How Do You Change a Car Tire?

If you have unfortunately discovered that your car has a flat, knowing how to change a car tire can help you get back on the road as soon as possible. Changing a tire yourself is really rather easy, and many Regina-area drivers find it preferable to having to pay for emergency service. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to change a car tire courtesy of the team here in the Standard Motors Service Centre.

Changing Your Buick, Chevrolet, GMC Tires

The first thing you need to do is gather up the tools required to change a car tire. Make sure that you have a jack, a lug wrench and a spare tire or new tire(s), and have your owner’s manual handy. Then follow these steps to change a tire on your car, truck, or SUV:

1. If your vehicle is on the road, move it to a safe place and switch on the hazard lights.
2. Apply the parking brake and place wheel wedges under the other tires.
3. Remove the hubcap or wheel cover from the tire, and then loosen the lug nuts.
4. Raise your vehicle with your jack and remove the lug nuts.
5. Remove the flat tire and mount the new or spare tire.
6. Tighten the lug nuts, then lower the vehicle back to the ground.

How Often Should You Change Car Tires?

Determining how long your tires will last depends on the quality of the tires and whether or not you have kept up to date on your tire rotation schedule. Regular tire rotations can help to ensure that you get the full mileage life of your tires. A good practice for all Saskatoon drivers is to routinely check the tire pressure and tread depth of all four tires. Monitoring the condition of your tires will help ensure that they are safe to drive on.

How Many Kilometers Can You Go on a Spare Tire?

If you’ve had to replace a flat tire with the spare, you should try to have a new tire put on as soon as you can. Spare tires are not a long-term solution and should only be driven on for no more than 100 kilometers. The spare will usually have the specific speed limit printed on the sidewall, but most manufacturers recommend that you don’t drive over 80 kph.

The Standard Motors Service Center Helps with Your Tire Needs

If you are not comfortable with changing tires yourself, bring your vehicle into the Service Centre at Standard Motors. Our certified technicians are standing by to help you change out your winter tires to summer, as well as take care of all your Buick, GMC, and Chevrolet maintenance and repair needs. Make sure to take advantage of our service specials and coupons, and the next time you’re due for a tire rotation, oil change, or brake service, schedule an appointment with us online. Contact our Service Centre if you have any questions. We will also be happy to offer advice on everything from how to fix dents and scratches and how often you should change your oil, to how to unlock a steering wheel and how to jump start a car, so come see us today!