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Changing a Tire

Let's say you do not have a roadside assistance plan – which I highly recommend getting after learning these steps. You are driving along, you hit a pothole and you hear the unmistakable sounds that can only be the deflating of your tire. Know that you can accomplish changing your tire, on your own!

I did not know how to change a tire, so I turned to my father, Kevin Wunder, previous owner of Bear Alignment for 17 years. The process itself is not too complicated, but actually doing it definitely requires some muscle. Before getting started, my dad stresses to drive your car to a safe location with a flat surface and remove any jewelry. Now, here’s what you do:

1. Get your supplies together and test a

lug nut. Locate your car manual, the spare tire and the tire changing tools that come with your car and remove them from the car. Place the lug wrench on the flat tire’s lug nuts, one at a time, and slightly loosen them using your legs to turn the wrench (remember “lefty loosey”). This action tests if you can even loosen the lug nuts not completely take the lug nuts off the tire.

Why? If you are not able to loosen all the lug nuts, you won’t be able to change this tire on your own. 2. Jack up the car. In the owner’s manual, find your car’s jacking spot. My car has a pinch weld that the jack fits into, but some cars have a pad. Near the tire you are changing, put the jack under the car in this designated spot. Twist the knob of the jack to make it straighten out. Use the tool from your car with a hook on it and loop it through the knob of the jack. Use this tool to turn and straighten the jack until the wheel you are changing is off of the ground. 3. Remove the flat tire. Now, use the lug wrench to remove all of the lug nuts then take off the tire. Kneel on one knee and lift it off or squat down low so you can use your legs to remove it. It was heavy! Note, you will need to get this flat tire back into your car, so be ready to do some heavy lifting. 4. Put the spare tire on the car. Roll the spare tire over to the empty spot and line up the holes with the studs. Similar to removing the flat tire, go down on one knee or squat down low and hold the tire on both sides. If you need to put one hand behind the tire, be very careful to not pinch yourself. Lift the spare tire into place until you get the studs through the holes. Now, take a deep breath, the worst is over!

Twist each of the lug nuts onto the studs then use the lug wrench to make them snug but not totally tight yet. Loosen the jack, twisting in the opposite direction until the car is back on the ground and the jack pretty much falls out from under the car. Go back to the newly installed tire and finish tightening the lug nuts using the lug wrench. 5. Clean up. Get everything, including the flat tire, back into your car. Make an appointment to get a new tire as soon as possible. Spare tires are not meant to travel long distances or be a long-term substitute for a new, full-size tire.

I won’t lie, this experience was very challenging for me, especially with large SUV tires. If it comes down to it, I can probably do this whole thing on my own, but I will for sure be keeping my AAA membership for roadside assistance!

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By Emily Wunder Barrett, MSCN, RD, LDN Regional Wellness Director, Eurest