On a 2010 I experienced the same problem, so I called Toyota. The only secure locations, according to him, are the chassis and back diff/axle. Keep in mind that many of our Hilux vehicles are not standard weight, which puts a lot more strain on the front cross member.
In This Article...
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.
How are the front wheels jacked up?
Under the jack point that is placed close to the front tire, place a jack stand. Downshift the automobile. On the opposite side, repeat. Right now, you have both of the front wheels raised (on jack stands) and both of the rear wheels down.
What is the ideal location for a jack on a car?
In order to safely lift the car, most automobiles have strengthened metal ribs that serve as the jacking points. There are typically four jacking points on each car. They are situated directly behind the front wheels and just in front of the back wheels, underneath the rocker panels of the vehicle.
Is lifting a truck by the differential acceptable?
Sadly, despite the fact that this is one of the most frequently discussed subjects in relation to jacking up cars, everyone appears to have a different suggestion for what you “should be doing.” If you ask your friendly neighborhood mechanic, he’ll undoubtedly admit that he frequently presses a floor jack up against the differential. To determine which elements of a car or truck can withstand the force of the jack, he depends on expertise.
Others will just advise you to consult your owner’s manual or get in touch with the car’s manufacturer. Technically speaking, that’s a really good response. Why? It doesn’t follow that something is unquestionably safe just because it is probably safe. The tire shop workers are undoubtedly acting safely when they lift a car by the differential. Similarly, if you perform the same task at home using a reliable hydraulic jack, you are likely acting safely.
You are surely being safe if the differential is listed as a recommended lifting point by the manufacturer of your car. Your handbook, however, most likely instructs you to lift from the pinch weld or frame. If in doubt, refer to the book!
Should lug nuts be loosened before jacking up the car?
Although changing a flat tire isn’t difficult, there are a few things you should know to ensure that the spare tire is installed correctly so that you can go to the tire shop without incident. Watch this Les Schwab Quick Tips video to learn how to do it by following along as we walk you through each step. We discuss:
- What to do before pulling out the tools.
- how to locate your car’s ideal jacking point.
- how much lug nuts should be loosened before lifting the automobile.
- how to properly install the spare tire.
- the right way to tighten lug nuts.
How to Change a Tire
- security first. Maintain a safe distance from oncoming traffic, put your car in park, engage the parking brake, and turn on your warning lights. It is preferable to ask for roadside help if you are unsure that you can avoid danger.
- Consult the owner’s manual. It should have directions for changing tires, including where the jacking point is.
- Bring out your spares and tools. Typically, they are kept in a compartment in the trunk. The jack should provide usage instructions as well.
- Make sure the jack is set up correctly. Ensure it is positioned correctly in the vehicle’s jacking point and is facing the right direction.
- Before jacking, loosen lug nuts by roughly a quarter turn.
- The car should be jacked up high enough so that the tire is off the ground.
- The lug nuts should be taken off and placed so they won’t roll away.
- Pull the flat tire off and place it behind the jack underneath your car, or if it’s too broad, try another position under the car. This is crucial in the event that the car slips off the jack.
- Make sure the valve stem is facing you as you install the spare.
- Hand-tighten the lug nuts while reinstalling them.
- Once the tire is in touch with the ground and partially loaded, lower the jack.
- To ensure that the wheel is properly installed, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern rather than a circle pattern. This ensures that the wheel is straight and won’t pop into place while you’re driving, allowing some of the bolts to become loose and the vehicle to wobble, or worse, the nuts to break and the wheel to come off.
- The car should now be lowered all the way. You’re prepared to make a cautious trip to the nearest tire shop to get your regular tire changed or repaired.
Spares should only be driven for brief distances and at low speeds. Your spare tire’s speed rating can be lower than that of your primary tires. Have a tire specialist inspect your spare at the shop so that it is in working order for the next time you need it.
Four flat tires on a car: how do you move it?
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- Place a car dolly next to a tire in step one.
- Step 2: Lift the vehicle with a jack just high enough to allow one of the dollies to pass underneath a tire.
- Third, lowering the car and relocating the jack.
- Step 4: Drive the vehicle into the garage (or wherever you intend to store it).
When changing tires, should the automobile be in neutral?
If an issue were to arise with one of your car’s current tyres, you might find yourself needing to change a tire.
If you follow the correct technique while changing a tire, even if you’ve never done it before, you should be fine. You can learn more about what to do in our changing a tyre tutorial here.
Here, we’ll concentrate on common errors that a novice tire changer could make and explain why you should steer clear of them.
DON’T change a tyre at the side of the road
The greatest places to change tires are places that are far away from the road. You’d be better off calling a breakdown service if you discover that a tire suddenly requires replacing while travelling on the road and you can’t safely stop your car somewhere away from the road.
It is challenging to do a tire replacement right alongside the road because you need a decent bit of space to do so securely and properly. Not to mention that you would be unnecessarily endangering yourself and other road users. Another major no-no is changing tires on the hard shoulder of a highway.
DON’T change a tyre on loose or uneven ground
If you’re going to change a tire on your car, you should do it where the ground is level and smooth.
It’s not a good idea to try changing a tire on a gravelly or grassy surface because it’s harder to work on and there’s a chance that equipment, like the jack, could slip while being used.
DON’T have any passengers in the car
Imagine that you had to change a car tire on short notice and that you were able to locate a location that would be adequate for the task. Before you start changing the tire, make sure all of your passengers, including any animals, have exited the car. Make sure they travel somewhere safe that is not near a vehicle or a busy road.
A person moving around inside the vehicle while changing a tire adds extra weight that could be obstructive and will just make the task more difficult than it needs to be.
DON’T do any checks or work under your vehicle while it’s raised on a jack
To prepare your automobile for a tire replacement properly, you’ll need a car jack. However, using this tool to perform lengthy work below your car is not recommended.
Therefore, resist the urge to even glance below your car while changing a tire, even if there is something else about the automobile you want to inspect.
You need the proper tools to perform any type of maintenance on your automobile that involves spending time underneath it, or you can get it serviced. Working underneath your car is not secure enough with only a car jack.
DON’T use the jack anywhere you’re not supposed to
A car jack should only be used on particular parts of an automobile. When replacing a tire, you should position the jack at the suggested lifting point near the removed wheel.
If you don’t install the jack correctly, you risk damaging your car’s undercarriage and risk having an accident since the jack may not support the car securely. To determine the proper lifting points, see the owner’s manual for your car.
If you don’t have the owner’s manual handy for whatever reason, you can look for information online or get support from your automobile manufacturer’s customer care.
DON’T leave the car in neutral
It’s crucial to remember to leave the vehicle in the proper gear when changing a tire on a manual transmission vehicle. Naturally, you should turn off the engine before beginning the tire change. However, you should leave the gearstick in either first or reverse.
The handbrake only works on two wheels, often the rear wheels, which is why you want to do this. With the engine turned off, shifting into first or reverse causes the front wheels, which are typically the driven wheels, to lock.
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, you may leave it in the “Park” or “P” position.