How to change a tyre

Knowing how to change a tyre can come in handy, and you can save time and money by learning how to do it now, before you find yourself stuck at the side of the road. In our blog, we will tell you how you can change your tyre in a few easy steps.

Before you start

Firstly, ensure you are parked in a safe space to change your tyre. Once you have done so, ensure you put your hazard lights on to warn oncoming drivers. If you have a reflective jacket, then put this on also.

What equipment do you need?

• A new, or spare, tyre
• Wrench
• Jack
• Car handbook
• Wheel chock
• Wheel nut key

You may also find it handy to have a torch and gloves, however they are not essential.

Changing a tyre: 9 easy steps

1. Position the wheel chocks – your wheel chocks work to prevent the car from rolling away whilst it is jacked up. Your vehicle handbook will advise you of the best lifting points for your car – if you do not have a wheel chock, you can use either thick blocks of wood or bricks as replacement chocks.
2. Slacken the wheel nuts – you will most likely need to lift off the plastic wheel trim and turn the wheel nuts anti-clockwise to loosen the nuts.
3. Make use of the jack – all cars are built with jacking points - consult your car handbook to find out where these points may be. Aim to position the jack as close to the punctured wheel as possible. After the jack has been positioned, you will need to raise the car approximately 10-15cm off the ground.
4. Take off the flat tyre – once you have jacked up your car, you can fully loosen and remove the wheel nuts. Gently pull the tyre towards you until it has come off the wheel nut and place it flat on the ground.
5. Place on the spare tyre – now it’s time for your new tyre to be placed on the wheel. You may be able do this by sliding it onto the protruding hub bolts. Replace the wheel nuts and tighten them by hand.
6. Lower the car – lower your car ever so slightly using the car jack; once this is done, tighten the bolts so that the spare tyre is in contact with the ground.
7. Fully lower the car – once you have ensured the wheel is secure, lower the car entirely on the ground. You may want to double check the tightness of the wheel nuts before lowering the car.  
8. Check new tyre pressure – drive to your nearest petrol station to check the pressure of your tyres. Or, if you have a tyre pressure gauge, you can check the tyre pressure immediately.
9. Take your punctured tyre for repair – take your tyre to the nearest Merityre Specialists for repair.

Looking for new tyres? We stock a wide range of all-season tyres for all vehicles - simply buy online and arrange a fitting at your local branch. If you are unsure as to which tyres are the best fits for you, simply call your local Merityre Specialists.