How to Switch the Wheels on a Car

Co-authored by Howard Fleischmann

Last Updated: June 17, 2024 References

Got a flat tire? Need to swap an old tire out for a fresh replacement? Jacking a vehicle up and swapping your tires out can seem like a complicated process, but it’s surprisingly straightforward and simple once you’ve got the basics down. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process from start to finish so that you can get back on the road in no time.

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1

Move the car to a flat surface in a safe area.

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If you aren't in a driveway or garage, turn on your hazard lights. If necessary, push or tow your vehicle out of hazards so that you don’t put your life in danger.

2

Secure your vehicle’s wheels.

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Set your parking brake and place a backstop under the diagonal wheel. Place pieces of wood or large rocks in front and in back of the tire that is diagonally across from the one being changed to keep the car from rolling. Make sure this wheel will not roll.^{[1]
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- If it's a rear wheel, set the parking brake.
- If it's a front wheel on a front wheel drive car, be sure the car is in park for automatic transmission.
- On a manual transmission, put the vehicle in first gear.

3

Remove the hubcap.

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You can also use the flat end of a lug wrench to remove the hubcap. Once it is removed, place the hubcap in your trunk or set it inside of your vehicle so that you don’t accidentally scratch the hubcap up.^{[2]
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4

Loosen the lug nuts.

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Make each nut loose enough to move by hand. Fit one end of the lug nut wrench onto the lug nut and turn it counterclockwise. Only loosen each nut about a quarter turn. Continue until you've loosened each lug nut.^{[3]
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- Don’t take any of the nuts off just yet!

5

Find your car's jacking point.

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Any point of the frame should work on an older vehicle. On newer cars, refer to the manual to find the jacking point. Place the jack in place and raise the car slowly. Make sure the car doesn't try to roll away as the wheel comes off the ground.

6

Raise the vehicle up to give yourself room to work.

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The new wheel may be bigger in diameter than the old flat wheel. You need enough room for the new tire to fit, so continue jacking the car up.^{[4]
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7

Remove the lug nuts.

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You loosened the nuts already, so you should be able to rotate the nuts off with your fingers. Place the nuts on a towel so that they don’t roll away.

8

Lift the old wheel off.

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Remove the wheel from the car by sliding it off. Make sure you have a firm grip so your tire doesn't roll away. Take the spare tire out of the trunk and set it nearby. Put the old tire in the trunk.^{[5]
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- Don’t throw the old tire out. You can get it fixed at a mechanic for a very low cost.

9

Slide the new wheel onto the bolts.

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Set the wheel on the studs so that the bolts stick out a bit. The new wheel should align with the bolts the exact same way your old wheel was aligned.^{[6]
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10

Put the lug nuts back on.

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Make sure the rounded end of the nut goes towards the wheel or your wheel will be loose. The nuts should go most of the way in by hand. Take your lug wrench and tighten them as much as you can with the wheel in the air. You're going to tighten them again later, but you don't want the wheel moving around on the studs.

11

Lower the car partially and tighten the nuts.

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Once the wheel begins to touch the ground, tighten the nuts all the way. Use your lug wrench and turn each lug nut clockwise to tighten it. Each nut should be extremely tight. If you're a small to medium build person, I would say they should be as tight as you can get them. If you're a body builder, just don't break the studs.
- The lug nuts should be exceptionally tight. You shouldn’t be able to move the lug wrench at all when you try to turn it.

12

Lower the car and replace the hubcap.

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Lower the jack back and slide out from underneath your vehicle. Double-check each nut one more time to make sure that they’re 100% tight. Replace the hubcap and ensure that’s it’s secured to the wheel. If you are not comfortable that the hubcap is secure, remove it and have someone help you at a later time.

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Question

How do I jack up a vehicle?

Community Answer

I suggest reading wikiHow's article on jacking up a car for detailed advice.

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If I change wheels that are balanced, do they have to be balanced on another vehicle?

Doug Fontaine

Community Answer

Only if the tires and wheels were balanced while on the car. If all wheels were removed and balanced off the car, then no.

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Does the handbrake need to be in the off position when changing a rear wheel once the wheel nuts have been removed?

Community Answer

Yes. Your handbrake is useless if your back wheels are in the air. And you're better off working on a free-moving wheel.

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Tips

If the wheel is too heavy to lift on - Lower the jack and lean the wheel beside the studs. Raise the jack while aligning the studs/holes.

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Make sure the tire air valve faces "out" on the spare tire.

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Don't lose your lug nuts. Make sure you place them in a safe place where no one will come along and kick them all over the road.

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Warnings

Use caution while the car is held with the jack. Stay away from under the car.

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If changing tire on the Roadside. Don't get hit by a passing car.

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Do not jack your car up on a hill or otherwise uneven surface.

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Things You'll Need

Spare tire
Jack
Lug wrench - Or any other tool that can get the nuts off. A socket set will do it too.
Tire blocks - If you don't have blocks you can still change the tyre, just be more careful about the car rolling away
Gloves - If you've got gloves you won't need the washcloth. You can still change the tires without gloves.
Towel or washcloth - You don't need one but if you've got it then use it to wash your dirty hands