How Do You Change a Car Tire?

Whether you frequently drive on Oak Lawn roads and are worried about getting a flat tire, or you’re simply in need of a fresh set of new wheels, knowing how to change a tire is a handy skill to have. Although, if you’re wondering, “How do you change a car tire?” you can rely on the service experts here at Oak Lawn Toyota to help! Read on to learn more about how to change your Toyota tires, as well as how to facilitate good tire upkeep.

How to Change Your Toyota Tires

When changing your Toyota tires, you’ll need the following tools to get started: a jack, lug wrench, spare tire or new tire(s), and your owner’s manual. Once you’re prepared, replacing your tire is a quick and easy process:

1. If you’re on the side of the road in Evergreen Park or Orland Park, you’ll want to move to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights.
2. Apply the parking brake and place wheel wedges under the other tires.
3. Take the wheel cover or hubcap off of the tire and remove the lug nuts.
4. Remove the old tire and mount the new or spare tire.
5. Tighten the lug nuts, then lower the vehicle back to the ground.

How Frequently Should You Change Your Tires?

When determining how often you should change your tires, it all depends on how often you rotate your tires and the quality of your tires. If you rotate them frequently, your tires should last for the entire duration of the promised life expectancy. However, you should still check your tire pressure and tread on a regular basis just to be safe. If there’s significant tread wear, you’ll need new tires. To make sure that your tires last as long as possible, it’s always a good idea to schedule a tire rotation when getting your oil changed.

How Do You Put Air in Tires?

If it’s not time to change your tires just yet, but you’re noticing they feel a bit flat as you drive throughout Orland Park, you may just need to put air in them. Don’t own an air pump? No problem! You can usually visit a local gas station and use theirs. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to put air in your tires:

• Park your car near the air dispenser and make sure that the hose can reach each tire.
• Remove the cap on the tire valve of the first tire.
• Check the tire’s air pressure by using your tire gauge. It’s best to do this step at home, even prior to heading to the gas station to fill your tires, as tires can heat up while driving and cause the air inside to expand. As a result, this can provide a false reading.
• Use the air hose to add small amounts of air in short bursts while checking the tire gauge each time.

While you’re filling up the tire, remember to keep an eye on the tire gauge until you reach the right amount of pressure.

How Many Miles Can You Drive on a Spare Tire?

While a spare tire is a quick and convenient solution to a tire replacement, these tires are not made to be driven on for very long–rarely more than 50 miles. Additionally, you should never drive on a spare tire at high speeds. Your spare tire will detail its specific limits, but it’s recommended to stay below 50 mph.

Learn More About Toyota Tire Care at Oak Lawn Toyota

You know the answer to “How do you change a car tire?” but if you’re not comfortable with changing tires yourself, Oak Lawn Toyota near Countryside is always happy to help. Contact us with any Toyota tire-related questions, or bring your vehicle to our service center where we can take care of tire changes for you. When you drive a Toyota in Oak Lawn, service at Oak Lawn Toyota is unmatched!