How to Fix a Flat Tire on Your Car or Truck

Step 1:  Pull Over to a safe place.
If you get a flat tire while driving down the road, don't panic. Pull over to a level, safe area that is well out of the way of traffic and turn your hazard lights on as soon as possible.  Driving too far on a flat tire is a bad idea because it can damage your wheel.

Step 2: Turn off engine, put your car in gear, and set the emergency brake.

Step 3: Take out your spare tire, jack, and tire iron.
The location of these items varies, but most vehicles have them in the trunk.

Step 4: Loosen the lug nuts.
Use the tire iron to loosen each wheel lug, but don't remove them completely yet.

Step 5: Jack your vehicle up.
Use your vehicle's owner's manual to find out where your car or truck's jack points are. Put the jack under the car and raise the jack until it contacts your vehicle's frame.  Then lift the flat tire off the ground.

Step 6: Take the tire off.
Now remove the tire's lug nuts and slide it off.

Step 7: Put the spare on.
Next put your spare tire over the wheel studs.  This can be a little tricky because you have to line up every stud before the wheel goes on.

Step 8: Put the lug nuts back on.
After the spare tire is in place screw each lug nut back on.  Make sure the wheel is flush against the brake hub.

Step 9: Lower your vehicle.
Once the spare tire is on and the lugs are tight, carefully lower the jack.

Step 10: Tighten the nuts.
Use your tire iron to tighten the lugs completely, using the star pattern.  This means that once you tighten a lug you you should cross over to the one on the opposite side of the wheel and tighten it next.  Make sure the lugs are as tight as possible.

Step 11: Clean up and drive off.
Now all that's left to do is clean up your flat tire and tools and you're back on the road.  If your vehicle has a doughnut or a mini spare instead of a full-size spare, make sure to keep speed below 60 mph.

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