How to change a tyre safely on your road trip

Nobody wants to be caught with a flat tyre, a blowout or damaged tyre on the road, especially not on a road trip and with your kids on board. Being stranded on the side of the road, while waiting for help is also not something most want to consider either.

Being sure you know how to change a tyre and have the necessary tools and equipment before you take the road is crucial – and easier than you think. Read the article below for advice, give it a trial run and follow the steps to take to change a tyre like a road trip pro.

• Check things out: Before you trip, check out your tyres. Check the tread, the tyre pressure and rotate your tyres if it is time to do so. If your tread depth is below 1.6mm, head to a professional fitment centre and have them changed before your trip to ensure a hassle-free trip. Smooth tyres, under- or over-inflated tyres all carry risks – such as blowouts, punctures, reduced braking ability and so it is important to have your tyres thoroughly checked out.
• Tools to do the job: Check that you have the right tools for the job, and that they are in workable condition. To change a tyre, you will need:
  • A spare tyre – most passenger cars come fitted with a spare tyre, but most are not the standard tyre size, but rather a ‘biscuit’ tyre that can be used for a short distance, at a maximum speed of around 70km/hour. If possible, and space in your boot storage, vehicle weight capacity, allows – purchase a full-sized replacement tyre for your road trip. This is especially important if you are heading to very remote areas of the country.
  • A simple jack – check that it is in working order, not rusted or damaged.
  • A lug nut wrench/wheel spanner to remove and replace/tighten the lug nuts.
  • If your wheel trims are secured with cable ties, a cutter or screwdriver to remove these.
  • An emergency triangle or set of cones to place on the roadside to warn other vehicles.
  • Tyre blocks – an optional extra, these don’t usually come with a vehicle but will help prevent your car from moving while you are trying to change your tyre.
  • A torch/flashlight with extra batteries.
  • Wet wipes or cloth and water bottle to clean your hands after the tyre change.
  • Cash to pay for a call-out if required.
  • Nice to have items include a tyre gauge, mat to lie/kneel on, reflective vest and rain poncho.
• Stop safely: Look for a safe and flat place to pull over. Don’t try to change your tyre on a hill, in a dangerous area or where the roadway is very narrow. Rather call for assistance if this is the case, especially if you are travelling alone as a female driver. Get as far off the roadway as possible and make sure you engage the park brake and remove the keys from the ignition, securing them safely in your pocket.
• Make yourself visible: Put on your hazard lights, put up the cones or triangle and if you have on, put your reflective vest on. Ask adult passengers to stand clear of the vehicle and keep children safely secured inside, especially little ones that could potentially run into the roadway.
• Get started: Get your tyre changing tools and spare tyre out and follow the step by step guidelines below:

Step 1: Loosen up

• Place the tyre block or a heavy object such as a rock or the spare wheel against the front or back tyres to prevent movement.
• Find the position for the jack under the car, usually just behind the front or rear wheel wells. Make sure the jack comes into contact with the metal part of the car and is firmly in place.
• Raise the jack until it is supporting (but not lifting) the car.
• Remove the hubcap/wheel cover/wheel trims.
• Use the lug nut wheel spanner to loosen the lug nuts (Remember the rhyme - lefty-loosey/ counter-clockwise), but don't remove them just yet. Anti-theft locking nuts require a specialised socket.
• You may have to you use your body weight to get the lugs nuts loose and moving and a cross wrench will give you much more torque than a standard single-handled wrench.

Step 2: Now lift

• Lift the car with the jack using smooth, even strokes and lifting high enough to remove the flat tyre and replace it with the spare. You may need a bit more clearance for the spare to go on.
• Make sure that the car and the jack are stable as you go and if not, lower back down, fix the problem and start again.
• Never put your body underneath a car lifted by a car jack in case the vehicle slips off the jack.

Step 3: Out with the old, on with the new

• Remove the loosened lug nuts and store them safely so they don’t get lost.
• Using both hands, lifting the wheel with your hands in a 'ten minutes to four' position (or 'ten minutes past eight' if left-handed).
• Never place your hands directly under the wheel or put any part of your body under the car while it's jacked up.
• Place the flat tyre under the vehicle so in the event of the jack collapsing, the vehicle will fall on the old wheel. This will also stop the tyre rolling away.
• Glide the spare tyre onto the tyre bolts, pushing it back as far as it can go. Use the same hand position as above.
• Take care to align the rim of the spare tyre with the wheel bolts, and then replace the lug nuts, in an alternating star pattern, tightening them by hand as much as you can in a clockwise direction. (Remember the rhyme: Righty-tightly).
• Using the wrench, tighten the nuts as much as possible, using a star pattern around the tyre, one nut across from another, giving each nut a full turn until they are equally tight and balanced.
• Be careful not to upset the balance of the jack. You will tighten the lug nuts again once the car is back on the ground and there is no risk of it falling.

Step 4: To the ground it goes

• Remove the flat tyre from underneath the car and slowly lower the vehicle and remove the jack.
• Tighten the lug nuts, starting by tightening one lug nut by about 50%, then moving to the opposite nut and tightening that one about the same amount. Keep tightening opposite lug nuts gradually in turn until each lug nut is as tight as it can be.
• When loosening and tightening the nuts, arrange the wheel spanner/cross wrench so that you are pressing down (with gravity) to remove risk of injury to your back and so that you can use your body weight rather than just your arm strength. Press on the end of the wrench for the best leverage. You can use your foot, keeping yourself steady by leaning against the car.

Step 5: Proceed with caution

• Once the lug nuts are tightened, put your flat tyre and tools back in your boot and collect your emergency triangle.
• Set off slowly and drive with extra caution, bearing in mind that your tyre may not be fully inflated, your wheel alignment and balancing may be off.
• Switch off your hazard lights and head to your nearest professional tyre fitment centre, using directions from the Dunlop MyTyres app.