Changing a tire is supposed to be one of the least-difficult car repairs. But if you have not checked your equipment and your vehicle, it can be difficult and dangerous.
* Be prepared. Check the tire pressure on your spare tire when you check the pressure on the others. Be sure you have a jack and a lug wrench and know how to get them out of their hiding place. Then check your manual to find the vehicle's jacking points. You have to lie on the ground to find them.
* Get the vehicle far enough from the road to protect you from passing cars. Set up a triangle or flares 100 feet in back. Put the vehicle in Park and set the hand brake.
* Block the wheel diagonally opposite the flat with two pieces of wood.
* Loosen the lugs on the flat a full turn. Then take the spare out of the trunk and put it halfway under the car near the jack (If the car falls, it will only fall onto the spare.)
* Raise the jack nearly high enough to contact the bottom of the car. If the ground isn't firm, put the third piece of wood on the ground and the jack on top of the wood. Be sure everything is level, then jack the car up until the flat clears the ground by several inches. The spare will need more clearance.
* Remove the lug nuts and place them in the hubcap where they won't get lost or scattered.
* Pull the flat off and hang the spare in place. Balance it with your toes while you start the first lug bolt. Start with the top one. Finger tighten all lugs, then lightly tighten with the lug wrench in the crisscross pattern. Lower the vehicle and fully tighten the lugs.