insert the jack.
- With most vans and older cars that have a traditional frame you have to try to place the jack on a metal element of the frame itself, just in front of the front or rear tire.
Step 5. Raise the jack just enough to support the car without lifting it off the ground
The tool should fit snugly under the machine; Also make sure it is perpendicular to the ground.
Step 6. Remove the hubcap and loosen the nuts by turning them counterclockwise
Do not unscrew them completely, just overcome the resistance of the tightening. Leave the tire in contact with the ground when you loosen the nuts, so the force you apply will turn the nuts and not the wheel itself.
- Use the key that comes with the car's emergency instrumentation or get a traditional cross wrench. The instrument may have different sized sleeves at each end. The one of the right size should fit effortlessly on the head of the nut, without however having a certain "play".
- Try to prepare for any unforeseen events by always carrying with you the right size compass for the bolts mounted on your car, as well as an extension for the key handle.
- It will take quite a bit of force to loosen the nuts. If there is no other solution, you can even use your body weight or hit the key with your foot (making sure to push it in the correct direction, counterclockwise). However, both of these techniques are risky as they could strip the nut, as it is difficult to maintain full contact.
Step 7. Rotate the crank or operate the jack mechanism to lift the wheel off the ground
Just raise it enough to remove the rubber and insert the spare.
- As you lift it, make sure the car is stable. If you notice any signs of instability, lower the jack and fix the problem before proceeding.
- If the jack rises in a sloped or angled direction, lower it again and change its position so that it rises perpendicular to the ground.
- It is always a good idea to keep a small jack in the car in case the jack fails when changing the wheel. For safety reasons you can also use the jack at the same time as the jack.
Step 8. Remove the nuts completely
Rotate them counterclockwise until they are completely unscrewed. Repeat the same operation for all the others.
Although rare, some vehicles have reverse thread wheel nuts. Typically these are very old Chrysler and GM models
Step 9. Remove the wheel
Put that deflated one under the vehicle so that it offers some protection and hopefully repairs you from injury should the jack fail. If the jack is resting on a solid, level base, you shouldn't run into any problems.
The wheel may be "glued" to the hub due to rust. You can try to hit the inner portion using a rubber mallet and try to loosen it or use the spare tire to hit the outer half
Step 10. Insert the spare tire onto the hub
Pay attention to align the rim with the bolts and then screw in the nuts.
- Check that the wheel is mounted correctly and not the other way around. The "wheel" valve stem must face outward, away from the vehicle.
- If your car is equipped with chamfered hex nuts, then it's easy to get confused and put them backwards. For this reason, always make sure that the thinnest part is facing the wheel when tightening.
Step 11. Tighten the nuts by hand until they no longer rotate
You shouldn't encounter any difficulties at first.
- Finally, tighten them as much as possible with the help of the wrench and following a star pattern. To make sure the wheel is balanced, do not fully tighten each nut in one go. Follow a star pattern, switching from one nut to the one in front and turning it one turn each time until all are tightened equally.
- Do not apply excessive force to the point where the jack moves. You must finish tightening the nuts only when the car is back on the ground and there is no risk of it falling.
Step 12. Lower the car without placing all its weight on the new wheel
Tighten the nuts as much as possible.
Step 13. Return the machine to the ground completely and remove the jack
Finish tightening the nuts and refit the hub cap.
Step 14. Put the damaged wheel in the trunk and take it to the tire dealer
Ask for a quote for the repair. In general, small punctures can be solved with a minimum cost of less than 15 euros. If it is not possible to fix the tire, the tire dealer will dispose of it and sell you a new tire.
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Advice
- Check the spare tire occasionally to make sure it is inflated to the right pressure.
- Familiarize yourself with the tire change procedure and the specific details of your car before it is really necessary and you find yourself with a flat wheel; in this way you will not have to "learn in the field", on the side of the road, in the dark or in the rain.
- When replacing the retaining nuts, remember that the tapered part must face towards the wheel. In this way the wheel remains centered and the nuts locked.
- If your wheels are equipped with anti-theft nuts, remember to store the special key in an easy-to-reach place, as you will need it to replace the tire.
- Rotate your tires according to the manufacturer's instructions and times to prevent common problems when changing a flat tire.
- When loosening and tightening the nuts, arrange the cross wrench so that you can push the tool down using the force of gravity. This way you eliminate the risk of injuring your back and at the same time you can use your body weight and not just arm strength. For good leverage, push the end of the key. You can also use one foot, but make sure you keep your balance and support yourself by leaning against the car.
- Sometimes the wheels are stuck on the hub making it difficult to remove them. If this happens, you will need to use a sledgehammer and a 5 x 10 cm piece of wood to remove the stuck rim. By regularly changing the position of the tires you can prevent this problem.
Warnings
- Always be aware of your surroundings. If you are on a busy road, be especially careful of oncoming vehicles on the same road as you, as they may get too close. Every year hundreds of people lose their lives while changing tires on the side of the road; do not work under these conditions, unless it is unavoidable.
- For safety reasons, place an object such as a log or a large stone under the vehicle after jacking it up and before removing the wheel. This way the car will not suddenly fall in case the jack moves or slips from its seat before you have been able to fit the new tire. Place this object close to a structural part of the car and not too far from the wheel on the ground.
- Most of the spare tires (the so-called "wheel") are not designed to support speeds above 80 km / h or to travel long distances. If you exceed this maximum speed you run serious risks, such as breaking the wheel. Instead, drive slowly and carefully until you reach the nearest tire dealer who can replace or repair the tire.
