# Changing a tire 101

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda3, mazda\
**Created:** [August 17, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673 "2010-08-17T00:39:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![delstjohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@delstjohn](https://community.cartalk.com/u/delstjohn)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 12:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673/1 "2010-08-17T00:39:40Z")

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My left rear tire is flat. I dug out all the tools and donut spare. Loosened the lugnuts and wheel is in the air but seems to be stuck. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673/2 "2010-08-17T00:44:16Z")

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Hit the wheel from behind with soft faced hammer, or something else that won’t damage the wheel.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673/3 "2010-08-17T00:44:17Z")

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If all the lug nuts are off, a sharp blow with a hammer may loosen it up.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673/4 "2010-08-17T00:46:50Z")

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First just start whacking it some - kick it or something. Use common sense about the jack stability - which basically means don’t leave any part of your body under there & don’t pound it hard enough for the jack to fall over.

If a good few kicks don’t get it loose, put the lug nuts back on but leave them a little bit loose. Let the jack down - maybe gently drive the car a few feet. That should break the wheel free - jack it back up & see.

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**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/changing-a-tire-101/53673/5 "2010-08-17T01:11:19Z")

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Another thing to try is put the lug nuts back on 4-5 turns. Then with the tire back on the the ground, try pushing on the side of the vehicle in a rythmic manner so the vehicle starts occilating from side to side. This will sometimes pop off a stuck wheel off the hub.

Tester