Changing a flat tyre is a basic DIY skill that every driver should have.

It doesn’t take much time or know-how, and you don’t have to have the strength of Hercules to do it.

But knowing how to change your own tyres can get you out of a potentially sticky situation. The Hood Honcho takes a close look.

What will I need?

• A good spare tyre (dodgy bald spares are no good).
• A jack to hoist up your car.
• A wheel brace to undo the wheel nuts.
• Chocks. A lump of wood, brick or decent sized rock will do.


It’s also a good idea to carry a torch, pair of disposable gloves and an old towel or blanket to kneel on.

How do I get started?
Your car’s started doing a crazy dance, or you’re walking up to your pride and joy and get that sinking feeling.

Yes, you’ve got a flat tyre. No problem – it’s easily fixed.

Make sure you’re parked in a safe place away from traffic and apply the hand brake. You’ll need a firm, level surface to put the jack on.

Have a look at your car’s handbook to see where the jack needs to be positioned.

To stop the car rolling, chock the wheel diagonally opposite the tyre you’re changing. So if the flat is on the driver’s side front you need to chock the back of the rear passenger side wheel.

What’s next?
Use your wheel brace to loosen the wheel nuts or bolts on the wheel that you’re changing.

Don’t undo them completely yet. If they’re a bit too tight, gently use your foot to loosen them but be careful not to ruin the nuts!

Place the jack in the right spot under your car, then jack the car high enough to let the flat tyre spin clear off the ground and allow you to fit the spare wheel. Jacks vary, but they’re not hard to use. You’ll work it out. After you’ve read this, why not dig your jack out of the boot and give it a go? Better now than in a more stressful situation.

Remove the wheel nuts or bolts on the wheel to be changed, making sure you take notice of how they were fitted (wheel nuts differ from car to car).

Take care not to lose them.

To get to the nuts or bolts, you might have to remove some wheel trim, like a hub cap or cover. These are usually just prised off.

Take the wheel off your car.

Whack the spare wheel onto the car and do up the wheel nuts or bolts firmly – but don’t tighten them fully yet.

Go back to your jack and lower the car.

Once the wheel is on the ground again, fully tighten the wheel nuts or bolts.

There’s a bit of a trick to tightening these little suckers and it’s all to do with sequence.

If the wheel has four nuts or bolts, then tighten them in diagonally opposite pairs. If you’ve got five, tighten every second one until all are tight. Repeat the tightening sequence a couple of times.

Put any wheel trim back on.

Put the flat tyre where the spare was and make sure it’s nice and secure.

Drive away. Stop into a servo at your first chance and check the tyre pressure on the wheel you’ve fitted. In fact, it’s a good idea to check the spare whenever you check the tyre pressures.

As soon as you can, have the flat repaired or replaced.

You should be able to do all this yourself. However, sometimes the wheel nuts can be over-tightened and then you might have to call for roadside assistance from someone like the NRMA.

How should I care for my tyres?
Tyres are expensive and essential for the safety of your car. Here’s how to keep them in tip-top shape.

Pressure. Always keep the tyre pressure at the level recommended by the maker of your car. This is specified in the handbook or on a little placard attached to your car (look somewhere like inside the door cavity or glovebox).

Check the pressure at least once a month or before a big trip, remembering to also check your spare. The recommended pressure will be different for day-to-day motoring, high speed travel and heavy loads.

Take it easy. You want the rubber on your tyres, not on the road. Don’t screech around corners, brake hard or accelerate quickly. When you’re parking, try not to smack into the curb – this can not only damage your tyres but may also destroy those expensive mags.

Keep it clean. Pull out any pebbles or other stuff that gets stuck in the tread. If you see any nails sticking out, visit your garage or tyre shop to make sure you don’t have a puncture. If the tyre’s side walls are damaged or have a bubble-like bulge, replace it – you can’t fix it.

Balance, align and rotate. Wheel balancing makes sure you get the best performance from your car. You might need to get your wheels balanced if your steering wheel or car is vibrating or if your tyres are noisy.

Alignment ensures your car steers properly and your tyres wear evenly. You’ll probably need a wheel alignment if the car pulls to the side or if you’ve hit a nasty pothole or given the curb a good thwack.

Tyre shops can balance your tyres and may also be able to do a wheel alignment. If in doubt, ask your mechanic for an opinion. You’ll probably only need balancing and a wheel alignment once a year.

Rotating the tyres between front and back can also make your tyres last longer – a bit like flipping the old mattress. Remember, some tyres are “assymetrical’, meaning they must stay on the same side of the car.

Keep a lid on it. Those little caps on the tyre valves help maintain pressure and stop dirt and water getting into the valve and your tyres.

Time to fork out? If your tyres don’t have enough tread or are damaged then two bad things could happen. Firstly you could crash. Secondly you could get smacked with a fine from the Police.
Legal tread depth is 1.5 millimetres. If the tyre is worn to the level of the tread depth indicator, it’s about time for a new tyre.

A good trick is to whack the red end of a match into the tread – if you can see any of the red, then it’s time to replace the tyre. Also keep an eye out for wonky areas like cuts or bulges. If you’re worried, get your mechanic or a trusted tyre dealer to take a look.

What should I keep in the boot?
The minimalist look is in, but there are still a few things you need to carry in your car wherever you’re going.

Here’s a list of the essentials to make sure you’re ready for just about anything.

1. Spare tyre. With tread, the right size and the correct air pressure.
2. Small tool kit. Auto shops and variety stores sell a range of well-priced, nifty little kits you can chuck in the boot.
3. A jack and a wheel brace or wheel wrench. The wheel brace often has a chisel-like end that you can use to prise off the wheel covers.
4. Roadside assistance card. Make sure you’ve got your NRMA card or other roadside assistance card with you.
5. Your car manual. It’s amazing what you can learn from this little book.
6. First aid kit. Nothing too fancy is needed. You can get these from your chemist.
7. A torch. You don’t want to change a tyre by a country road in the dark.
8. A blanket. Stay warm in emergencies.
9. Water. Drink it. Pour it into the radiator.
10. Mobile phone. A good idea at night or on the open road.
11. Tissues and a cleaning cloth. Blow instead of pick at the lights. Wipe gunk off your windscreen so you can see. Clean grease off hands after changing tyre.
12. Maps and/or street directory. A GPS navigation system would be nice, but maps and directories work well too.
13. Fire extinguisher. Can be more than useful if you can afford it. You can buy all-purpose, light-weight units from auto shops but they will require regular checking. You can also have a nifty little holder fitted to keep them secure, but close at hand.