It’s as dreaded as it is inevitable. One day, we’ll all find ourselves needing to change a tyre. Make sure you know how to change one before you have to try to learn it on the fly and under pressure. Just as obtaining car finance through 360 isn’t a difficult process, neither is changing a tyre. However, it’s absolutely vital that as a car owner, you be able to install a spare tyre properly and safely. This guide will go over everything you need to know: tools, procedures, and safety precautions.

The Tools You’ll Need

While only the first three tools in this list are strictly necessary, the rest will make the whole thing a lot safer for you and other drivers on the road.

  • A spare tyre – they’re usually located in a spare tyre well in the boot or bonnet
  • A jack
  • A socket wrench – they often come in a cross shape or as a bar with a pry bar at one end
  • A wheel lock
  • A warning triangle
An invaluable skill

What to Do

Most likely, you’ll have to change your tyre by the side of the road, so the first thing you should do is make sure that your car is safely stopped and the area secured. Once you notice that one of your tyres has gone flat, you should find a safe, level place to pull over and stop your vehicle. Turn on your hazard lights and place your warning triangles around your car to alert other drivers. If you have a wheel lock, put it on one of your good wheels to keep the car from unexpectedly rolling. It’s also a good idea to put a heavy object like a rock in the way of all the tyres.

Take your jack and use it to support the corner of the car with the flat; at this point, the jack shouldn’t actually be lifting the car, just supporting it. First, remove the hubcap. Then use the socket wrench to loosen, but not remove, the lug nuts by turning them anticlockwise. Now, lift the car up with the jack and remove the lug nuts entirely.

Take the entire wheel off the hub and replace it with the spare tyre and wheel. You’ll then do the same process in reverse. Replace the lug nuts and tighten them by hand as much as you can. Then, lower the car with the jack until the tyre touches the ground, like before. Finally, fully tighten the lug nuts with the wrench, lower the car fully, and put away your jack, wheel lock, and everything else that you used.

Many, but not all, spare tyres aren’t meant for continued or high-stress use. Either way, your next priority should be to find a suitable replacement for the flat tyre since you’re running without a backup tyre at the moment.

That’s all there is to changing a tyre. If you don’t know much about car upkeep, check out our other two articles on car basics: Checking the Fluid Levels and Changing the Oil. As always, whether you’re planning to buy your first car and are still learning the basics or you’re an old pro, 360 Finance are here to help. We may not be able to help you physically change a tyre, however we are here to secure you the quickest and easiest car finance in Australia.