Changing a tire can be challenging, especially if you're a beginner. But don't be discouraged! It may take some time to get comfortable with the process, but practice makes perfect.
With that said, we bet that you don't know whether should you loosen lug nuts before jacking car or not? This is a question that most people don't know the answer to, and this article is here to help.
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You Must Loosen Lug Nuts Before Jacking Up the Car
It would be best if you always loosened the lug nuts before jacking a car up to change tire. If you don't, then what happens is that the wheels of your vehicle are in place because of lug nuts, and you'll need to apply sheer force to lose them.
Now, if you jack up the car before the nuts become unloose, the tires will spin in the air.
It is also tough to undo the lug nuts while your automobile is jacked up and ready to lift off the ground because they are now at an unlevel angle. This makes it harder to remove the tires from the vehicle.
Besides, if you don't loosen the lug nuts, then when you jack up your car and put weight on those wheels, they won't be able to stand straight up and down. They'll be forced to bend, and that can damage your wheel or tire.
How Can You Loosen Nuts Quickly?
Use a lug wrench with an adjustable head to loosen the lug nuts. It'll allow you to quickly turn each lug nut in a crisscross pattern until they are loose enough to turn by hand but not too loose that they fall off when removing the tire.
After loosening all four wheels, raise your vehicle on jack stands or another sturdy surface (such as your garage floor) and remove each wheel one at a time using a jack. You better use jack stands for added stability.
4 Mistakes You Should Avoid When Changing a Tire
Is it safe loosen lug nuts before jacking up the car? Yes, it is. Plus, people make a few mistakes when they change a tire, and you better avoid them to stay safe.
1. Never Stay Under a Jacked-Up Car
Please don’t put any part of your body under the vehicle while it's jacked up or resting on jack stands. If something falls on top of it, it could crush your foot or hand!
2. Make Yourself Visible
Always use warning reflectors or road flares when changing tires on the road. You can even open the hood, open the doors, and turn on the danger lights.
3. Change Tire In A Safe Place
Never change your tire on the side of the road. If you have a flat tire and need to change it, find a safe location to pull off the road before attempting to do so. If there isn't an area that is safe for you to pull into, try getting as far off the roadway as possible.
4. Ensure Jacks Stability
When using jack stands, always make sure they are correctly secured before placing anything on top of them. If they fail, they could send your car crashing down onto the ground below!
Final Verdict
It would be best if you always loosened the lug nuts first, then jack up the car. You will save yourself time and unnecessary strain by getting any wheels not being changed off the ground first.
