Survey reveals 53% of Brits cannot change a tyre

A recent survey conducted by an online retailer reveals on average 53% of people cannot change a car tyre.

This can be problematic when you have to change to your spare tyre on the roadside. Although you should not attempt to change a wheel in a dangerous place, like on a motorway, ideally you should pull into a car park or quiet lay-by or side street

Learning the basics of how to change the tyre yourself could help you continue on your journey and have the flat tyre fixed or replaced when you get home.

In your car you should have the following items: jack, locking wheel nut key (if lock nuts are fitted), wheel nut wrench, screwdriver, spare wheel (inflated to correct pressure), owners manual.

First try to park on a reasonably flat area, then put on your handbrake to stop the car from moving.

If your car has a hubcap, wheel trim or covers over the wheel nuts you need to remove this first using the screwdriver. You must then loosen the wheel nuts and locknut about ¼ of a turn using the wrench, this will prevent the wheel from spinning once it is raised off the ground.

The next job is to jack the car up, use the owners manual to find the correct jacking point (some cars have a small triangle imprinted into the sill indicating the correct point) jacking in the wrong position could damage the underneath of the car.

With the jack properly positioned, slowly raise the vehicle until the flat tyre is clear of the ground. You can then remove the wheel nuts.

Next, remove the flat tyre and put it to one side. The next job is to fit the spare wheel, lift the wheel up and place it on the hub, lining up the bolt holes. You may have to raise the car a little higher using the jack to allow for the inflated spare tyre. Replace the wheel nuts and using the wrench nip them up lightly.

You can now carefully lower the jack and remove it from under the car. The next job is to tighten the nuts fully using the wrench , do not over-tighten the nuts by standing on them. Using a torque wrench is the best method of tightening the nuts to the correct setting if you have one. The reason you tighten the nuts when the car is on the ground is because the wheel won't rotate like it would if it were still jacked up in the air.

Once complete remember to put the locknut key back in a safe place (boot or glovebox).

Or call us at Hometyre! Our mobile service technicians can come to you - rain or shine - light or dark. 03334445454