1Safety First
Pull well off the road onto a flat, stable surface. Turn on hazard lights. Apply parking brake. Place wheel chocks or rocks behind the opposite tires.
2Prepare
Locate your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench (usually under the floor in the trunk). Read your owner's manual for jack placement points—wrong placement can damage your car.
3Change the Tire
Work systematically for safety.
- Loosen lug nuts while tire is on ground (don't remove)
- Position jack and raise vehicle until flat tire is off ground
- Remove lug nuts and flat tire
- Mount spare tire
- Hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern
- Lower vehicle and fully tighten lugs
- Check tire pressure on spare
4After the Change
Compact spares (donut tires) are limited to 70 km/h and short distances. Get your regular tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
Key Takeaways
- 1Know your jack points before you need them
- 2Loosen lugs before lifting the car
- 3Tighten lugs in a star pattern
- 4Compact spares are temporary
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