The wheel cover or hubcap needs to be removed in order to reach the wheel bolts.

For steel wheels with full plastic covers and aluminum wheels with large circular center caps:

1. Do a safety check is done before proceeding. See Changing a Flat Tire for more information.




Loosen all plastic caps by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Do not try to remove plastic caps from the cover or center cap.

2. Pull the cover or center cap away from the wheel and place it in the trunk.

When reinstalling full plastic covers or center caps, tighten all the plastic caps hand snug, then tighten with the wheel wrench an additional one-quarter of a turn.

1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.




Attach the wheel wrench to the jack bolt head and rotate the wheel wrench clockwise. That will raise the lift head a little.




2. Position the lift head at the jack location nearest the flat tire. Make sure all of the jack lift head is touching the jacking flange under the body. Do not place the jack under a body panel. The lower body panel has an arrow to aid in locating the jacking location.
3. Put the compact spare tire near you.

Caution: Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

Caution: Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.

Caution: Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do maintenance or repairs is dangerous without the appropriate safety equipment and training. If a jack is provided with the vehicle, it is designed only for changing a flat tire. If it is used for anything else, you or others could be badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack is provided with the vehicle, only use it for changing a flat tire.

Notice: Make sure that the jack lift head is in the correct position or you may damage your vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.




4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the road tire to be removed.




Remove all of the wheel nuts.

5. Remove the flat tire.

Caution: Rust or dirt on a wheel or other parts to which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become loose and eventually the wheel could come off and cause a crash. Always remove all rust and dirt from wheels and other parts.





Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.

6. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

Caution: Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.

7. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.



8. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.

Caution: Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose and even come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have to replace them, be sure to get new original equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for wheel nut torque specification.

Notice: Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.





Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown.

9. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the vehicle.
10. Tighten the bolts firmly with the wheel wrench.

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.