From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

How to Change a Tire

By Pauline Sipriaso
McFatter Technical High

April 24 2008

Doesn't it seem like flat tires occur at the most inconvenient times?

On the highway? Right before an important meeting? Times like those?

But follow these simple steps, and you won't have to worry about being unprepared.

1) Keep a tire jack in your car. You never know when you will find yourself with a flat tire. When it does happen, go ahead and grab your spare tire and your handy tire jack from storage.

2) Place the jack under the car frame near the tire that you are going to change. (Make sure you place under the metal portion of the frame. If you place it anywhere else, the structure might buckle or crack.)

3) Remove the hubcap from the flat tire and loosen the bolts about halfway off using a cross wrench. Make sure not to take the bolts all the way off.

4) Lift your car up with the jack. Once the car is lifted off of the ground, take the lug nuts off and set aside.

5) Remove the tire. For safety measures, push the tire under your car. This is for your benefit in case the jack collapses. (It probably won't, so don't get paranoid!)

6) Place the spare tire on the wheel, taking care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts. Secure the tire with the lug nuts, tightening the nuts as much as possible.

7) Lower your car to the ground, but don't put the full weight of the car on the ground just yet. Tighten the lug nuts again.

8) Release the full weight of the car and remove the jack. Tighten the lug nuts once again and put the hubcap on (if it fits the spare tire).

9) Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to the mechanic. Most places charge about $10 to fix puncture wounds in tires. If it can't be replaced, they can dispose of your tire safely.