A flat tyre is one of the most common roadside problems, and while changing one isn't complicated, doing it safely matters — especially near traffic. This step-by-step guide walks you through the process, and just as importantly, explains when you should skip the DIY approach and call for professional help instead.
First: is it safe to change it yourself?
Before you even reach for the jack, assess where you are. Changing a tyre is only sensible if you can do it on firm, level ground, well away from moving traffic. Never attempt to change a tyre on a motorway hard shoulder or in a live lane — it's far too dangerous. If you're in an unsafe spot, get everyone out of the car and behind the barrier, and call for recovery instead.
What you'll need
To change a tyre you'll need a serviceable spare (check it's inflated), a jack, a wheel brace, and the locking wheel nut key if your car has locking nuts. Many modern cars come with a tyre inflation kit rather than a spare — if that's the case, it will only fix small punctures, not a badly damaged tyre. It's worth a high-visibility vest and a torch too.
Step-by-step: changing a flat tyre
1. Park safely and prepare
Stop somewhere flat and firm, apply the handbrake, put the car in first gear (or park for an automatic), and switch on your hazard lights. If you have wheel chocks or a heavy object, place it against a tyre at the opposite end of the car to stop it rolling.
2. Loosen the wheel nuts
Before jacking the car up, use the wheel brace to loosen — but not remove — each wheel nut by about half a turn. Turn anti-clockwise. Doing this while the wheel is still on the ground stops it spinning. If a nut is very tight, use steady force with your body weight rather than jerking it.
3. Jack up the car
Locate the correct jacking point (check your handbook — using the wrong spot can damage the car). Place the jack on firm ground and raise the car until the flat tyre is just clear of the ground. Never put any part of your body under the vehicle while it's on the jack.
4. Remove the wheel
Fully unscrew the loosened nuts, keeping them somewhere safe, and carefully lift the flat wheel off. Set it flat on the ground so it can't roll away.
5. Fit the spare
Line up the spare with the wheel bolts and push it on. Screw the nuts back on by hand until snug, tightening them in a diagonal or star pattern rather than going round in a circle — this seats the wheel evenly.
6. Lower the car and tighten
Lower the car back to the ground and remove the jack. Now fully tighten the wheel nuts, again in a diagonal pattern, firmly but without over-straining. Stow the flat tyre and your tools.
After fitting a spare
If you've fitted a space-saver spare (the narrow temporary type), observe its speed limit — usually 50 mph — and get the proper tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible. It's also worth getting a garage to check your wheel nut torque. Don't ignore the flat: driving on a damaged or under-inflated tyre is dangerous and illegal.
When to call recovery instead
There are plenty of situations where calling for help is the smart choice rather than the last resort. Call a recovery service if you're on a motorway or busy road, if the ground is soft, uneven or on a slope, if you have no spare (or only a repair kit and the tyre is badly damaged), if the wheel nuts are seized, if the weather or light makes it unsafe, or simply if you're not confident. A professional can change the wheel safely or recover the vehicle to a garage.