How to change a tire?

Change tire a car is an operation that can occur several times in the life of a motorist. If you have a spare tire or a space saver, you can change the tire yourself. However, be careful: the pancake does not allow you to drive hundreds of kilometers. Also don't forget to check the spare tire periodically: you don't know when you will need to change the wheel!

Material:

• New tire or spare wheel
• socket
• Cross Key

Step 1. Ensure your safety

A punctured tire while driving can be surprising if the puncture was sudden. On a slow puncture, you will first of all feel that your car is pulling on one side, with a flat tire. If installed in your car, the pressure sensor will light up with a warning light on the dashboard.

If you need to change a car tire on the side of the road, park in a way that does not interfere with other motorists. Turn on the hazard warning lights and set the hazard triangle 30-40 meters in front of the vehicle.

Engage the handbrake on your car and consider wearing a reflective vest so other motorists can see you clearly even in broad daylight. Do not change the tire on the side of the road if it does not allow you to work safely.

Step 2. Stop the car on a firm, level road.

The first thing to do is to put the car on a level road so that it does not move. Similarly, try to change the tire on a hard surface, otherwise the jack may sink into the ground. Your vehicle must also have the engine off and the parking brake applied.

You can also shift into gear to lock the front wheels. In the case of an automatic transmission, engage the first or park position.

Step 3: Remove the cap.

Remove the jack and spare wheel. Then start by removing the cap from the wheel to gain access to the nuts. Just pull on the cover to release the cover. Insert your fingers through the holes in the hood and pull sharply.

Step 4: Loosen the wheel nuts.

Using a Phillips wrench or an expansion wrench, loosen all wheel nuts one or two turns without removing them. You need to turn counterclockwise. It is easier to loosen the nuts when the car is still on the ground because this helps to lock the wheels and prevent them from rotating.

Step 5: Jack up the car

You can now jack up the car. To avoid any problem, place the jack in a designated spot called the jack point or lifting point. Indeed, if you don't install the jack in the right place, you risk damaging your car or body.

Most cars have a notch or mark slightly in front of the wheels: this is where you need to place the jack. Some cars have a plastic cover here.

Depending on the jack model, inflate or turn the wheel to raise the tire. Raise the machine until the wheels are off the ground. If you are changing a tire with a flat tire, consider raising the car a few more inches because the inflated wheel will be larger than the flat tire.

Step 6: remove the wheel

Finally, you can finish loosening the bolts, always counterclockwise. Remove them completely and set aside so that the tire can be removed.

To do this, pull the wheel outward to move it out of place. We recommend that you place the tire under the vehicle because if the jack comes loose, you will protect the axle of your vehicle. Indeed, the rim is much cheaper than the axle.

Step 7: Install a new tire

Place the new wheel on its axle, being careful to line up the holes. Then start hand tightening the bolts without using excessive force. Also remember to clean the bolts and threads to make sure they are clean and that dust or stones will not interfere with tightening.

Step 8: screw in all the bolts

You can now tighten all of the tire bolts with a wrench. Be careful, it is important to follow the correct order of tightening the rim nuts. Indeed, tightening should be done with an asterisk, that is, you should always tighten the bolt against the last bolt tightened. This is to ensure that the tire is securely attached to the axle.

Likewise, be careful not to overtighten the bolts, otherwise the vehicle may become unbalanced or break the threads. It is best to use a torque wrench to tell you the correct tightening. Tighten the bar bolts to secure.

Step 9: get back in the car

After changing the tire, you can finally gently lower the car with the jack. Do not forget to remove the tire installed under the vehicle first. Once the vehicle is lowered, complete the tightening of the bolts: as in the reverse direction, it is easier to tighten them well when the vehicle is on the ground.

Step 10: replace the cap

Place the old tire in the trunk: a mechanic can fix it if it is a very small hole, depending on its location (sidewall or tread). Otherwise, the tire will be disposed of in the garage.

Finally, put the cap back in place to complete the tire change. That's it, now you have a new wheel! We remind you, however, that the spare cake is not intended for long-term use: it is an additional solution while you go to the garage. This is a temporary tire and you must not exceed the maximum speed (usually 70 to 80 km / h).

If you have a real spare tire, it can work as usual. However, have a mechanic checked as the pressure in the spare wheel is often different. Since tire wear also varies, you can lose traction and stability.

Now you know how to change a tire! Unfortunately, a flat tire is an event that happens in the life of a motorist. So don't forget to have a spare tire in the car, as well as a jack and a wrench, so you can change the wheel if necessary. Always make sure to do it safely.