1. Pop that trunk

How To Change a Tire Tip: Pop That Trunk

That’s where you’ll locate the spare tire and car jack. Don’t forget—you’ll need a wrench as well.

2. Line it up

Once you’re beside the flat, line up your jack with the car door’s indicator near the bottom (Make sure you have a solid, level surface underneath—slopes are bad news).

3. Loosen the lugs

How To Change a Tire Tip: Loosen the Lugs

Before you jack your car, loosen the wheel’s lugs—once the weight is off, this will make it easier to remove them.

4. We have lift off!

How To Change a Tire Tip: Lift Off!

Well, almost—before that you’ll need to adjust the jack into place and tighten it to the door’s sub-frame. Once that’s done, use the lever and finish the lift.

5. Out with the old…

Now that it’s jacked, finish removing the wheel lugs. Then you can replace the flat with your spare before you begin tightening the lugs once more (we find tightening them in a star pattern—up-down-side-side—works best).

6. Get low

How To Change a Tire Tip: Get Down Low

Now that the new tire is securely on, reverse the jack and lower the car back on down. With the weight back on the tire, finish tightening the lugs and you’re ready to roll.

Pro tip: Because it’s a spare, try to drive with the 50/50 rule—drive no faster than 50 MPH, for no more than 50 miles in total.

*Too much tire trouble? Ford Roadside Assistance is always close by—it just takes a phone call to get things rolling.