How to Put a Spare Tire on Your Vehicle

When you have a flat tire on your Jeep, it can be a very frustrating experience. Fortunately, learning how to replace the tire is relatively simple. With the right tools and knowledge, you can get your Jeep up and running again in no time. In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step instructions on how to properly put a spare tire on your Jeep.

Prepping the Vehicle for Tire Change

Before beginning any type of vehicle maintenance or repair, it is important to make sure that your vehicle is prepped correctly for the job ahead. For this task of changing a flat tire on your Jeep, there are two key steps to take before getting started: set the parking brake and loosen the lug nuts that are securing the old tire in place.

• Set the Parking Brake: Before lifting your Jeep with a jack or jack stand, always remember to set the parking brake first. This will keep your vehicle from rolling while you’re working on it and help prevent any potential accidents from occurring during maintenance tasks like changing out tires.

• Loosen Lug Nuts: Once you have successfully set the parking brake of your Jeep, you can move on to loosen the lug nuts that are securing the old tire in place. You will need a lug wrench to loosen these bolts, which should be stored with your vehicle’s spare tire and/or jack. It is important to only loosen the lug nuts and not remove them entirely at this point, as this will make it easier for you when it comes time to remove the old tire from the wheel.

Removing the Old Tire

Now that you have prepared your Jeep for the tire change, you can move on to removing the flat tire from your vehicle.

• Lift the Vehicle with Jack: Begin by grabbing your car jack and positioning it beneath one of the designated jacking points located under your Jeep’s frame (usually near or around each wheel). Once positioned correctly, slowly begin raising your vehicle until it is off the ground enough for you to work comfortably underneath it. Make sure that both sides of your vehicle are supported evenly so there is no risk of tipping over while changing out tires.

• Remove Lug Nuts and Old Tire: Now that one side of your Jeep has been safely raised off the ground, you can begin removing the lug nuts that were loosened in the previous step. Once all of the lug nuts have been completely removed, you can then take hold of the old tire and carefully pull it away from the wheel. Make sure to keep your hands and arms away from any spinning parts or machinery at this point to avoid getting injured.

Installing The Spare Tire

Once the old tire has been removed, you can now move on to installing your spare tire on your Jeep’s wheel.

• Place New Tire on Wheel Bolt Pattern: Begin by taking hold of your spare tire and placing it onto the wheel bolt pattern so that its holes are aligned with those on your vehicle’s wheel. If need be, adjust its position until it is completely centered before moving on to securely tighten down its lug nuts.

• Securely Tighten Lug Nuts: Now that the spare tire is properly positioned onto your vehicle’s wheel, you can begin tightening down its lug nuts until they are snug but not overly tight. Make sure to apply even pressure across all sides when doing this to ensure a secure fit before putting your Jeep back onto the ground below.

Finishing up and Lowering the Vehicle

Once your spare tire has been securely tightened, you can move on to the final steps of this process.

• Tighten Lug Nuts Fully: Before lowering your Jeep back onto the ground below, make sure to go back and fully tighten each of the lug nuts that were used to secure the spare tire in place. This is an important step as it will ensure that your new tire can function properly without any risk of coming loose or being damaged while driving.

• Lower Vehicle with Jack: Now that all its lug nuts have been tightened down, you can slowly lower your vehicle back onto the ground with the jack or jack stand you were using earlier. Once on solid ground again, make sure to double-check around each wheel to ensure that all its bolts and nuts are secured properly before turning off your parking brake and starting up your Jeep’s engine once more.

Perform Final Safety Checks

Before taking off your newly repaired Jeep, it is always a good idea to perform some final safety checks to further ensure nothing was missed during the process. Make sure that none of its lug nuts are loose or missing, and that its tires have been properly inflated to the recommended pressure. Additionally, check all of its lights and signals to make sure they are functioning correctly before driving away. Lastly, it’s crucial not to overlook the importance of having a properly secured spare tire, especially when planning off-road adventures. A quality spare tire carrier is a valuable accessory that offers convenient storage and easy access to your spare tire. To choose the best fit for your Jeep, refer to our guide on best off-road Jeep spare tire carriers.

Conclusion

Changing a flat tire on your Jeep can be a daunting task, but with the right tools and knowledge, it is quite simple to do. With this easy-to-follow guide, you should now be able to confidently put a spare tire onto your Jeep in no time at all. Be sure to always keep safety in mind when performing any kind of vehicle maintenance or repair, as it can help prevent any potential accidents from occurring during the process.