How To Change A Blown Tire

No matter how safely you’re driving or how many times you’ve checked your tire inflation and pressure, tire blowouts can still happen for a number of reasons. Here’s a breakdown on how to change your blown tire safely and easily to get you back on the road again.

Get off the road safely

The most important thing to do in the event of a tire blowout is to get off the road safely. Keep a firm grip on your steering wheel and guide your car slowly to the side of the road. It’s important to let your car slow down gradually, not jam your brakes and also to turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers of your situation.

Creating a safe working space

Once you’re off the road, keep your hazard lights on and put down road hazard markers a safe distance behind your car to warn other drivers of your predicament. If this happens at night, remember to keep your lights on.

Find your spare tire and jack

Most spare tires are typically located in your trunk beneath the carpet along with a jack and tire iron. It’s for situations like these that your regular checks on your spare tires come in handy.

Raise your vehicle safely

Before raising your vehicle, put bracing material (such as pieces of wood or bricks) behind and in front of a tire you won’t be replacing to increase stability and prevent your vehicle from rolling. Next, follow your vehicle manufacturer’s guide to raise your vehicle with the jack.

Remove the blown tire

Once your vehicle is raised, loosen the lugs on your blown tire and remove them to take the blown tire off your vehicle. In some cases, it may be best to loosen the lugs before raising your vehicle and then removing the tire after.

Attach the spare

After removing your blown tires, place your spare into the empty wheel hub and screw the lugs in. Hand tighten the lugs before lowering the jack and properly tightening the lugs again.

Keep the blown tire

Keep the blown tire for insurance purposes and also to reuse your rim (if it wasn’t destroyed in the blow out). Store your blown tire back in the same place you got your spare tire.

Fix your blown tire

After all this is done, it’s highly recommended that you head to a workshop immediately because most spare tires are not full sized and cannot handle a long drive. Proceed to a workshop slowly to fix your blown tire and get your spare tire replaced with a proper tire for your vehicle.

Keep in mind that all of the above is assuming you have a spare tire in your trunk and know how to change a spare tire. If not, it is always safest to call for roadside assistance or ask for help from other drivers to assist you.