# Can You Replace a Flat Tire **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633 "2010-01-04T16:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![NoiseBomb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/49beb7/32.png) [@NoiseBomb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoiseBomb)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633/101 "2010-01-09T06:35:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is it not obvious? You can drive normally on a full-sized spare. Instead of having to put on the donut, get the normal tire fixed, and then switch them again, you just put the spare on, get the normal tire fixed, and stick it in the trunk. Yup. Just don’t toss the flat one in the bed of your truck and put off/forget about getting it patched for the next three months. Especially when your job at the time had you working around constriction sites, with nails and such goodies finding their way to the ground on a regular basis. :smack: I’m in another line of work now and driving a boring little sedan. I’d happily give up a couple gallons from the tank and a little trunk space for a real spare tire. ---
**Author:** ![qsecofr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/13edae/32.png) [@qsecofr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qsecofr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633/102 "2010-01-10T14:00:53Z")
🆒I did it on a mini van in sub freezing temperatures, on the Edens Expressway, with an infant in the car; while waiting for AAA to show up. It was faster that way. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2010, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633/103 "2010-01-10T14:12:53Z")
I did it age 72 last summer, when the local AAA could not find Mass 122 on a map, nor the town of Barre. Well, they did, only four hours later. They also ignored my letter of complaint. To be sure, a Mass state trooper came and helped, saying that he hoped if it happened to his parents, someone would. But I could have done it all on my own. Once upon a time, I insisted that my wife learn to change a tire and she did. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633/104 "2010-01-11T00:09:45Z")
Never done it before but it looks fairly easy. Jack the car up, use the tire iron to remove bolts, remove tire. Replace tire, tighten bolts with tire iron, remove jack from car. Am I missing anything? (I mean other than the cursing and struggling.) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633/105 "2010-01-11T00:26:57Z")
**Olive** , you loosen the lug nuts (not bolts) before you jack car up. you tighten the lug nuts (again not bolts) after the car is no longer on the jack. A very important step. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-replace-a-flat-tire/523633.md?page=5)