How to Change a Flat Tire Guide
- Stop and park in a secure area.
- Your hazard lights should be on.
- Apply the wheel wedges and parking brake.
- Take off the wheel cover or hubcap.
- Take off the lug nuts.
- Leverage the Jack to raise your Toyota.
- Take off the lug nuts.
- Take the flat tire off.
In This Article...
What steps are involved in replacing a tire?
Tire flat and stuck? Here are the 10 steps to changing a tire.
- Locate a Secure Overpass to Pull Over.
- Inspect the materials.
- Your car should be raised off the ground.
- Remove the Tire and the Lug Nuts.
- Fix the spare tire to the vehicle.
- Switch out the lug nuts.
- Lower the car and start tightening.
A Toyota Camry’s jack can be found where?
Welcome to the world of do-it-yourself car repairs! It’s a fun way to save money, and understanding how your car works only has benefits. Although a chaotic place to start, this is also a fantastic way to learn.
There are four jack points on practically every car’s frame, including the Toyota Camry. The front ones are directly adjacent to the inner hinge line of the door, behind the front wheels. In front of the rear wheels are the jack points for the rear (on the driver end, not the trunk end).
It’s a good idea to initially examine the car’s undercarriage while squatting on the ground with your dependable smartphone flashlight. The jack points are located in the regions we just mentioned, and they differ slightly from the rest of the car’s frame in appearance.
To make sure you know exactly where the car’s jack points are, you should absolutely examine your car’s manual. You’ll be referring to that manual a lot as you delve into the DIY mechanic hobby. You can find it on the manufacturer’s website if you don’t already have it.
Some vintage automobiles, trucks, and SUVs won’t have designated jack points. Instead, you’ll have to make use of the vehicle’s frame. Yet again, before attempting to jack up the automobile, always refer to your vehicle’s manual.
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FIND A SAFE LOCATION
Do not suddenly brake or turn when you first notice you have a flat tire. Slow down and look about for a straight, flat section of road with a wide shoulder. The best location would be a parking lot that was empty. It is advantageous to have level terrain since it will keep your car from rolling. Furthermore, straight sections of road are preferable to curves since they increase the likelihood that incoming vehicles will spot you.
Never try to replace a tire near oncoming traffic on a small shoulder. Move forward (slowly) until you reach a safer location. Although driving on a flat tire puts your rim at danger of damage, this is better than getting struck by an inattentive motorist.
Make sure to examine the precise instructions for changing a flat tire for your vehicle in your owner’s manual.
TURN ON YOUR HAZARD LIGHTS
Other drivers will be able to see you on the side of the road thanks to your hazard lights or flashers. They should be turned on as soon as you recognize you need to stop in order to prevent an accident.
APPLY WHEEL WEDGES
To make sure the car doesn’t slide while you patch the flat tire, wheel wedges are placed in front of or behind the tires. Put these in front of the front tires if you’re changing a rear tire. Put the wheel wedges behind the rear tires if the front tire is flat.
Real wheel wedges are not necessary; you can just use bricks or big stones. Simply make sure they are substantial enough to prevent the automobile from rolling.
REMOVE THE HUBCAP OR WHEEL COVER
It is simpler to take off the hubcap before raising the car with the jack if your car has one covering the lug nuts. You can move on to Step 6 if your lug nuts are visible.
To remove the hubcap, use the flat end of your lug wrench. Most automobiles can use this, but some hubcaps require a specialized tool to remove. For instructions on how to remove a hubcap or wheel cover properly, go to your owners manual.
LOOSEN THE LUG NUTS
Turn the lug nuts counterclockwise with the lug wrench until they lose their resistance. It’s okay if you have to use force. If required, use your foot or your entire body weight.
The lug nuts should be loosened by 1/4 to 1/2 turn, but not yet totally removed. Save that for when you need to take your tire or wheel off the car.
PLACE THE JACK UNDER THE VEHICLE
Under the car’s frame, next to the flat tire, is normally where the jack should be placed. A cleared piece of exposed metal on the bottom of many car frames is designated for the jack and is covered in molded plastic. Use the jack in accordance with the owner’s manual’s directions to properly lift the object without causing harm to the car.
RAISE THE VEHICLE WITH THE JACK
Before attempting to elevate your vehicle, lay a little cut of 2×6 wood beneath the jack to keep it from collapsing under the weight of your car and losing equilibrium. On asphalt, this strategy is very useful.
Lift the car with the jack in the right place until the flat tire is roughly six inches off the ground.
Never place any portion of your body under the car while it is being raised with the jack or later.
REMOVE THE FLAT TIRE
Pull the tire gently in your direction while holding it by the treads until it is totally free from the hub behind it. To prevent it from rolling away, position it on its side.
TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS BY HAND
Reinstall the lug nuts on the lug bolts and manually tighten them all the way. Once they are all attached, double-check each one and tighten as much as you can. After lowering the car to the ground, you’ll use the wrench to tighten them.
LOWER THE VEHICLE AND TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS AGAIN
Lower the car using the jack so that the spare tire is on the ground but that the tire isn’t bearing the entire weight of the car. Now, using the wrench and rotating in a clockwise direction, tighten the lug nuts as much as possible. Use your entire body weight to press down on the lug wrench.
LOWER THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY
Remove the jack and fully lower the car to the ground. To make sure the lug nuts are as snug as possible, give them one more tug with the wrench.
REPLACE THE HUBCAP
Put the hubcap you removed from the flat tire back on if it fits your spare tire after first removing it. If it won’t fit, store it with the tire when you store your equipment if it isn’t necessary.
STOW ALL EQUIPMENT
A jack, a lug wrench, wheel wedges, your flat tire, and perhaps a hubcap are the items you have in front of you. Before you go, remember to load them all into your car.
CHECK THE PRESSURE IN THE SPARE TIRE
To make sure the spare tire is secure for driving, you should check the tire pressure. Mini-spares, commonly known as T-Type temporary spares, need 60 psi (420 kPa). If the tire has to be inflated, proceed (slowly) to a gas station right away.
TAKE YOUR FLAT TIRE TO A TECHNICIAN
Driving long distances or at high speeds is not recommended with temporary spare tires, so proceed with caution until you can see a tire technician. If your tire needs to be repaired or needs to be replaced, a professional should be able to tell.
Can I change my tires on my own?
If your tires are already mounted to rims, you can change your own tires without assistance. Anyone can do anything; all it takes to develop the skill is the necessary information, practice, and confidence.
You can embrace the freedom of not having to hire mechanics to complete the work, along with all the scheduling, travel time to the garage, waiting around, delays, and hassles that come with it.
Additionally, if you know how to change a flat tire, you have the knowledge and abilities to perform the seasonal changeovers on your own (and we believe every driver should be comfortable changing a tire.) When it comes down to it, you really only need to jack up the car and replace the tires on your own, just like you would if you had a flat and were putting the spare on.
We’re here to make that chore manageable if it currently looks to be a difficult one. Your concerns will be allayed thanks to this Q&A.
Doesn’t the job require a professional?
The ability to change your own tires does not exempt you from having your car serviced on a regular basis. However, if you ever need to visit an auto shop, completing the tire replacement yourself will spare you the cost of hiring a mechanic to complete that specific task. They are only necessary for tasks like wheel balance and alignment that should be handled by a professional. It would be wise to have an alignment if you purchase brand-new tires. If your present tires are wearing unevenly, your alignment may be to blame.
But is it safe to do the actual tire change?
It is quite safe to change a passenger vehicle’s tire on your own if you have the proper equipment. The work isn’t very difficult or risky in and of itself. However, it does require lifting your car into the air. And here is where a little advance planning can really help.
Can the jacked car fall on top of you?
Never get beneath your automobile while it is being jacked; it is not required to do so when changing tires. If you adhere to the recommendations for jack placement in your vehicle owner’s manual, you can jack your automobile up safely. A cleared piece of exposed metal on the bottom of many car frames is designated for the jack and is covered in molded plastic. Before you remove the wheel, set a jack stand in a safe location on the vehicle’s frame.
If you decide to change your tires on pavement in the proper location, your jack will also function properly. That refers to harder asphalt, not concrete. Especially on a hot day when it gets softer, thin asphalt can actually allow a jack stand to sink into it.
Is it safe to drive afterwards? Will the wheels be tight enough?
A wheel cannot suddenly come off, so don’t be alarmed! Before anything more catastrophic occurs, you will hear loud pounding noises while driving if it is actually loose. You’ll have enough time to stop right away, inspect the wheel nuts, tighten them again, and determine if it fixes the issue.
Keep in mind to constantly tighten the wheel bolts in a crisscross fashion (our guide will show you how)
Regardless of whether you change your own tires or not, being able to tighten your wheels is a crucial skill. The wheel nuts will eventually loosen even if you have your tires replaced at a mechanic, which means the wheel is no longer as tightly fastened as it should be. This can be avoided by regularly using a torque wrench to tighten the wheel nuts. To ensure that the nuts are sufficiently tight, we suggest consulting the torque recommendations in your car’s owner’s manual before tightening.
Why go to the trouble having winter tires mounted on rims?
Whether they are pricey alloy rims or economical steel rims, winter tires need to be placed on a certain set of wheels. It only takes a few seasonal changes to practically pay for the rims, and if you replace your own tires, it pays off even faster. Many businesses charge $60 more to change unmounted tires than to swap tires on wheels.
Having winter tires on rims actually extends the life of your tires because each on/off cycle increases the danger of damage to the tires or even the rims themselves, saving you money on the expense of mounting and dismounting your tires twice a year and enabling you to change your tires yourself.
“Tire mounting and demounting twice a year puts a lot of stress on the tire, automotive professor David Weatherhead told the Globe and Mail. ” It stresses the rubber surrounding the tire’s bead, which can cause damage and, ultimately, tire deterioration and leaks, especially with lower-profile tires.
Ready to take the wheel?
All of your doubts will go as soon as you overcome your fear and take action. Simply following the instructions will make assembly Swedish bookcases easier than changing tires. Once you give it a try, you’ll never look back!
Although first mysterious, it can be solved. The correct equipment is essential. Our Tools You Need guide has further information.
Can a tire be changed without a jack?
One person can carry out this tire-changing procedure without the need of a jack, though caution is always advised in case the automobile slides. Drive the vehicle onto a block that is situated on the same side as the flat. As a precaution, make sure the emergency brake is engaged and, if you have wheel chocks, position them behind the other two wheels. In a genuine emergency, dig out the dirt surrounding and beneath the flat tire using a shovel or even your hands. Once you have enough space to change the tire, continue digging. Once more, remove the lug nuts, switch the tires, install the new lug nuts, and then gradually tighten. Until you can drive out of the hole, fill it in. Remove any wheel chocks before releasing the emergency brake. Once all four tires are back on the ground, drive off the block and finish tightening the lug nuts.
Contact a Tire Repair and Replacement Expert in Denver Today
While understanding how to change a tire is essential, being able to do so without a jack might be useful. But calling an emergency roadside repair service for mobile flat tire repair is the best course of action for replacing a flat tire when you don’t have a jack.