# How To Change Your Car Tire
I recently had the (mis)fortune of changing my car tire.
If this ever happens to you, here is how you change your car tire. You can change it to a brand new one, a used one, or a donut (backup wheel in your car) just long enough to drive it to your local tire shop.
Take your time; there's no rush. You don't have to break a sweat if you're careful about it.
# Loosen the Lug Nuts
# Raise the Car
Note: There should be a nice metal spot for the car jack (the device that lifts your car) to slot into securely enough to lift the entire frame of the car.
Be careful. Unless you have a jack stand (like a car jack, but meant to ensure your car doesn't fall on you while you're under it), it's possible to rock the car off the jack, dropping the car onto you, especially if the wheel is off.
# Replace the Tire
Note: One thing to note about replacing lug nuts (the bolts that hold your wheel to your car) is that you typically want to tighten/unscrew them in a star-shaped pattern. This will ensure all the lugs get screwed evenly.
If you don't do this, one side might get tightened before the opposite side does, and over many rotations, your wheel can actually loosen the screws enough to fall off.
Chances are, you'll hear a thunking noise before this happens.
