Got a flat, punctured or otherwise damaged tire? That's when your spare tire comes in, if you have one.
Wondering where you can get a spare tire?
SHOP SPARE TIRESBefore you start driving on your spare tire, be sure to check out our important spare tire driving tips, where you can learn about the different spare tire types and other need-to-know info!
HOW TO CHANGE A SPARE TIRE
Whether you have a full-sized spare or a temporary donut spare tire, the process to change it is more or less the same. Here's a very brief overview of how to put a spare tire on your vehicle.
You'll need:
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Jack
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Lug wrench
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Wheel chocks (if available)
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Spare tire
Before you get started, you'll need to pull over and park in a safe, flat location. Remember to use your emergency brake and wheel chocks for additional layers of safety.
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Loosen lug nuts
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Use the jack to lift your vehicle
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Remove lug nuts (and keep them safe)
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Remove flat wheel & tire assembly from the hub
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Attach the spare tire to the hub and secure with lug nuts
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Lower the vehicle and tighten lugs again
Make your way to the nearest tire service station (or to your neighborhood Discount Tire!) to have your flat repaired or replaced. We will also perform a tire inspection.
Keep in mind, this is a (very) high level overview of how to put a spare tire on your vehicle. If you want the full breakdown, we have you covered. We've got detailed step-by-step instructions (with a video!) on how to change your spare tire.
HOW TO CHANGE YOUR SPARE TIREAre spare tires universal?
No, spare tires are not universal.
The temporary spare (or donut) tire that came with your vehicle (if one did) is designed to fit your vehicle make and model only. So, it's only able to be used on another vehicle of the same year, make and model, and sometimes even that specific trim level. The same goes for your full-sized spare, if you have one.
How fast can you go on a spare tire?
Discount Tire recommends going no faster than 50mph for more than 50 miles on a temporary spare tire. A full-sized spare tire can be used like a normal tire.
Spare tires are a temporary solution to get you to the nearest service station to make repairs. They offer a limited tread depth and are not intended to be a complete tire replacement.
Check out our spare tire maintenance guide to keep as safe as possible!
READY TO ROLL?
If you need a spare tire inspection, a new spare tire or wheel or even just some advice, feel free to contact us. Walk-ins are always welcome but we also encourage you to buy and make your appointment online first. Customers who buy and book an appointment online wait less time in-store!