If you need to change a flat tire, your first priority is getting out of danger before touching the jack, lug wrench, or spare tire. If the vehicle can still roll, move as far away from traffic as possible and stop on a firm, level surface.
Turn on your hazard lights, set the parking brake, and keep passengers away from traffic. If you are on a narrow shoulder, curve, soft ground, busy street, ramp, bridge, or another unsafe location, do not risk changing the tire yourself.
Before lifting the vehicle, check your owner’s manual for the proper jack location. Loosen the lug nuts while the flat tire is still on the ground, raise the vehicle only as much as needed, remove the flat tire, install the spare, hand-thread the lug nuts, lower the vehicle, and tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
Most temporary spare tires are made for limited speed and distance, so drive carefully and go to a tire shop for repair or replacement as soon as possible.
If you do not have a usable spare, your tools are missing, the lug nuts are stuck, the vehicle is in an unsafe location, or you are not comfortable changing the tire yourself, Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance can help with flat tire service in Lake View East and across Chicago’s North Side.
Not every flat tire needs a tow. If the vehicle has a usable spare and the location allows safe access, Rick’s can help with spare tire installation.
If the spare is missing, damaged, flat, unsafe to use, or the vehicle cannot be driven safely, Rick’s can provide wheel-lift towing to a tire shop, repair shop, dealership, home, or another safe location.
Rick’s provides wheel-lift towing only. No flatbed towing is offered.
Before changing a flat tire, check that your vehicle has the right equipment. Common items include a usable spare tire, jack, lug wrench, owner’s manual, flashlight, gloves, and wheel chocks if available.
Chicago drivers often deal with potholes, curb damage, road debris, and sudden tire pressure loss, so keeping these items in the vehicle can help. Still, having tools does not mean every roadside location is safe for a tire change.
If your vehicle is near traffic, on uneven ground, in bad weather, in a tight parking area, or missing the right tools, calling for roadside assistance may be the safer option.
First, move the vehicle to a safer location if possible. Turn on the hazard lights, put the vehicle in park, set the parking brake, and keep passengers away from traffic.
Next, remove the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. Loosen the lug nuts slightly while the flat tire is still touching the ground. Do not remove them all the way yet.
Check your owner’s manual for the correct jack location. Raise the vehicle only high enough to remove the flat tire. Remove the lug nuts, pull the flat tire off, line up the spare tire, and hand-thread the lug nuts back onto the wheel studs.
Lower the vehicle until the spare tire touches the ground, then tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Fully lower the vehicle, remove the jack, and recheck the lug nuts before driving.
Drive carefully after installing a spare. Many spare tires are temporary and should only be used for limited distance and reduced speed until the tire can be repaired or replaced.
Changing a flat tire is not always safe or practical. A missing spare, damaged spare, stuck lug nuts, broken jack, wheel lock issue, bad weather, heavy traffic, or unsafe parking location can turn a simple tire change into a roadside problem.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance can help with spare tire installation when the vehicle has a usable spare and the location allows safe access.
If the tire cannot be changed safely on-site, Rick’s can provide wheel-lift towing to a tire shop, repair shop, dealership, home, or another safe location.
Rick’s helps drivers with flat tires in Lake View East, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, North Center, and nearby Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods.
If a spare tire installation can safely solve the issue, Rick’s can help before towing becomes necessary.
If the vehicle cannot be driven safely, Rick’s can provide wheel-lift towing to a tire shop, repair shop, dealership, home, or another safe location.
If your vehicle has a usable spare and the location allows safe access, Rick’s can help with spare tire installation before towing becomes necessary.
If the spare is missing, damaged, flat, or unsafe to use, Rick’s can provide wheel-lift towing to a tire shop, repair shop, dealership, home, or another safe location.
Rick’s helps drivers in Lake View East and across Chicago’s North Side with flat tire service, roadside assistance, and wheel-lift towing.
We confirm the service, vehicle location, vehicle type, access details, towing option if needed, and price before work begins.
Only if the vehicle is in a safe location away from traffic and on firm, level ground. If the location feels unsafe, call for roadside assistance instead of risking injury.
Common tools include a usable spare tire, jack, lug wrench, owner’s manual, flashlight, gloves, and wheel chocks if available.
If the spare is missing, damaged, flat, or unsafe to use, Rick’s can provide wheel-lift towing to a tire shop, repair shop, dealership, home, or another safe location.
Yes. Rick’s can help with spare tire installation when the vehicle has a usable spare and the location allows safe access.
No. Rick’s helps with flat tire roadside assistance, spare tire installation, and towing when the vehicle cannot be driven safely. Tire repair, patching, plugging, and replacement should be handled by a tire shop.
No. Rick’s provides wheel-lift towing only. No flatbed towing is offered.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance helps drivers in Lake View East and across Chicago’s North Side with flat tire service, spare tire installation, roadside assistance, wheel-lift towing, jump starts, mobile battery replacement, car lockouts, and fuel delivery.
For flat tire help in Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side, call Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance provides 24/7 towing and roadside assistance for drivers in Lake View East, Lakeview, Wrigleyville, Lincoln Park, Uptown, Roscoe Village, Andersonville, Edgewater, Lincoln Square, North Center, Sauganash, and nearby Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods. We help with wheel-lift towing, jump starts, flat tire service, car lockout service, fuel delivery, and emergency roadside help when your vehicle leaves you stuck.
Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance has served Lake View East and Chicago’s North Side with 24/7 towing and roadside help since 2000.
ricksemergencyroadsideassistance.com has Google rating of 4.9/ 5 based on 394 ratings and reviews
© 2026 Rick’s Emergency Roadside Assistance Use of this site indicates you accept the Terms of Use and the Privacy Statement | Site Map | Contact Us | Call: (312)451-5785