How to change a tyre (with video)

Difficulty rating: 2 - 3

Level 2 - HANDS-ON: Hands-on stuff that a moderately practical girl can do. Basic info that all girls really should arm themselves with before confronting a professional. Moderate risk of breaking nails.

Level 3 - COMPLEX: Complex stuff. You need patience and confidence to do this yourself. No shame in getting a professional to do this for you! High risk of broken nails.


Time required: 30-40 mins

Tools required:

• Spare wheel with inflated tyre
• Tyre jack
• Wheel brace
• Wheel chocks (or brick/large stone)
• Warning triangle

If you experience a puncture whilst driving, slow down to no more than 5mph, and drive yourself to a safe place away from other traffic – ideally a lay-by or car parking space, and preferably near a light if it is dark. You may need to park the car on the other side of the road to get the side of the punctured tyre out of the way of the traffic, but DO NOT attempt to change a tyre yourself on the hard shoulder of any busy road – call emergency services for this, the risk is too great.

Ensure the car is parked on level ground, and remove all passengers from the car to a safe place away from any traffic.

Step 1:

Double check you've applied the handbrake. If you have a manually geared car put it into gear, if you have an automatic put it into "Park".

Step 2:

Turn off your engine and put your hazard warning lights on. If you have one, put down a warning triangle down about 30 meters away. Opening your bonnet can also help indicate to other drivers that you are making repairs on the vehicle.

Step 4:

On the diagonally opposite wheel to the flat one, place a wheel chock (available from all car part stores) or a brick/large stone either behind or in front of the wheel to prevent the car from rolling down hill. If you are in doubt about which direction has the more incline, put chocks on either side of the wheel. Do this even if you are sure you're on a level surface.

Step 5:

If you have one, remove the hubcap or plastic cover concealing the wheelnuts. (You may need to use your wheel brace or a large screwdriver to prize this off.)

Step 6:

With the car still on the ground, use the wheel brace to loosen the nut holding the wheel in place by turning it in an anti-clockwise direction, for half a turn.

This can be the worst bit, as the nuts can be extremely tight. You will probably need to use all your body weight to loosen them – but BE CAREFUL OF YOUR BACK! Bending your knees and pulling is better for your back, and you may need to extend the arm of your wheel brace by attaching an extra tube to it for added leverage. If you still do not have the strength, place your foot on the left handle of the wheel brace (without any extensions on it) and use your body weight to drop the handle to the floor carefully while supporting yourself using the roof of your car.

Step 7:

Continue to loosen all the nuts by half a turn – first loosen one then loosen the one opposite, working across the tyre until all the nuts are loosened slightly.

Step 8:

Check your owners' manual for the correct place to put the jack nearest to the wheel you are changing. Only use the recommended place – anywhere else can be dangerous and cause collapse.

Start to jack up the car, as soon as there is enough room, but before the wheel is off the ground, place the spare tyre under the body of the car to add extra support just in case the jack slips.

Continue to jack the car up a bit higher than is necessary to remove the flat wheel as you will need enough room to fit the fully inflated spare.

Step 9:

Finish removing all the nuts and place them somewhere safe. The wheel with the flat tyre should be hanging from the threaded studs now.

Step 10:

Remove the flat wheel from its threaded studs and put it in the place of the spare under the body of the car.

Step 11:

Lift the spare onto the wheel studs. (To check you're fitting it the right way round, check that the air valve is facing out.)

Step 12:

Replace the nuts, tightening them in the same pattern as you loosened them.

Step 13:

Remove the old tyre from under the body of the car, and slowly lower the jack and remove it.

Step 14:

Tighten the nuts again – as much as you can (standing on the arm of the wheel brace might again be helpful – but this time in a clockwise direction)

Step 15:

Replace the hubcap or wheel cover.