How to Change a Flat Tire in Five Steps

Driving on a flat tire can damage your rims. But remember, your safety comes first. It's better to damage the rim in order to get to a safe place than to risk changing your tire where you could be injured.
When you pull over, follow these steps:

• Put on your hazard lights.
• Turn off the car and apply your parking brake.
• If you have flares or reflective markers to put behind the car, carefully place them there.
• Chock your wheels with wheel wedges to stop the car from rolling or moving. If you're replacing a back tire, chock the front wheels. If you're replacing a front tire, use the wheel chocks for the back. If you don't have wheel wedges in your emergency kit, large rocks can also work.

When you're ready to investigate the damage, try to exit on the side of the car away from traffic. No matter what, make sure you watch for oncoming traffic before opening the door. Keep children and other passengers calm, comfortable and buckled inside the vehicle.

Read more about building a roadside emergency kit.

Once you're in a safe location, locate all the necessary tools to change your flat tire. This should be simple, since most vehicles have a tire changing kit located near the spare tire. You can usually find the kit in the trunk of a sedan or the floor of an SUV or hatchback. If you can't immediately see where the tools are, your owner's manual should tell you where they're located.
A basic tire-changing kit should include:

• A jack to easily lift the car
• A lug wrench with a socket on one end and a pry bar on the other
• A spare tire to replace the flat tire

Some vehicle models may require additional tools (like a wheel lock or extension bars) for lowering the spare tire, so consult your vehicle's owner's manual before you attempt to change your spare.

While fixing something yourself can feel empowering, if you don't feel comfortable changing your flat tire, it's a good idea to call a trained expert to help. Check to see if you have roadside assistance through your credit card company, auto insurance or a paid membership to organizations like the American Automobile Association (AAA). Even if you don't, many roadside assistance companies will come to change your tire for a fee.

Now that you're in a safe place and you have all your tools, it's time to get to work. Here's how:

• Remove the hubcap or wheel cover, if you have one. Not all vehicles have a hubcap, so don't worry if you don't see one.
• Loosen the lug nuts using the lug wrench and socket, but don't remove them just yet. Stop turning if the socket slips around the lug nut. Constant slipping could damage the nut by stripping it, making it more difficult to remove.
• Find the right location to use the jack. This information is in your owner's manual. The correct location is reinforced so pressure from the jack won't damage your car's frame, undercarriage or suspension. Putting the jack anywhere else could cause damage to the car. Even worse, it could cause the car to fall off the jack while you're working on it, seriously injuring you.
• Lift your vehicle slowly using the jack. Lift it until the wheel spins freely, but not far enough for the car to slide off the jack. Raising the vehicle about six inches works in most cases.

Remember, even once the car is jacked up, you should never put your body beneath the car. If the jack fails or settles into the ground, it's safest to have your limbs away from the weight of the car.

With the lug nuts loose and the car jacked up, you're ready to change the tire.
Here's how:

• Remove the lug nuts. Since they're loose already, you should be able to twist them off with your fingers. Place them somewhere they won't get lost.
• Pull the tire off the car, straight toward you. Place it on the ground.
• Put the spare tire on, keeping it straight. Push inward until the tire is flat against the brake rotor.
• Reattach the lug nuts with your hands while holding the tire still. The lug nuts only need to be finger-tight. You'll tighten them more when the car is lowered to the ground.

You're almost ready to get back on the road! Finish the job by following these final steps:

• Lower the car back down slowly, using the jack.
• Tighten the lug nuts all the way. Follow a diagonal pattern: Tighten one lug nut, then tighten the one directly across from it rather than the one next to it. This helps ensure your tire stays straight.
• Replace your hubcap.
• Store your equipment. Put the jack and wrench back where they belong. Load your flat tire into the car so it can be repaired or discarded.
• Check the air pressure in your spare. If you have an air pressure reader, check the pressure in your spare. Most spare tires should be at 60 psi. If you need air, slowly drive to a gas station.

Once the flat has been safely removed and replaced with a spare, you still need to purchase a true replacement tire or get the tire repaired. Driving on the spare faster or longer than the owner's manual recommends could cause even more damage to your vehicle.

Read more about why you shouldn't just replace one tire.

With promotional financing and plenty of partner offers, the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card can help you manage unexpected expenses like those from a flat tire. The card can be used to pay for everyday expenses like gas and regular maintenance, as well as unexpected costs like towing, new tires or larger repairs. Learn more about the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card and apply today.

Learn how to fill your tires with air to help prevent a flat tire.