How to Change a Spare Tire?
4 Answers
First, ensure your own safety by parking in a secure area and setting up a warning sign. Place the warning sign 50-100 meters behind the vehicle, or 150 meters on highways. If changing the tire at night, use additional lighting for safety. Remove the damaged tire by loosening the bolts with a wrench. Do not remove the bolts completely at this stage—just loosen them. Then, use a jack to lift the vehicle. Make sure the jack is positioned correctly and lift only high enough to remove the tire. Finally, install the spare tire by aligning it with the bolt holes and securing it in place. Ensure all bolts are tightened properly.
The last time I changed a spare tire was when I had a flat on the highway, and experience taught me that safety is the top priority. First, park the car on a flat and safe spot, engage the handbrake, turn on the hazard lights, and place a warning triangle 150 meters behind the car. Retrieve the spare tire, jack, and wrench from the trunk. Use the wrench to loosen the nuts counterclockwise but don't remove them completely. Locate the metal protrusion on the chassis to position the jack and slowly raise the car. Once the wheel is off the ground, remove all the nuts, take off the damaged tire, align the spare tire with the bolt holes, and tighten the nuts diagonally. Lower the car and tighten all the nuts again, then finally check the tire pressure. The whole process takes about 20 minutes. Remember, the spare tire has a maximum speed limit of 80 km/h, so get the original tire repaired promptly.
When I first changed a spare tire after buying the car, I was all thumbs, but now I'm much more skilled. Don't forget to turn on the hazard lights and place a warning triangle when parked. Loosen the nuts before removing the tire, but don't take them off completely. The jack should be positioned under the metal slot at the bottom edge of the door, not on plastic parts. Two fingers' height off the ground is enough for the tire. Hold the old tire steady when removing it to avoid dropping it on your foot. After installing the spare tire, hand-tighten the nuts first, then use a wrench to tighten them diagonally in a star pattern, like drawing a pentagram. Remember, spare tires have shallow treads, so don't speed—I never go over 50 km/h before reaching the repair shop.
Changing a spare tire can be tricky if steps go wrong. First, park the car securely, engage the handbrake, turn on hazard lights, and place a warning triangle. Retrieve the jack from the toolbox, locate the marked support point (with an arrow) on the chassis, and lift the car. Removing nuts is easier when the tire is off the ground; align the spare tire with the bolt holes when mounting. Always tighten nuts using the diagonal method: top-left, bottom-right, bottom-left, top-right—repeat three times for secure fastening. After lowering the car, don’t rush off; use a wrench to re-tighten the nuts for safety. Note that smaller spare tires may affect ABS performance, so visit a repair shop promptly to reinstall the original tire.
