Tools & materials
Tools
- Vehicle jack
- Lug wrench
- Wheel chock
- Flashlight
- Gloves
Parts / materials
- Inflated spare tire
- Owner manual
Preparation
- Before lifting, switch the engine/power off, select Park or the manual-specified gear, set the parking brake, and move passengers safely away from the vehicle and traffic.
- Confirm the spare is inflated.
- Find the jack points and spare-use limits in the owner manual.
Step by step
- 01With the vehicle still on the ground, chock the wheel diagonally opposite the flat and loosen each lug nut about a quarter turn.
- 02Place the jack squarely at the specified reinforced jack point and raise the vehicle until the flat tire clears the ground.
- 03Remove the lug nuts and wheel. Keep your feet and hands out from beneath the vehicle.
- 04Mount the spare, install the lug nuts by hand, and snug them in a star or crossing pattern.
- 05Lower the vehicle until the tire just touches the ground, then tighten the nuts progressively in the crossing pattern.
- 06Fully lower and remove the jack. Verify the required torque with the model-specific specification and a torque wrench as soon as possible.
- 07Stow the tools and flat securely. Follow the speed and distance limits printed on a temporary spare.
What success looks like
Wheel seated correctly, nuts tightened to specified torque, spare correctly inflated, no unusual vibration. Some temporary spares cause a TPMS warning; follow owner manual and check spare pressure manually.
Common mistakes
- Jacking on soft or sloped ground
- Crawling beneath the car
- Using a random jack point
- Final-tightening in a circle
Call a professional
Call roadside assistance when you cannot create a protected work area or the vehicle is damaged, heavily loaded, or missing safe equipment.