How To Change A Tyre: A West Lothian Driver's Guide

Before you start

Pull over somewhere flat and well away from traffic, put the hazard lights on, and apply the handbrake. If you're on a motorway hard shoulder or somewhere that doesn't feel safe to work, it's better to call for help than attempt the change there.

The basic steps

1. Loosen the wheel nuts slightly before jacking the car up (much harder once the wheel is off the ground).
2. Jack the car up at the correct jacking point — check your handbook.
3. Remove the wheel nuts fully and take off the flat tyre.
4. Fit the spare, hand-tighten the nuts, then lower the car.
5. Fully tighten the nuts in a star pattern once the car is back on the ground.

Afterwards

A space-saver spare usually has a speed and distance limit — check your handbook, and get the original tyre repaired or replaced properly as soon as you reasonably can.

When to call a mobile fitter instead

No spare, a locked wheel nut with no key, an unsafe location, or simply not wanting to do it yourself — any of these are good reasons to call us instead. See our 24/7 mobile tyre replacement service covering West Lothian 24/7. If the ground where you've stopped is uneven or sloped rather than flat, see our guide on what we check before changing a tyre on a hill.