This is one of those situations that you will learn in your driving lessons and that, even so, you hope will never happen to you. In this situation, you have two options: call for assistance and wait for someone to help you or get down to work and follow our tips.

First of all, what you need to have on your vehicle:

– Jack to lift the car and remove the wheel;

– Wheel wrench to remove the screws;

– Lubricating spray to easily unscrew wheel nuts or bolts (optional but makes the task easier)

– Replacement tire in good condition.

– Warning triangle and reflective vest (if you’re on the road)

So follow these steps:

1) One of the most important notes is if you are on the road, before changing the tire, it is mandatory to mark the place by placing the triangle at 30 meters away and wearing the reflective vest.

2) Make sure the vehicle is in a flat, stable and safe place to park and change the tire. The surface must be solid and even, which does not allow the car to slide.

3) Apply the handbrake firmly and put the gear in first or in reverse.

4) Next to the tire, you should find a metallic part of the car’s structure designed just to receive it. Fit the jack and raise it until the car is supported (without lifting it from the ground). When the vehicle appears to be firmly supported, check if that the jack is perpendicular to the ground.

5) It is time to use lubricant on the screws and nuts (optional) in order to unscrew them (counter clockwise). Don’t loosen them completely.

6) Go back to the jack and now with the lever make the car lift off the ground. Just enough to get the wheel out and the car suspended and secured.

7) Now remove the bolts and the flat tire and place it under the vehicle – in case the jack will yield, it will cushion the fall, reducing the risk of accidents.

8) Place the spare tire on the axle and tighten the screws by hand as far as possible. (clockwise) They should turn easily at first.

9) When lowering the car, do not let the weight rest on the new tire. Before that, tighten the screws as much as possible.

10) Finish by removing the jack. Just tighten the screws and fit the cap to the wheel. Finally, keep the flat tire in the trunk for recycling.

Note: Please note that the life of a spare tire is very short and is only estimated to take a short trip to a point where they can be replaced by a so-called “normal” tire. In addition to that, you must respect the maximum speed marked on it so as not to put your safety at risk.

Still having doubts? Talk to your instructor and ask him to show you how to do it. You will see that it is not as difficult as it seems.