Written by: Toolsmith Direct
Using a car bottle jack to change a tire is something most car owners will come into contact with at least once during the duration of car ownership. You will need access to your car’s under carriage, which typically requires a jack to lift the car from the ground.
What Not to Do
Don’t use car jacks to hold a car in place, it is strictly for raising or lowering the car to change tires and do maintenance to the under carriage. Do not leave the wheels unblocked or your car runs the risk of rolling, which could knock it off the jack and cause serious problems for whoever happens to be working underneath. You should also avoid changing tires on a freeway, pulling off to the side wherever possible.
What to Do
Begin by parking your vehicle on the side of the road, or in a space that is safe for your to work. Feel beneath the car for the bar of your chassis and position the 3 ton floor jack so that it will raise the car from that support. Put the car in park if your transmission is automatic, and engage the parking brake. If you do not have blocks to stop your car from rolling, turn the wheel of your car so that the tires are against the curb.
Jack the car up slowly, then place stands beneath the car. Lower the jack until the car rests comfortably on the stands that you set up.