Have you ever been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire? Would you like to be able to change tires yourself without asking for help? Fortunately, changing tires is an easy job, as long as you're prepared and willing to put in the effort.
Step
Step 1. Find a flat place to change tires
Changing tires should be done on a solid and flat surface so that the car does not run alone. If you are near a road, park as far away from traffic as possible and turn on the hazard light. Do not park the car on soft ground and slopes.
Step 2. Apply the handbrake and put the car into the "Park" position
If the car has a manual transmission, put the car in 1st or reverse gear.
Step 3. Place heavy objects (eg rocks, concrete bricks, spare tires, etc.) in front of the front and rear tires
Step 4. Remove the steering wheel and jack
Place the jack under the frame near the tire to be replaced. Make sure the jack touches the metal part of the car frame.
- Many cars have plastic parts on the bottom. If you don't put it in the right place, the jack will crack the plastic when you lift the car. If you don't know where to put the jack, consult your vehicle's user manual.
- For most modern unibody cars, there is a small notch or mark directly behind the front wheel, or in front of the rear wheel to indicate where to place the jack.
- For most older trucks or cars that have a frame, try to place the jack in one of the chassis directly behind the front tires or in front of the rear tires.
Step 5. Raise the jack until it supports (but does not lift) the car
The jack must support the underside of the vehicle firmly. Check to make sure the jack is perpendicular to the ground.
Step 6. Remove the hubcap and loosen the bolt by turning it counterclockwise
Do not remove the bolt completely, and just loosen it a little. If you loosen the bolts after the tires are lifted, the wheels may spin too and make your job more difficult.
- Use the wheel lock that came with the car or a standard cross wheel lock. Your lock may have a different size opening on each end. If it's the right size, the wheel lock will fit into the bolt easily, but not rattle.
- Try to anticipate changing car tires by storing the right size sockets for bolts and breaker bars in the trunk of the vehicle.
- You will need a lot of force to loosen the bolts. If all else fails, you can try using your body weight or stepping on the wheel lock (make sure the lock will turn in the right direction, i.e. counterclockwise). However, this method can break the bolt as it is difficult to maintain full contact.
Step 7. Pump or crank the jack to lift the wheel off the ground
The wheel needs to be lifted high enough so that it can be removed and replaced with a new one.
- When jacking up, make sure the car is stable. If you feel unsteady when lifting, lower the jack and fix the problem before fully jacking the car up.
- If you notice the car is tilting slightly or leaning sideways when you lift it, lower it and reposition it so that it lifts up perpendicular.
- It's also a good idea to always keep a jack stand in your vehicle, in case the jack gets loose during the tire change process. Use a small jack and a regular jack to keep the jack safe from damaging the jack.
Step 8. Remove the bolt completely
Turn the bolt counterclockwise until it loosens. Repeat on all bolts, then remove the bolts completely.
Although rare, some vehicles actually have grooved bolts. Usually this grooved bolt is on old cars from Chrysler and GM
Step 9. Remove the tire
Place a punctured tire under the vehicle for added safety in case the jack breaks to prevent injury. If the jack is placed in a flat and solid place, there should be no problem.
Tires may be a bit sticky due to rust. You can try hitting the inside half of the tire with a rubber mallet to loosen it, or using a spare tire to hit the outside half of the tire
Step 10. Place the spare tire in the center of the wheel
Align the spare tire rim with the wheel bolt, then insert the tire nut.
- Make sure to install the spare tire in the right way and in the wrong direction. The donut tire valve stem should be facing outward, with the back of the vehicle.
- The walnut type nut (acorn) is also easy to install incorrectly, if the vehicle uses it. Make sure the point of the nut is facing the wheel when tightened.
Step 11. Tighten the bolts by hand until they are tight
At first the bolt should be able to turn easily.
- Use a wheel wrench to tighten the nuts as tightly as possible in a star pattern. To ensure that the tires are balanced, do not completely tighten one nut at a time. Apply a star pattern all around the tire, one nut across the other, and turn each nut all the way around until they are all evenly tight.
- Try not to push too hard to risk damaging the jack. You will tighten the nuts again when the car is down when there is no longer a risk of falling.
Step 12. Lower the car without placing the full load on the tires
Tighten the bolts as much as possible.
Step 13. Lower the car completely to the ground and remove the jack
Finish locking the bolts and put the hubcap back on.
Step 14. Put the flat tire in the trunk and take it to the repair shop
Estimate the cost of tire repairs. Minor punctures can usually be repaired at a cost of IDR 50,000 or less. If the tire can't be repaired, they can dispose of it properly and sell a replacement.
Tips
- If the wheel has a locking lug nut, be sure to store the key-lugs in an easy-to-find place as they will be needed when changing tires.
- A cross wrench will provide more torque than a standard one-handed wrench.
- Familiarize yourself with the procedures and details of replacing a car tire before experiencing a flat tire so that you don't suddenly have to study on the side of the road, when it's raining or at night.
- Check your spare tire every now and then to make sure the air pressure (psi) is adequate.
- Rotate tires at manufacturer-recommended intervals to prevent common problems when changing flat tires.
- When loosening and tightening the bolts, adjust the cross lock so that you are pushing down (with gravity). This will reduce the risk of back injury and will also allow you to use your body weight to turn the key instead of just using your arm. Press the end of the lock to get the best lever. You can even use your legs, but make sure your body is balanced and leaning against the car.
- If you plan to change tires yourself frequently (e.g. installing/removing winter tires), purchase a hydraulic jack, cross wheel lock, and torque wrench. These tools will make the process much easier.
- When reinstalling the bolts, make sure that the pointed side goes into the wheel. This centers the wheel and locks the bolts not moving.
- Make sure the spare tire is replaced with a new one because it is temporary and should not be used as a permanent replacement, except exactly the same as the main tire and included in the previous tire rotation.
- If the spare tire was not included in the previous rotation, only use it as a temporary tire as the tips above suggest as the tread wear rate is very different from other tires.
Warning
- For safety reasons, place objects such as logs, large rocks, or other heavy objects under the vehicle after jacking up, but before removing the tires. Place it in such a way that it prevents the vehicle from completely falling when the jack breaks or shifts for some reason when the tires are not installed. Place it on the bulkhead of the frame or other support that is not too far from the tire.
- Never use a block of wood or an impromptu jack. Cars are very heavy and if you don't use a jack of sufficient quality, you will be putting yourself and your car at risk.
- Be aware of the surroundings. If you are on a busy street, you should be aware of vehicles that can get too close. Not infrequently accidents occur when changing tires on the roadside so don't do it unless you have to.
- Most spare tires (smaller "donut" tires) are not designed to go over 80 km/h or long distances. Problems can occur if this speed is exceeded, including damage to the spare tire. So it's best to drive slowly and carefully to the repair shop and fix your main tire.
- Do not go under the car while it is being supported by a jack. If you plan to work under a car, install a jack stand, or use a ramp (a ramp to raise the car so you can access the underside) so the wheels are not free.
