How to Change a Tire

Taking care of your tires is probably one of the most important things you can do when it comes to your vehicle. Driving on too-worn tread is dangerous for you and your passengers, and you never know when you might get a flat tire, so knowing how to change a tire is something every Des Moines and Ames driver should know how to do. If you don’t know how, let us teach you with our step-by-step process below. And if you need further help, feel free to reach out to our service center team for more assistance!

Changing Your Vehicle’s Tires

To change your vehicle’s tires, you’ll need to gather a few things first. Specifically: a jack, lug wrench, spare tire or new tire(s), and your owner’s manual. Then, you’re ready to start replacing your tire. Take a look at the simple and straightforward process below:

1. If you’re on the side of the road near Knoxville, move to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights.
2. Wherever you are, apply the parking brake and wheel wedges under the other tires.
3. Remove the wheel cover or hubcap from the tire, then loosen the lug nuts.
4. Use the jack to raise your vehicle and remove the lug nuts.
5. Remove the current tire and mount the new or spare tire.
6. Tighten the lug nuts, then lower your vehicle back to the ground.

How Often To Change Car Tires

This can be dependent on a lot of things. Your tire quality is but one thing that can affect how often you need to change out your tires. Regular rotations can help ensure you get the maximum mileage, but it’s always good to regularly check tire pressure and tread as well as drive around Indianola. To ensure that your tires last for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to schedule a tire rotation when you get your oil changed.

How to Put Air in Your Tires

Maybe you don’t have to switch out your tires just yet and you simply need to add more air. If you don’t own your own air pump or you’re out and about, you can typically stop at a local gas station to use theirs. Here’s how to put air in your tires:

• Park your vehicle by the air dispenser and ensure that the hose can reach each tire.
• Remove the cap on the tire valve of the first tire.
• Check the air pressure in the tire by using your tire gauge. It’s helpful to do this at home, even if you head to the gas station to fill your tires because tires can heat up when you drive and cause the air inside to expand. This can provide a false reading.
• Use the air hose to add small amounts of air in short bursts while checking the tire gauge each time.

Remember to keep checking the tire gauge until you hit the right amount of pressure! It’s near impossible to get it right the first time.

How Many Miles Can You Go on a Spare Tire?

If you put your spare tire on your vehicle, you’ll want to get a new, permanent tire put on as soon as possible. These tires are not made for driving on for very long — rarely more than 50 miles — and you should never drive on them at high speeds. Your spare tire will say its specific limits, but most recommend staying below 50 mph.

Get Auto Repair Knoxville Help With Your Tire Needs

We know that changing a tire can be a confusing process if you’ve never done it before, so if you need any help, contact us and we’ll walk you through it, or take a look at our service and parts tips for more information. Or you can bring your vehicle into one of our service centers and we’ll work to get it back to 100%. So schedule service with us today!