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    Tools for changing a tyre next to a white car

    Drive

    How to change a tyre

    Published Jan 2025

    3 min read

    Text size

    Published Jan 2025

    Text size

    No idea how to change a flat tyre? Because you never know when a flat might let you down, here’s a step-by-step guide to get you back on the road fast. And to find out what to watch out for along the way, check out some of the common mistakes made when changing a tyre.

    And to find out what to watch out for along the way, check out some of the common mistakes made when changing a tyre.

    RELATED:Spare tyres - what you need to know »

    1. Flat ground, hazard lights on

    To safely change a tyre, you’ll need to be on flat, hard ground. Firmly apply the handbrake and turn on your hazard lights if you’re on the side of the road. Before you start, check the condition of your spare tyre.

    2. Wheel chocks

    Place wheel chocks on the tyre opposite to the flat to stop the car from rolling when it’s jacked up. You can use a brick, a piece of wood or even a rock if you don’t have a wheel chock.

    3. Remove hubcap

    Remove the hubcap of the flat tyre. You may need to prise it off with the sharp end of the wrench or a similar tool.

    4. Loosen lug nuts

    Using the wrench, loosen all lug nuts by applying force in an anticlockwise direction but don’t take them off completely. Get them to a point where you can turn them by hand.

    5. Raise the car

    Check your car owner’s manual to see exactly where to place the jack. If you jack up a car in the wrong spot, it can come crashing down and injure you. Using the jack, slowly raise the car until it’s at least 6cm off the ground, allowing enough room to get the flat tyre off and the inflated spare tyre on.

    6. Replace flat with spare

    Remove the loosened nuts, firmly grip the flat tyre by the outer edges and slowly pull it toward you to take it off. Line up your spare tyre with the car’s bolts or holes, lift it up then slide it onto the hub. Replace the nuts and tighten them but don’t over-tighten.

    7. Lower the car

    Slowly lower the car using the jack. Once all the weight is off the jack, remove it from underneath the car.

    8. Fully tighten lug nuts

    Use your wrench to tighten the lugs the rest of the way. They should be fully secure but not over-tightened. It’s worth rechecking that the nuts are still tight after the car has been driven 5 – 10km and checking the tyre pressure on the spare tyre.

    You can also watch our "How to change a tyre" video:

    Need new tyres?

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    Last updated November, 2020

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    Tyre on wheel chocks
    Raise the car with the jack
    Remove hubcap
    Turn hazard lights on when changing a tyre
    Raise the car with the jack
    Remove tyre bolts
    Lower the car with the jack
    Fully tighten tyre nuts