How To Change a Flat Tire Phoenix, AZ - Mercedes-Benz of North Scottsdale

If you’ve made it into adulthood without learning how to change a tire, don’t feel bad. A lot of our Phoenix customers are in the same boat. The service team at Mercedes-Benz of North Scottsdale wants you to be prepared for roadside emergencies, so we’ve put together this handy guide. How do you change a car tire? Let’s find out! We’ll also talk about how often to change car tires if you want to avoid flats and declines in performance.

So, How Do You Change a Car Tire in Phoenix, AZ?

How do you change a car tire? A lot of our Scottsdale customers have come to find out that it’s not as hard as they originally thought. Just follow these steps:

• Pull over to a level spot. This is assuming there is a level spot within a few yards of where your tire goes flat. Do not drive on a flat tire. This will bend the rim. You will also need to pull a safe distance away from the road. If there is no nearby spot where you can safely work on the vehicle or jack it up, have the car towed.
• Locate your vehicle’s spare tire, jack, and tire iron/lug wrench. Spare tires are often located in the trunk of most sedans and compacts. You can generally find them outside underneath minivans and pickups. However, each brand of vehicle will vary.
• Wedge a tire chock under each good tire. Most Mesa area drivers don’t own tire chocks, so they will have to make do without them.
• Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Do not remove the lug nuts during this step. They just need to be loosened so that you do not need to apply pressure on them later when the car is jacked up. This decreases the chance of knocking the car off the jack.
• Jack up the car just enough so that the flat tire is off of the ground. Make sure the jack is flat on the ground. Set it under the nearest jack point to the flat tire. Do not place your foot or any part of your body under the car. Place jack stands, if you have them, under the car once it’s jacked up.
• Remove the lug nuts and the flat tire. Pro tip: place the lug nuts in the hub of the flat tire so you don’t lose them.
• Place the spare tire on the wheel and screw the lug nuts back on. Don’t tighten the lug nuts all the way.
• Jack down the car, then completely tighten the lug nuts.

How Often to Change Car Tires in Phoenix, AZ

A tire will eventually need to be replaced, even if it never goes flat. How often to change car tires can depend on the tires. However, the NHTSA recommends that you replace your tires every six years, regardless of how many miles you have put on them. A tire should be replaced if the tread is worn or damaged, regardless of age.

Check Out More Helpful Tips on Our Website

If you found this article helpful, you may enjoy our other service tips and tricks. Our service team wants to help you keep your car running in top shape on our Fountain Hills roads. So, if you have any questions or need any assistance, contact us today!

Brushing up on DIY car care? Find out how to replace a brake light or how to replace the battery in your key fob.