What to Do When You Get a Flat Tire

Stop safely, turn on hazard lights, and move away from traffic

When you feel a flat tire — usually a sudden loss of control, a thumping sound, or the steering wheel pulling to one side — your first job is to get the car to a safe place. Do not slam on the brakes. Ease off the gas, grip the wheel firmly, and steer toward the shoulder or a parking lot, away from moving traffic.

Once you have stopped, turn on your hazard lights immediately. If it is dark or visibility is poor, turn on your headlights too. If you are on a highway and cannot reach the shoulder safely, stay in the car with your seatbelt on and call for roadside help rather than trying to change the tire yourself.

If you do exit the vehicle, stay well away from the roadway. Wear a reflective vest if you have one. Do not change the tire on the shoulder of a busy road — the risk of being hit is real. If you cannot reach a safe spot, call for a tow truck instead.

Key Takeaways

• Move the car to a safe location away from traffic before attempting any repairs, and turn on hazard lights immediately.
• You will need a jack, a lug wrench, and a spare tire — check that your spare is inflated and your jack works before you need them.
• Loosen lug nuts while the car is still on the ground, then raise the car, remove the wheel, and install the spare in reverse order.
• A spare tire is a temporary fix only — drive slowly to a tire shop and have the flat repaired or replaced as soon as possible.
• If you do not have the tools, the strength, or a safe place to work, call roadside assistance or a tow truck rather than risk injury.

Gather your tools and check what you have

Before you start, open your trunk and locate your spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Most cars come with these, but some newer vehicles have a compact spare or a tire repair kit instead. Check your owner's manual if you are not sure what your car carries.

Inspect the spare tire — it should be inflated to the pressure listed on the label attached to it. If the spare is flat or very soft, you cannot use it, and you will need to call for a tow. Test the jack by placing it under the car's frame (not the body) and cranking it slightly to make sure it works. If the jack is broken or missing, do not attempt to lift the car yourself.

If you lack any of these tools, or if you are on a busy highway, in bad weather, or in an unsafe area, do not attempt the repair. Call roadside assistance, a family member, or a tow truck. There is no shame in waiting for professional help.

Loosen the lug nuts before lifting the car

Place the lug wrench on each lug nut and turn it counterclockwise to loosen them — do this while the car is still on the ground and has full weight on the tire. You do not need to remove them completely, just loosen them enough that you can turn them by hand once the car is raised. This step prevents the wheel from spinning when you try to unscrew the nuts later.

If the lug nuts are very tight and you cannot budge them, do not force it. Stop and call for help. Straining yourself or breaking the wrench will not solve the problem.

Raise the car and remove the flat tire

Position the jack under the car's frame near the flat tire — your owner's manual shows the exact spot, usually a reinforced notch along the side. Crank the jack slowly until the tire is about six inches off the ground. Do not go higher than necessary.

Now finish unscrewing the lug nuts by hand and set them aside in a safe place where you will not lose them. Grip the tire firmly and pull it straight toward you to remove it from the wheel hub. Set the flat tire on its side nearby.

Install the spare and tighten the lug nuts

Lift the spare tire and align the holes with the wheel hub studs. Push it straight onto the hub until it sits flush. Hand-tighten the lug nuts in a crisscross pattern (top, bottom, left, right, then the remaining ones) to hold the wheel in place. Do not use the wrench yet — just get them snug by hand.

Lower the car slowly by turning the jack handle until the spare tire touches the ground and bears the car's weight. Once the car is fully down, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts in the same crisscross pattern. Tighten them firmly but do not overtighten — you want them snug, not stripped.

Pack up and drive to a tire shop

Place the flat tire, jack, and lug wrench back in your trunk. Do a quick check: all four lug nuts tight, spare tire seated properly, no tools left behind. Turn off your hazard lights once you are ready to drive.

A spare tire — especially a compact or temporary spare — is not meant for long-term use. Drive slowly, avoid highways if possible, and head to a tire shop as soon as you can. Most shops can repair a punctured tire for a modest fee, or replace it if the damage is too severe. Do not ignore this step. Driving on a spare for days or weeks risks damaging the wheel hub and suspension.

When to call for help instead

Do not attempt a tire change if you are on a highway with heavy traffic, if the weather is severe, if you are in an unsafe neighborhood, if you lack the tools, or if you have a physical condition that makes it unsafe. Roadside assistance services like AAA, your car's roadside plan, or your insurance company's roadside benefit will send a tow truck or a technician to help you.

If you do not have roadside coverage, you can call a local tow company directly. The cost varies, but it is usually between $75 and $150 for a short tow to a nearby shop. That is a reasonable price for staying safe and avoiding injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive on a spare tire for a long distance?

No. Spare tires, especially compact ones, are designed for short trips to a tire shop only. Driving more than 50 to 70 miles on a spare can damage the wheel hub, transmission, and suspension. Get the flat repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

What if I cannot loosen the lug nuts?

Lug nuts can seize, especially if the car sits for a long time or in wet conditions. Try spraying penetrating oil around the nut and waiting a few minutes. If they still will not budge, stop and call for help. Forcing them risks injury and damage to the wrench.

Do I need to replace the flat tire, or can it be repaired?

Many punctures can be repaired if the hole is small and in the tread area. A tire shop will inspect it and tell you whether repair or replacement is necessary. Repairs are cheaper but take longer than a replacement.

What if my car does not have a spare tire?

Some newer cars come with a tire repair kit or a tire sealant canister instead of a spare. Follow the instructions on the kit, which usually involve injecting sealant into the tire and driving slowly to a shop. If your car has neither a spare nor a kit, you will need to call a tow truck.

Should I keep my spare tire inflated?

Yes. Check your spare tire's pressure once a month, or at least every few months. A flat spare is useless in an emergency. The correct pressure is printed on a label attached to the spare itself, not on the driver's door jamb.