My daughter drives in less than one and one half years.  One of the skills she will have before she heads out on the road alone is the ability to change a flat tire (the other three kids will too).

Yes, I have towing service as part of my auto insurance, but what if there is no mobile or other phone service?  Should she stand around and wait for someone to pass by?  No way Jose!

You should practice in your driveway once or twice so you can do it the moment it is needed.  Here's what to do:

• Get the vehicle to level (and safe from traffic) ground
• Apply the emergency brake and put hazard lights on
• Get the spare and tools out of the trunk
• Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with the lug nut wrench (Left to loose and right to tight-- The Turn of the Screw and Must Have Basic Tools)
• Position the jack under the vehicle according the owner's manual or the sticker in the trunk and raise the vehicle so there is about one inch of space between the bottom of the tire and the ground
• Now remove the lug nuts completely and with your hands at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions-- remove the wheel (Why those positions?  Because if the vehicle fell-- it wouldn't land on your hands)
• Put the spare on with your hands in the same positions (9 and 3) and finger tighten the lug nuts (Right to tight and left to loose)
• Lower the vehicle with the jack
• Tighten lug nuts with the lug nut wrench and remove jack
• Put flat tire and tools in trunk and be on your way about 15-20 minutes later

Happy motoring!

This post originally appeared on DivorcedDadFrugalDad.com, here is the link to the original post, DIY: How to Change a Flat Tire.

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DDFD believes that self reliance and self sufficiency are the roads to individual freedom.  He is dedicated to living a quality life through frugality, personal growth and productivity, and defensive entrepreneurship.  He also enjoys cooking from scratch and fishing.