5-22 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. If your vehicle is equipped with wheel covers, use the
wheel wrench to begin loosening the plastic wheel nut
caps. Once you have loosened the plastic wheel nut
caps with the wheel wrench you can finish loosening
them with your fingers. Using the flat end of the
wheel wrench, pry along the edge of the wheel cover
until it comes off.
If your vehicle has alloy wheels, first remove the
decorative nut caps using the wheel wrench.2. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.3. Near each wheel well is a notch in the frame which
the jack head fits in. The front notch is 9 inches
(23 cm) back from the front wheel well. The rear
notch is 8 inches (20 cm) forward from the rear wheel
well. As is shown in the diagram above, if your
vehicle has flared side moldings, both front and rear
notches are 18 inches (46 cm) from the wheel wells.
Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits
firmly into the notch in the vehicle's frame nearest the
flat tire. Put the compact spare tire near you.
