How to Change a Flat Tire on a Honda Civic

Got a Flat Tire on Your Honda Civic?

If you have a flat tire on your Honda Civic, you have three options for you to deal with this situation:

  1. Replace the flat tire with the working spare yourself.
  2. Call your insurance or roadside assistance service where you have a membership
  3. Contact an independent mobile tire service to assist you (Sparky Express - Tel: 647-819-0490).

Important Safety Procedures

When replacing a flat tire with the working spare in your Honda Civic, always think safety first:

  • Gradually slow down and park your Honda Civic away from traffic on a flat, solid surface with enough clearance for you to replace the flat tire.
  • Turn the hazard lights on.
  • Use barricades, orange cones, or the emergency reflective triangle to ensure your working area is visible to the other drivers on the road to give you space.
  • Have a lookout partner to keep an eye on the traffic and warn you to clear the area in case of an emergency.
  • Put your Honda Civic in Park.
  • Activate the emergency parking brake or handbrake.
  • Block the opposite wheel with wedges or wheel chokes.
  • Wear a reflective vest if you have one.
  • Never get under the vehicle while is jacked.

Flat Tire Tools You Will Need

Here are the tools that you will need to change your flat tire with the working spare on your Honda Civic:

  • The lug wrench that your vehicle was equipped with.
  • Jack.
  • Wheel wedges.
  • Air compressor or tire inflator.
  • Tire pressure gauge.
  • Properly inflated working spare tire.
  • Wheel lock nut socket.

Prepare the Wheel Wedges

Place two wheel wedges on the opposite wheel's wheel front and back to prevent the vehicle from moving while you're working.

Remove the Flat Tire Wheel

Here is how you can remove the flat tire wheel on your Honda Civic:

  • Remove the hub cap. Some Honda Civic models come with plastic hub caps placed over the nuts, but some hub caps are secured in place with the lug nuts. Make sure that before you start pulling the hub cap from your wheel you identify what type of hub caps your Honda Civic has. Some models don' have hub caps, they are equipped with alloy wheels.
  • Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench. Do not jump on, or kick the lug wrench as you may strip the lug nuts or break the studs. Use your hands or call a professional flat tire roadside assistance if you can't remove the lug nuts manually. Do not remove the lug nuts until your Honda Civic is jacked and the flat tire wheel is off the ground.
  • Use the jack to lift the vehicle. The Honda Civic is equipped with a scissor jack. Make sure you use the proper jacking points as indicated in your owner's manual.
  • Remove the lug nuts. Unscrew the lug nuts all the way and remove the flat tire wheel.

Put on The Spare Tire

Now it's the time to put on your Honda Civic spare tire (also known as working spare, spare wheel, or "donut'):

  • Remove your Honda Civic spare tire from the trunk.
  • Inflate the spare tire to the tire pressure indicated on the sidewall (usually 60 PSI). Do not drive on a spare tire that isn't inflated as instructed.
  • Mount the spare tire on the studs and center it. Make sure the back of the spare tire-s rim is flat against the disk.
  • Put on the lug nuts and tighten them by hand.
  • Tighten the lug nuts to the torque specs indicated in your Honda Civic Owner's Manual. Make sure you don't over-torque the lug nuts by kicking the lug wrench as you might damage the lug nuts and the wheel lock, or even break the wheel studs.
  • Lower the vehicle all the way.
  • Remove the jack.
  • Remove the wedges.
  • Double-check the tire pressure to make sure it matches the pressure recommended on your spare tire's sidewall. Release or add some air as needed.
The spare tire in your Honda Civic is located under the trunk floor.

Place the Flat Tire in the Trunk

Place your flat tire wheel in the trunk, preferably on a blanket or plastic sheet so you keep your trunk clean. Make sure you pick up all the tools and that you leave nothing behind.

How to Drive with the Spare Tire

Usually, the spare tire in your Honda Civic has a label indicating maximum speed. Do not exceed that speed limit (usually 80km/hr or 55mph) and that you will not drive the vehicle aggressively.

Take the flat tire to a professional tire shop for repair or for replacing with a new tire.

If the flat tire was caused by a nail or a screw, a mobile tire service can actually fix your flat tire right where you are, as we provide flat tire repair services. However, if the flat tire on your Honda Civic was punctured on the sidewall, or if the tire puncture or cut exceeds 0.25 inches, the tire cannot be repaired on the road, and we will have to install your spare tire.

Back to blog