A flat tire is more than an inconvenience—it's a safety hazard. Learn the professional steps to changing a tire on the roadside, including critical safety positioning and the "Star Pattern" tightening technique.
1. Safety First: The Positioning
If you feel a puncture, do not stop immediately if it puts you in danger. It is better to ruin a rim driving slowly to a safe spot than to be hit by traffic. Find level, hard ground well away from the flow of traffic.
2. The Loosening Phase
Before jacking up the car, use the lug wrench to loosen the wheel nuts about half a turn. If you wait until the wheel is in the air, it will simply spin when you try to turn the wrench.
3. Jacking & Swapping
Locate the correct jacking point (usually a reinforced metal rib under the sill). Raise the car until the flat tire is clear of the ground. Remove the nuts, swap the wheels, and hand-tighten the nuts.
4. The Star Pattern
Lower the car until the tire touches the ground but isn't taking full weight. Tighten the nuts in a "star" or "cross" pattern (skipping one nut each time). This ensures the wheel is seated perfectly flat against the hub. Finally, lower the car fully and give the nuts a final firm tighten.
Warning: Space-saver spares are for temporary use only. Do not exceed 80km/h and replace it with a full-sized tire as soon as possible.
