Usability Testing: How to Change a Flat

Replacing a flat tire with a spare

Bring your vehicle to a stop away from traffic. Preferably on a flat, stable surface. Now engage the parking brake and turn your hazards on.

You will need a jack, a wrench, and a spare tire from the compartment of the vehicle storing your spare. While not required, you may also want some gloves.

The lug nuts on your tire may be very tight, it's best to loosen them up while the care is still on the ground. Also worth mentioning is that you may have to remove a hub cap to access the lug nuts. The hub cap simply pops off the wheel once pried.

Bring the jack under the vehicles jack plate, if applicable for this car. Lift the car until the flat tire is a few inches off of the ground.

You should now remove the lug nuts completely and place them somewhere accessible to be used later. Now firmly grasp the flat tire and pull straight out, removing the flat from the wheel housing.

By aligning the 5 holes in the tire with the lug nut posts, push the spare tire into place where the flat once was. Make sure the spare is seated as far back as possible.

Tighten down the old lug nuts on the lug nut posts.

Use the jack to lower the vehicle completely, and remove the jack. Now go back over each lug nut with the wrench to assure each lug nut is fastened completely.

The flat tire can go in the compartment for the spare tire. Assure all of your belongings are picked up and off the side of the road.