How to Change a Flat Tyre
Learn how to safely change a flat tyre and get back on the road. Essential skill for all UK drivers.
⚠️ Safety First
- • Pull over to a safe, flat location away from traffic
- • Turn on hazard lights and use a warning triangle
- • Apply handbrake and put car in gear (or Park for automatic)
- • Never change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder - call for help
- • If you're not confident, call breakdown assistance
What You'll Need
- Spare tyre (or space-saver) - properly inflated
- Jack - should be in your car's toolkit
- Wheel wrench - for loosening wheel nuts
- Warning triangle - legal requirement
- Hi-vis vest - for your safety
- Wheel chocks (optional but recommended)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Find a Safe Location
Pull over to a safe, flat, firm surface away from traffic. Avoid soft ground or slopes. Turn on hazard lights and apply the handbrake.
⚠️ NEVER change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder. Use emergency phone to call for help.
2. Make Your Vehicle Safe
- Put the car in 1st gear (manual) or Park (automatic)
- Apply handbrake firmly
- Place warning triangle 45m behind your vehicle
- Put on hi-vis vest
- Get all passengers out and away from the road
3. Get Your Tools and Spare
Remove the spare tyre, jack, and wheel wrench from the boot. Check the spare tyre has adequate pressure (you can't change a flat onto another flat!).
Tip: Your car's handbook shows exactly where the jack goes and how to use it.
4. Loosen the Wheel Nuts (Before Jacking)
Important: Loosen the wheel nuts BEFORE raising the car. They'll be too tight to loosen once the wheel is off the ground.
- Remove the wheel trim/hub cap if fitted
- Turn each nut about half a turn anti-clockwise
- Don't remove them completely yet
- You may need to stand on the wrench for leverage
5. Position the Jack
Place the jack at the correct jacking point (check your handbook - there's usually a reinforced point near each wheel). Wind the jack until it just touches the car but doesn't lift it yet.
⚠️ Using the wrong jacking point can damage your car's body or chassis.
6. Raise the Car
Slowly jack the car up until the flat tyre is about 10cm off the ground. This gives you room to fit the inflated spare tyre.
⚠️ Never put any part of your body under a car supported only by a jack.
7. Remove the Wheel
Unscrew the wheel nuts completely and place them somewhere safe. Pull the wheel straight off and lay it flat on the ground.
8. Fit the Spare Tyre
Lift the spare onto the hub. Line up the holes with the wheel studs. Push the wheel fully onto the hub.
Tip: The spare wheel is heavy - about 20kg. Lift with your legs, not your back.
9. Hand-Tighten the Wheel Nuts
Screw the wheel nuts on by hand, tightening them in a diagonal pattern (like a star). This ensures the wheel sits evenly on the hub. Tighten as much as you can by hand.
10. Lower the Car
Carefully wind the jack down until the tyre just touches the ground but the car's weight isn't fully on it yet.
11. Fully Tighten the Wheel Nuts
With the wheel on the ground, use the wrench to fully tighten the nuts in a diagonal pattern. Make them as tight as you can - you may need to stand on the wrench.
Tightening pattern: If you tighten one nut, do the opposite one next, then repeat.
12. Remove the Jack and Pack Up
Lower the jack completely and remove it. Replace the wheel trim if you have one. Put the flat tyre, jack, and tools back in the boot. Remove the warning triangle.
✓ Job done! But read the important notes below before driving off.
⚠️ Important - After Changing the Tyre
- 1. Check wheel nut tightness: After driving 50 miles, stop and check the nuts are still tight
- 2. Get the flat repaired: Visit a tyre shop as soon as possible to repair or replace the flat tyre
- 3. Space-saver limit: If using a space-saver spare, don't exceed 50mph and drive no more than 50 miles
- 4. Replace your spare: Don't drive around with no spare tyre - get the puncture fixed so you have a spare again
- 5. Check tyre pressure: Make sure your spare is at the correct pressure
Prevention Tips
- Check tyre pressure monthly - Under-inflated tyres are more prone to punctures
- Inspect for damage - Look for cuts, bulges, or objects embedded in the tyre
- Check tread depth - Legal minimum is 1.6mm but replace at 3mm for safety
- Avoid kerbs and potholes - These can cause tyre damage
Track Your Tyre Changes
Log tyre changes, puncture repairs, and all maintenance in AutoChain. Keep a complete digital service history.
Changing a Flat Tyre: Common Questions
Is it safe to drive on a space-saver spare tyre?
Space-saver spare tyres (the narrower “temporary use” spare fitted to many modern cars) are designed for short-distance, low-speed use only. The maximum speed is typically 50 mph (80 km/h) and they should be driven no more than 50–70 miles before the punctured tyre is repaired or replaced. Driving faster or further risks overheating the smaller tyre. The car's handling and braking performance are also reduced with a space-saver fitted. Do not use a space-saver in a full set — it must be treated as a temporary solution only.
Can a punctured tyre be repaired, or does it need replacing?
Whether a tyre can be repaired depends on the size and location of the puncture. Industry standard guidelines (British Standard BSAU159) permit repairs to punctures up to 6mm in diameter located in the central three-quarters of the tread. Punctures in the shoulder or sidewall of the tyre cannot be safely repaired and require replacement. Run-flat tyres that have been driven on while deflated cannot be repaired and must be replaced. A tyre fitter will assess the tyre and advise whether a repair is possible — a proper plug and patch repair typically costs £15–£30.
What should I do if I get a puncture on a motorway?
On a motorway, do not stop in a live lane. If possible, exit at the next junction or reach a motorway service area. If the tyre fails suddenly and you cannot continue, move as far onto the hard shoulder as possible, activate your hazard lights, and exit the car from the passenger side (away from traffic). Stand behind the crash barrier if there is one. Call your breakdown provider rather than attempting to change the tyre on the hard shoulder — National Highways advises that the hard shoulder is the most dangerous place to stop and changing a tyre there is not recommended.
My car doesn't have a spare tyre — what should I do?
Many modern cars come without a spare tyre, relying instead on a tyre mobility kit (foam sealant and a compressor) or run-flat tyres. A tyre mobility kit can temporarily seal and reinflate a minor tread puncture to get you to a tyre centre, but is not effective for sidewall damage or large punctures. Run-flat tyres allow you to drive at up to 50 mph for up to 50 miles after pressure loss. If your car uses a tyre mobility kit, check annually that the sealant canister has not expired and that the compressor works.
Do I need a wheel alignment check after changing a tyre?
A standard tyre change (removing one wheel and refitting a spare) does not normally affect wheel alignment. However, if the puncture was caused by hitting a pothole or kerb, the impact may have knocked the wheel geometry out of alignment even if the tyre is the only visible damage. Signs of misalignment after a tyre change include the car pulling to one side, the steering wheel sitting off-centre when driving straight, or rapid uneven tyre wear. If you notice any of these symptoms, have wheel alignment checked at a tyre centre.
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