Changing Tyre Made Easy: 13 Crucial Tips

What a way to finish the weekend. I go out the front to water my new trees. I have planted 17 in the past 2 months. I also give my vehicle a quick wash. It is ready for an action-packed work week. I got the bigger trees watered. I was washing my vehicle when I realised the back passenger side tyre was no longer full of air. While not completely flat, it needed changing. So, at 7:30 at night I’m changing the tyre in the night heat and disappearing sun. By the time I finished, it took me a while. I had to take regular breaks for heavy panting, breathing, and sweat wiping. It was dark.

Nowadays most people don’t have to change their tyres but if you do here are a few things to remember:

1. Get the vehicle manual out and read it. Don’t assume you know what you are doing because every vehicle is different

2. Check the diagonal opposite wheel either with chicks or wood or stones/rocks. I used the chocks from the camper trailer. You can buy a set of chocks from places like Bunnings, super cheap, hardware stores etc.

3. Make sure you have the handbrake/footbrake on.

4. Make sure you have a window down when you leave the keys inside the vehicle. I’m paranoid that I’m going to lock the keys in the vehicle.

5. Get the spare tyre out before jacking up the vehicle.

6. I always leave the spare tyre lying under the vehicle until needed just in case the jack shifts and the vehicle falls. For high 4WD this doesn’t work as well as a safety measure.

7. Jack up as per the instructions. Try to keep your body away from under the vehicle as much as possible.

8. Loosen but don’t remove the nuts before jacking off the ground.

9. Jack it slightly higher than you think you need. Remember you are removing a flat tyre which is slightly smaller than a fully inflated tyre.

10. Swap the flat tyre for the replacement. Depending on where the spare is keep it maybe dirty. I promise the dirt will wash off and it won’t hurt you.

11. Tighten the nuts to hand tight. I like to tighten them by tightening one and then tightening the diagonal one until they are all done. I tighten again once the vehicle is back on the ground and the jack is removed.

12. Pack up all your tools and put them away properly. Don’t just chuck them in the back with the thought of doing it later because you won’t.

13. Pat yourself on the back for doing a good job.