Flat Tire? How to Put On Your Spare Safely
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Quick answer: Get somewhere safe and level, set the parking brake and hazards, wedge a wheel, loosen the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground, then jack the car at the point shown in your owner’s manual (AAA). Never put any part of your body under a car held up by a jack (AAA). If you’re on a busy road or unsure, call roadside assistance and wait away from traffic (AAA).
⚠ Safety first:
- Check your owner’s manual first: every car is different. It shows the jack point and where the spare and tools are (AAA).
- Never get under a car supported only by a jack. If the jack slips, the car falls (AAA; NZTA).
- Don’t start the engine while the car is on the jack; get passengers out and away from the road (NZTA; AAA).
- Use the jack only on hard, level ground at the lifting points. On soft ground, AAA suggests a piece of wood under it (AAA; NZTA).
- If a tire blows out while driving: hold the wheel with both hands, don’t slam the brakes, ease off the gas, then pull over when safe (NHTSA).
Steps: easiest & free first
- Get off the roadFREE
Park, set the parking brake, hazards on. Put out cones or triangles if you have them; AAA says about 100 feet behind (AAA). - Wedge a wheelFREE
Wheel wedges (or rocks) at the tire on the opposite corner from the flat, at least (AAA). - Loosen lug nuts firstFREE
Turn counterclockwise while the tire is still on the ground. Don’t remove them yet (NZTA). - Jack at the marked pointFREE
On the metal frame, at the spot in your manual, not on plastic. Raise it until the tire is off the ground (AAA). - Swap the wheelFREE
Remove the nuts and flat, put on the spare, hand-tighten the nuts (NZTA). - Lower, then tighten in a crisscrossFREE
Lower the car fully, remove the jack, then tighten the nuts firmly, opposite nut after opposite nut (NZTA). - Check the spare and get the flat fixedPRO
Check the spare’s pressure (AAA). A temporary “space saver” spare isn’t meant for high speeds or long use. Follow the limit on the spare or in your manual and replace it with a full-size tire soon (NZTA).
⚠ When to call a pro: you’re on a highway shoulder or in traffic, the lug nuts won’t budge, the ground is soft or sloped, or your spare is flat or missing. Renting a car or using a shared/borrowed car? Call the rental company or owner’s roadside number first. See roadside help & emergency kit.
💡 Prevent it: Check your spare’s pressure once a month along with the other tires (NHTSA).