Change a flat tire on the side of the road
The difference between a 20-minute shoulder stop and an hour on the phone with a tow company is knowing where the spare and jack live before you need them.
What you'll learn
- Why the traffic-side of a vehicle is the dangerous side for a DIY change
- Where the jack point is on most modern vehicles (check the owner's manual)
- The correct lug-nut loosening pattern (star/cross, not circle)
- When to call for a tow instead - highway shoulders, curbs without room, or damaged sidewalls
Step by step
- Pull off into a safe flat spot - away from traffic, off a shoulder if possible.
- Set the parking brake. Turn on hazard lights. Put the transmission in park (or 1st gear on manual).
- Loosen the lug nuts half a turn each before jacking - while the tire is still on the ground.
- Position the jack at the factory jack point under the frame. Raise until the tire is 1-2 inches off the ground.
- Remove the lugs, swap the flat for the spare, hand-tighten lugs in a star pattern.
- Lower the car fully. Torque the lugs in the same star pattern.
- Drive to a tire shop when you can. Spare speed and distance limits are in the owner's manual. There is no single 50 mph / 70 mile rule for every car.
If you are on the shoulder of I-4, the Beachline (SR-528), the Turnpike, or another busy Orlando-area expressway, staying in the vehicle with belts on is often safer than changing a tire next to moving traffic. Dial *347 for FHP Road Rangers on covered Florida highways. FDOT describes limited no-cost help such as a flat change, a jump, emergency fuel, minor repairs, or moving a disabled vehicle out of a travel lane. What they can do depends on the route. If you cannot change the tire safely, call for a tow to a lot or shop.
Rather have a pro handle it?
Towing and roadside service across Orlando Metro. One local number, open any hour.
Keep learning.
Jump-start a dead battery safely
Jumper cables are simple until you hook them wrong. Do it right and you'll avoid sparks, ruined electronics, and a tow you didn't need.
What to do when your car is stuck in mud or standing water
Flooded intersections and soft shoulders on new West Orange County roads swallow cars every rainy season. The first thing to do is stop making it worse.
Prepare your vehicle for a tow
A few minutes of prep before the tow truck arrives saves time, avoids damage, and makes the whole call go faster.