You’re on the highway traveling 80mph in your car, and suddenly you hear a recurring sound of thump, thump, thump – that’s your tire, the one you just blew.

Now what?

You’re in luck if you know how to change tires and have the right equipment in the boot. But if you don’t, chances are you are stuck curbside on a highway with no help for miles.

This can happen to anyone, so it’s better to be prepared for this possibility. We bring you a quick and easy guide to DIY tire replacement to ensure that you can quickly get back on the road.

Let’s get started:

Easy DIY Ways To Change Your Flat Tire

Changing a flat tire of the vehicle can be challenging, especially if you don’t know how to do it. Thankfully, it’s not hard to learn how to do it properly with the right guidelines and instructions.

Here is a complete step by step DIY guide to changing your flat tire:

Locate A Safe Spot

You’re driving your car, and suddenly you hear a loud noise, and the tire’s a goner!

First of all, slow down – reduce the speed of your car and pull it off straight the road. Never try to brake or turn your vehicle when you have a flat tire.

Slowly reach to the side of the road. Make sure no motorists are passing by, and step out of your car and check your dead tire.

Light Your Flashers

Make sure that you turn on your flashers or hazards lights to keep you safe from other vehicles – a safety precaution to avoid road accidents.

Put On The Parking Brake

Once you decide you’re changing your flat tire, make sure to put parking brakes before you do it. It’ll reduce the chances of your car rolling away while you work on it.

Use Wheel Wedges

This is another precautionary measure to ensure that your car stays put while you replace the tire.  Install the wheel wedges against the tires to avoid the accidental movement.

If you don’t have wheel wedges, try to find any sturdy stones or bricks lying around on location – make sure they are big enough to do the work.

Time To Loosen The Lug Nuts

Use your lug wrench to loosen up the lug nuts, but don’t remove them completely just yet. Turn your lug wrench anticlockwise to do it right.

Jack Up Your Car

If your car is relatively new, the chances are that it came with its own special screw-type scissor jack to make it easier to make your vehicle rise and stay there. This should make it smooth and simple to remove the tire.

Just place the jack in its spot, turn the knob and lift till it touches the frame. Make sure to jack up the car until your dead tire is raised completely above the ground.

Remove Lug Nuts And Your Flat Tire

Once you’re done with jacking, remove all lug nuts completely. Remove them by hand as you have already loosened them. Please make sure you put them away securely since it’s really easy to lose the lug nuts when you are not looking.

Now, please take out the flat tire and put it aside to a safe position.

Install Your Spare Tire

Carefully place your spare tire on the wheel studs. This is the most difficult part of the entire ‘changing the tire’ process, so you have to be extra cautious.

Hold your tire in front of the wheel stud, so that you can easily slide your tire onto it. Once you hang your spare tire onto the stud, screw the lug nuts back.

Do it with your hand first, and then use the tire iron to tighten them up.

Lower Your Vehicle And Ensure To Tighten Your Wheel Lug Again

Once you have placed your spare tire, it’s time to lower the jack. Pull it away completely. And start tightening the wheel lugs once the tire touches the ground. Use your full force to tighten the lugs as the tire won’t spin anymore.

Put your dead tire back in the car, and your good to go.

 

Next time you face a tire blowout, don’t panic. Just follows these simple DIY instructions to change your tire and you’ll be ready to roll back on the road in no time at all.