Buick Encore: Tire Changing

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools

The spare tire and tools are located in the storage compartment in the rear of the vehicle.

1. Center Retainer
2. Subwoofer
3. Wrench
4. Strap
5. Tow Eye (if equipped)
6. Jack

To access the spare tire and tools:

1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
2. Lift the trim cover.
3. Remove the subwoofer assembly on top of the spare tire by turning the center retainer counterclockwise.
4. Remove the spare tire, jack, and tools and place them near the tire being changed.

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire

1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat

2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to loosen the wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.

3. Place the jack at the position marked with a half circle.

4. Place the hex tube end of the wrench over the hex head of the jack to attach it.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise until the lift head is firmly contacting the proper lifting point nearest the flat tire.

Warning

Getting under a vehicle when it is lifted on a jack is dangerous.

If the vehicle slips off the jack, you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

Warning

Raising the vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.

Warning

Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do maintenance or repairs is dangerous without the appropriate safety equipment and training. If a jack is provided with the vehicle, it is designed only for changing a flat tire. If it is used for anything else, you or others could be badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack is provided with the vehicle, only use it for changing a flat tire.

6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the spare tire to fit underneath the wheel well.
7. Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to remove them.
8. Remove the flat tire.

Warning

Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after time.

The wheel could come off and cause a crash. When changing a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, a cloth or a paper towel can be used; however, use a scraper or wire brush later to remove all rust or dirt.

9. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces, and spare wheel.
10. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

Warning

Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.

11. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Turn each nut clockwise, by hand, until the wheel is held against the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

Warning

Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly tightened can cause the wheels to become loose or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification after replacing. Follow the torque specification supplied by the aftermarket manufacturer when using accessory locking wheel nuts. See Capacities and Specifications for original equipment wheel nut torque specifications.

Caution

Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.

13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench in a crisscross sequence, as shown.

Caution

Wheel covers will not fit on the vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.

Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools

Warning

Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

Storing the Flat Tire and Tools

1. Return the jack and tools to their original storage location.
2. Replace the trim cover.
3. Place the flat tire, lying flat, in the rear storage compartment.
4. Attach one end of the strap to a cargo tie-down in the rear of the vehicle.

5. Route the strap through the wheel, as shown.
6. Attach the other end of the strap to the other cargo tie-down in the rear of the vehicle.
7. Tighten the strap.

Storing the Compact Spare Tire and Tools

Reverse the instructions for removing the spare tire and tools to store the spare tire.

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See Compact Spare Tire

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