How Do You Change a Car Tire?

It’s happened to most of us at some point. The treads of a tire wear too far down and the tire goes flat, often in the most unexpected places and inconvenient times. Too often, drivers are stuck, wondering, “How do you change a car tire?” Knowing how to change a tire is an important skill and can save you from waiting on the side of the road in Houston or continuing on a dangerous tire. Here are just a few simple steps from Baytown GMC Buick to demonstrate how to change a car tire.

How to Change a Car Tire

To change your tire near Baytown, you’ll want to begin with the correct tools: your owner’s manual, a spare tire or a new tire, a lug wrench, and a jack. Once you’ve gathered all of your tools, changing the tire is a straightforward and simple procedure:

1. If you’re on the road, pull over to a secure place on the side of the road and activate your hazard lights.
2. Regardless of your location, activate the parking brake and place wheel wedges under the other tires to prevent dangerous sliding.
3. If you have hubcaps or wheel covers from the tire and loosen the lug nuts (without completely removing them yet).
4. Place the jack under a secure spot under the frame and raise the jack until it snugly meets the frame of the car.
5. Jack up the car. This can take a bit of time and effort, but it’s worth it to be careful. Don’t rush.
6. Remove the lug nuts and place them in a secure place (your pocket or into a makeshift container should do just fine.) It’s crucial that you don’t lose these as they hold your wheels in place and it will defeat the purpose to replace the tires if they cannot be secured properly. 
7. Remove the flat tire and mount the spare or new tire into place.
8. Tighten the lug nuts.
9. Lower your vehicle to the ground and replace your hubcap or wheel cover.
10. Look around to ensure that you’re not leaving anything behind.

How Often to Change Your Car Tires

How often to change your car tires depends on how well your tires are constructed and how often you get tire rotations. If your tires are often rotated, you can expect to get the full promised mileage from your tires. You still want to monitor the tire pressure and tire tread to be safe, however. If there is a lot of tread wear, you’ll need to get new tires. Scheduling tire rotations with our service center with your oil changes is a great way to ensure that you get the most from your tires near Channelview.

Get More Car Care Tips from Baytown GMC Buick

If you still feel uncomfortable and are wondering how to change your car tires properly, we’re happy to help and can recommend the best tires for your vehicle. Contact us today with all of your tire-related questions or schedule service for a quick tire change or tire rotation!