What You Need

  • Spare tyre (check it is inflated — do this monthly)
  • Car jack (in your boot)
  • Wheel brace / lug wrench (in your boot)
  • Gloves if available
  • Warning triangle or hazard lights
Safety firstOnly change a tyre if you are completely off the road on a flat, stable surface. Never change a tyre on a motorway or freeway — get to the next exit first or call roadside assistance.
  1. 1

    Pull over safely and turn on hazard lights

    Get as far off the road as possible — ideally a car park or flat side street. Put on your hazard lights immediately. Apply the handbrake and if possible place a warning triangle behind the car.

  2. 2

    Get out the spare, jack and wrench

    These are usually under the boot floor. Familiarise yourself with your car's jack — the manual will show the correct jacking points.

  3. 3

    Loosen the wheel nuts BEFORE jacking

    This is the step most people get wrong. With the wheel still on the ground, use the wheel brace to loosen (not remove) each nut by turning anti-clockwise. If they are very tight, stand on the brace for extra leverage. The wheel will spin if you try to do this once the car is jacked up.

  4. 4

    Position the jack under the correct point

    Your car manual shows the reinforced jacking points under the car. Using the wrong point can damage the car. Usually there is a notch or marking on the sill directly behind the front wheels or in front of the rear wheels.

  5. 5

    Jack the car up

    Wind the jack until the flat tyre is about 10–15cm off the ground. Do not go higher than needed.

  6. 6

    Remove the nuts and the flat tyre

    Fully remove the loosened nuts and put them somewhere safe (your pocket is good). Pull the flat tyre straight off.

  7. 7

    Mount the spare

    Line up the holes and push the spare onto the bolts. Hand-tighten each nut as much as you can.

  8. 8

    Lower the car and tighten the nuts properly

    Lower the jack until the tyre touches the ground but still takes some weight from the jack. Now tighten the nuts in a star or cross pattern (not circular) to ensure even pressure. Lower fully and give each nut a final tighten.

  9. 9

    Check the spare tyre pressure

    Get to a petrol station as soon as possible to check and inflate the spare. Spare tyres are often space-savers with a maximum speed of 80km/h — do not drive fast on them.

Get to a tyre shop the same dayA spare tyre is a temporary fix only — get your flat repaired or replaced as soon as possible so you are not driving without a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Many newer cars have a tyre repair kit instead of a spare — a can of sealant and a compressor. This works for small punctures but not blowouts. If neither works, call roadside assistance.
Check it monthly when you check your other tyres. Spare tyres degrade over time even unused — check for cracking in the sidewall and check the tread depth. Most spare tyres should be replaced after 6–10 years regardless of use.
Often yes — a tyre with a nail or screw in the tread (not the sidewall) can usually be plugged or patched for a fraction of the cost of a new tyre. Take it to a tyre shop and they will assess it.