Follow these steps to learn how to change a flat tire.

1. Park in a safe location

If you have a flat, stop somewhere safe. The best area is away from traffic, on a flat, firm surface — not somewhere that has grass or soft dirt — and not in a blind spot or curve, advises Consumer Reports. Be sure to engage the parking or emergency brake and turn on your hazard lights, even during the day, to help other drivers see you.

2. Gather tools and supplies

You’ll typically need the following tools to change a flat tire:

Car jack
Lug wrench
Spare tire
Your car’s owner’s manual

Your car’s owner’s manual could contain great information and additional steps around changing a tire on your specific car.

Additionally, you may want to consider keeping these things in your car or truck for additional safety:

Wheel wedges
Pressure gauge
Flat head screwdriver
Portable tire inflator

3. Loosen the lug nuts.

Lug nuts are screwed onto the bolts and hold the wheels in place. Use your lug wrench and loosen — but do not remove — the lug nuts, Pep Boys advises. Do this while the car is still on the ground, as the lug nuts may be on so tight that you have to use your body weight to loosen them. Keep in mind that if you have wheel locks on the tires, you may need to use a special adapter to remove them.

If you don’t see your lug nuts, they may be behind a hub cap. You’ll need to unscrew or pry it off with a flathead screwdriver or the end of your lug wrench to pop it off, says Popular Mechanics. Again, you should reference your car’s owner’s manual to see how to remove your car’s hubcaps so you don’t hurt yourself or damage the rim.

4. Position the jack and raise the car

Look at the car's owner’s manual to find out where to put the jack, says Popular Mechanics. These are called jack points, and they are often indicated by a notch in your vehicle's chassis or frame. Using the right jack location helps increase stability and may minimize the chances of damaging your car, Popular Mechanics adds. Slowly raise the car, keeping in mind that you need enough space to put on the inflated spare tire.

5. Remove the lug nuts and flat tire

Once the car is up on the jack, remove the lug nuts and put them somewhere close by, suggests Popular Mechanics. Putting them in your upturned hubcap is a good trick so they don't roll around and get lost. Then remove the flat tire by giving it a good pull, the site says.

6. Install the spare tire

Put your spare tire on by lining it up with the wheel studs — which are the threaded fasteners you originally took the lug nuts off of.

Replace the lug nuts. Tighten them by hand but don't use the lug wrench while the wheel is in the air, Popular Mechanics warns, as this may cause the car to fall off the jack.

7. Lower the vehicle

Slowly lower the car. Once the wheels are touching the ground, you can remove the jack, Pep Boys advises.

8. Tighten the lug nuts

Get your lug wrench and give the lug nuts a final tighten in a crisscross pattern or as described in your owner's manual. Popular Mechanics warns that not tightening them fully may create an unsafe situation.

9. Put away your tools and check tire pressure

After you have the spare tire attached, gather your tools and store them in a safe location. After all, you never know when you’ll need them again. Then, check the tire pressure of all of your tires to make sure they’re at an ideal level. If any of the tires need air, you can visit a nearby gas station with a free or inexpensive air compressor. You could also inflate the tire on your own if you have a portable air compressor.