How to Change a Flat Tire Safely
By Pablo Zaldivar · Junior's Auto Repair, Twin Falls, ID
What You'll Need
⚠️ Before you start: Never change a tire on a highway lane or on a steep slope if you can avoid it. If it's not safe to pull completely off the road, stay in your car with your seatbelt on and call for roadside assistance.
Get safely off the road and turn on your hazard lights
As soon as you realize you have a flat, slow down gradually and steer to a flat, stable surface away from traffic — a parking lot or wide shoulder is ideal. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you have reflective triangles, set them out behind the car.
Apply the parking brake and loosen the lug nuts slightly
Put the car in park and engage the parking brake. Before you lift the car with the jack, use your lug wrench to break the lug nuts loose — just one half-turn each, counterclockwise. It's much harder to loosen them once the wheel is off the ground.
Position the jack under the correct jack point
Your owner's manual will show you exactly where to place the jack — there are reinforced points on the vehicle's frame designed for this. Using the wrong spot can damage your car. Slide the jack into position on solid, level ground.
Raise the vehicle until the flat tire is off the ground
Slowly raise the jack until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground. Never get under a car that's only supported by a jack. Keep people and pets clear while the car is raised.
Remove the lug nuts and take off the flat tire
Finish removing the lug nuts all the way and set them somewhere safe — a pocket or cupped in your hand. Pull the flat tire straight toward you and set it flat on the ground.
Mount the spare and hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern
Lift the spare onto the bolts and push it all the way in. Thread the lug nuts on by hand, then snug them up with the wrench in a star pattern (not a circle) — this keeps the wheel sitting evenly.
Lower the car and fully tighten the lug nuts
Lower the jack until the tire touches the ground, then use your full body weight on the lug wrench to tighten each nut firmly — again in a star pattern. Stow your flat, jack, and tools. If you're on a compact spare ('donut'), keep your speed under 50 mph and don't drive on it for more than 50–70 miles.
Need service? We're ready.
417 Main Ave E · Twin Falls, ID · Mon–Sat 9am–5pm