How to change a car tyre

Before you start, preparation is important

• If you haven't changed a tyre before, consider a practice run.  It’s important to try this on a flat surface for safety reasons.
• Keep a small plastic sheet in the car to kneel on, a pair of gloves to protect your hands and a torch with spare batteries. If you don’t have a plastic sheet you can always use a floor mat instead.
• Read the car manual.
• Regularly check the spare tyre pressure.
• If the car is being used by more than one driver, make sure that the tools and jack are in the right place and that they are in good working condition.
• Always consider safety first – be seen and use the car’s hazard lights.
• Never attempt to change a tyre if your personal safety is at risk or if the tools are missing or are in poor condition

Step-by-step instructions for changing a car tyre

1. Make sure no one is inside the vehicle.
2. Apply the handbrake and put the vehicle in park (if automatic) or in gear (if manual).
3. Block the wheels on the side not being lifted.
4. Remove the hub cap or wheel cover if fitted. Some vehicles (mostly 4WDs) will have a centre cover – remove this to make the wheel nuts accessible.
5. Loosen the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench while the vehicle is on the ground. Do not remove them at this point.
6. If the nuts are too tight to loosen by hand, apply pressure to the wheel wrench with your foot, ensuring that it’s in a horizontal position for your own safety. Here’s another tip – Lefty loosey, righty tighty!
7. Place the jack underneath the jacking point of your vehicle on firm flat ground and slowly raise the vehicle. Refer to your car manual if you’re unsure of the jacking point location.
8. Remove the nuts and wheel, pulling the wheel towards you with both hands.
9. Lift the spare tyre into place. If using a space saver, it’s important to note that this is a temporary tyre and it’s not intended to be driven long distances or at speeds over 80km/h.
10. Replace all wheel nuts, making sure these go on the right way - taper towards the wheel and tighten snugly.
11. Lower the vehicle and tighten the wheel nuts using your wheel wrench. Again, you can stand on the wrench handle if needed.
12. Refit the hubcap, wheel cover or centre cover.
13. Take the punctured wheel to a tyre shop for repair or replacement.

TIP: When finished, you can also use the plastic sheet that you kneel on to protect your boot from the flat dirty tyre.

Changing tyres on tricky car models

Some models do not have studs extending from the hub to hang the wheel on. This is often the case for European cars. Instead, their wheels have centring flanges with small pins which help you to position the wheel. The tool kit includes a longer pin which screws into a bolt hole. Lifting the wheel onto this lines it up perfectly but it helps if there are two of you – one person to manoeuvre the wheel, and the other to guide you.

To prevent theft, many alloy wheels have locking nuts which won't fit a standard socket or wheel brace. When buying a car with alloys, check its wheel brace or socket matches the alloy’s locking nuts.

Fitting a heavy wheel

We recommend two pairs of hands as this is quite a tricky job. If you’re in doubt, it may be wise to get some expert help from our AA Roadservice team.

1. Follow previous steps 1-8.
2. Roll the wheel close to the hub.
3. While one person lifts the tyre, the other should help centre it onto the wheel studs and loosely fit a wheel nut to keep the tyre in place. It helps if you haven’t jacked the car up too far.
4. Replace all wheel nuts, making sure these go on the right way - taper towards the wheel and tighten snugly.
5. Lower the vehicle and tighten the wheel nuts using your wheel wrench. Again, you can stand on the wrench handle if needed.
6. Refit the hubcap, wheel cover or centre cover.
7. Take the punctured wheel to a tyre shop for repair or replacement.