Some Tips To Help You Change a Flat Tyre | Acorn Tyres

Whether you’re driving to an important meeting or about to set off to go to work, one of the worst things to encounter is a flat tyre on your car. Driving with a flat tyre is incredibly dangerous and can also get you a hefty fine and points on your license, so it’s important to change it with your spare tyre as soon as possible before driving. But, do you know how to change a tyre Here’s a helpful guide on how to.

Tools you might need

First, let’s look at what tools you’ll need to help you change a tyre. You should have these things in the house somewhere, or in your car ready for immediate usage:

●Wrench

●Jack

●Wheel chocks

●Wheel nut key

●Car handbook/manual

You might also find it beneficial to have a torch, reflective jacket, warning triangle and tyre pressure gauge.

Step 1: Prepare

Whether you’re driving already or stationary, make sure your car is parked somewhere safe out of the way of traffic or pedestrians before you change your tyre. Turn on your hazard lights if necessary and definitely put on your hand brake so your vehicle is secure. Position the wheel chocks to prevent the car from rolling when it's jacked up, usually opposite to the wheel with the puncture.

Step 2: Loosen the wheel nuts

It's definitely easier and safer to do this when the car is still on the ground before jacking it up. Remove the plastic wheel trim first and then, using the wheel wrench, loosen the nuts to the point they can be turned by hand by turning the wrench anti-clockwise - but don't remove the nuts completely yet.

Step 3: Jacking the car up

After consulting your handbook/manual to see where the jacking points on the car are, position your jack at the dedicated point, close to the punctured wheel. Raise the car slowly until the flat tyre is 10-15cm off the ground.

Step 4: Out with the old, in with the new

Fully loosen the nuts now and remove the tyre. Then, slide your spare wheel onto the protruding bolt hubs and replace the wheel nuts, and tighten them by hand.

Step 5: Lower the car

Using your jack, start dropping the car so that your spare tyre is in contact with the ground. Take you wrench and fully tighten your wheel nuts fully. After this, bring the car fully down to the ground and you can remove the jack.

Step 6: Check pressures and replace your tyres

Using a pressure gauge, double-check that your spare wheel is fully inflated and, if needed, pump up the tyre to the recommended pressure. Finally, take your tyre to get repaired or invest in a whole new one.

At Acorn Tyres, we provide expert tyre sales and fitting services in Aylesbury at affordable prices. If you’re looking for new tyres, contact us today on 01296 612 075.