How to Put on a Spare Tire on a Toyota Camry: Step-by-Step Instructions

A flat tire on your Toyota Camry can feel stressful, but the basic spare-tire process is simple when the car is parked safely and you use the right tools. The key is to loosen the lug nuts before lifting the car, place the jack only at the approved jack point, install the spare evenly, and drive slowly to a repair shop.

Why You Should Know How to Change a Tire

Knowing how to change a tire helps you handle a flat without waiting helplessly for roadside assistance. It is especially useful in parking lots, driveways, rural areas, or places where help may take a long time to arrive.

That said, safety comes first. If the Camry is close to fast traffic, on a narrow shoulder, on a hill, on soft dirt, or in poor visibility, do not try to change the tire yourself. Call roadside assistance instead.

Gather Your Tools and Supplies for Tire Change

Before you begin, check your Toyota Camry owner’s manual for the exact tool locations and jack points for your model year. Many Camry models store the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench under the trunk floor, but the layout can vary by year and trim. Toyota’s official manual library is the best place to confirm details for your exact car: Toyota Owners Manuals & Warranties.

Before You Start: Secure the Camry

Take a minute to set up safely before touching the lug nuts. Pull as far from traffic as possible, turn on the hazard lights, shift to Park, turn the vehicle off, and set the parking brake. Ask passengers to stand away from traffic and away from the car.

1. Park on firm, level pavement whenever possible.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Place wheel wedges in front of and behind the tire diagonally opposite the flat tire.
4. Remove the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and any wheel lock key from the trunk.
5. Check that the spare tire is inflated and safe to use.

Loosening Lug Nuts and Safely Lifting the Vehicle

Before lifting the vehicle, use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise while the flat tire is still on the ground. Loosen each nut about ¼ to ½ turn. Do not remove them yet.

Proper Tool Usage

Fit the lug wrench fully onto each lug nut before applying pressure. Use steady force rather than jerky movements. If a lug nut is stuck, try pressing down carefully with your foot while keeping your balance, but do not jump on the wrench. If the nuts will not loosen, call roadside assistance instead of risking injury or tool damage.

Safe Vehicle Lifting

Place the jack under the correct jack point listed in your Camry owner’s manual. On many Camry models, the jack points are reinforced areas along the lower body near the wheels, but you should verify the exact location for your year and trim before lifting.

Crank the jack slowly until the flat tire is about six inches off the ground. Make sure the car stays stable as it rises. If the jack tilts, sinks, or shifts, lower the vehicle and reset it before continuing.

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire

Now that the Camry is safely lifted, remove the loosened lug nuts completely and place them somewhere they will not roll away. Pull the flat tire straight toward you. If it sticks to the hub, gently rock it from side to side until it loosens.

Tools and Equipment Needed

For a clean spare-tire installation, keep these items within reach:

1. Spare tire: Make sure the valve stem faces outward when mounted.
2. Lug nuts: Keep them clean and do not coat them with oil or grease.
3. Lug wrench: Use it for snugging the nuts, then get a torque check as soon as possible.
4. Owner’s manual: Use it to confirm jacking points, spare-tire limits, and wheel-nut torque for your exact Camry.

Step-by-Step Removal Process

1. Remove each loosened lug nut by hand or with the lug wrench.
2. Set the lug nuts in a pocket, cup holder, or small container so they do not roll away.
3. Pull the flat tire straight off the wheel hub.
4. Move the flat tire out of the work area, but do not leave it where it can roll into traffic.
5. Lift the spare tire onto the hub, lining up the holes with the wheel studs.

Proper Spare Tire Installation

Push the spare tire fully against the hub. Thread each lug nut by hand first. This helps prevent cross-threading, which can damage the wheel studs. Once all nuts are hand-started, snug them lightly with the lug wrench in a crisscross pattern. Do not fully tighten them while the tire is still in the air.

Tightening Lug Nuts and Lowering the Vehicle

Lower the Camry until the spare tire touches the ground and cannot spin, but before the full weight of the car is on the tire. Use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts in a crisscross or star pattern. This helps seat the wheel evenly against the hub.

Once the nuts are snug, lower the vehicle completely and remove the jack. Tighten the lug nuts again in the same crisscross pattern. For a 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota lists wheel nut torque at 76 ft-lbf (103 N·m), but you should confirm the correct torque for your exact model year in the owner’s manual or with a Toyota service center.

A lug wrench can get you safely moving, but a torque wrench is the right tool for final tightening. Have the lug nuts torqued to specification as soon as possible after installing the spare.

What to Do After Changing Your Tire?

After the spare is installed, do not treat the car as fully repaired. A spare tire is usually a temporary solution to get you to a safe repair location.

1. Check the spare tire pressure: Use a gauge and follow the tire label, door placard, or owner’s manual. Compact spares often need higher pressure than standard tires.
2. Store the flat tire and tools: Put the jack, lug wrench, wheel wedges, and flat tire back in the trunk so nothing moves around while driving.
3. Drive cautiously: If you are using a temporary or donut spare, stay at or below the speed and distance limits printed on the tire or listed in your manual. A common rule is no more than 50 mph and about 50 miles.
4. Expect possible TPMS behavior: Depending on the year and trim, the tire pressure warning may stay on until the regular wheel and tire are repaired and reinstalled.
5. Go directly to service: Have the flat tire repaired or replaced, and have the spare removed as soon as practical.

Spare Tire Maintenance for Your Camry

Your spare tire needs maintenance even if you never use it. Check it before long trips and at least once a month when you check your other tires. Look for low pressure, cracks, bulges, punctures, or dry rot.

You should also check the DOT tire identification number on the sidewall. The last four digits show the week and year the tire was made. For example, a code ending in “2521” means the tire was made in the 25th week of 2021. If the spare is six to 10 years old, follow the tire and vehicle manufacturer’s replacement guidance, and do not rely on it if it shows damage or will not hold pressure.

When Not to Change the Tire Yourself

Changing a tire is not always the safest choice. Call roadside assistance if:

• The flat tire is on the traffic side of the vehicle and you cannot move to a safer spot.
• The car is on a steep slope, soft shoulder, mud, gravel, or ice.
• The jack will not sit flat and stable.
• The lug nuts are damaged, rounded, or stuck.
• The spare tire is flat, cracked, bulging, missing, or badly aged.
• You cannot find the wheel lock key for locking lug nuts.
• You feel unsafe for any reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Putting a spare tire on a Toyota Camry is manageable when you work slowly, use the correct jack point, and keep safety first. Loosen the lug nuts before lifting, mount the spare straight onto the hub, tighten the nuts in a crisscross pattern, and drive carefully to a repair shop. Keep your spare inflated, inspect it regularly, and verify your Camry’s exact instructions in the owner’s manual so you are ready before a flat tire happens.

Sources

1. Toyota Owners Manuals & Warranties — official owner’s manual source for Camry tool locations, jack points, and model-year instructions
2. Toyota 2025 Camry Hybrid: If You Have a Flat Tire — official Toyota flat-tire procedure and wheel-nut torque reference
3. NHTSA TireWise — tire pressure, tire aging, tread, spare-tire awareness, and tire safety guidance
4. AAA: How to Change a Tire in 11 Easy Steps — roadside tire-change safety and step-by-step guidance
5. AAA Club Alliance: How Far Can You Really Drive on a Spare Tire? — temporary spare tire speed and distance limits