Last updated: July 15, 2026
To change a flat tire on a Toyota Camry, stop on a hard, level surface away from traffic, shift to Park, set the parking brake, turn on the hazard lights, and loosen the wheel nuts before lifting the car. Place the jack only at the Toyota-approved point shown in the owner’s manual, install the spare, tighten the nuts in a crisscross pattern, and drive directly to a tire shop. Do not attempt the job on soft ground, a slope, or a narrow shoulder. This guide applies to Camry models equipped with a spare tire; some model years or trims may use a repair kit instead.
Quick Answer
Park your Toyota Camry on a hard, flat surface, set the parking brake, turn on the hazard lights, loosen the wheel nuts, lift the car at the correct jacking point, install the spare tire, and tighten the nuts evenly in a crisscross pattern. Use the wheel-nut torque specification for your exact model year, then keep your speed low and go directly to a repair facility.
Key Takeaways
- Do not keep driving on a flat tire. Pull over only when you can reach a safer location.
- Loosen the wheel nuts before raising the Camry, then tighten them fully after the tire is on the ground.
- Use only the Toyota-approved jacking points shown in the owner’s manual for your exact model year.
- A compact spare is temporary. Unless the manual or spare label gives a stricter limit, stay at or below 50 mph and drive no more than 50 miles.
- Check the spare tire pressure monthly while the tire is cold so it is ready before an emergency.
At a Glance
| Time Required | Varies by experience, weather, wheel condition, and roadside safety |
| Difficulty | Basic mechanical task; do not attempt it in unsafe conditions |
| Tools Needed | Spare tire, jack, wheel-nut wrench, jack handle, wheel-lock key or adapter socket if equipped, tire pressure gauge, and wheel chocks if available |
| Cost | No immediate labor cost if the vehicle has a usable spare and complete tool kit; tire repair, inflation, towing, or replacement costs vary |
What Tools Do You Need to Change a Camry Flat Tire?
To change a flat tire on your Toyota Camry, gather the tools stored in or near the trunk floor compartment. Camry models equipped with a spare typically include a jack, jack handle, wheel-nut wrench, and spare tire. If the wheels use locking lug nuts, you will also need the matching wheel-lock key or adapter socket.
Some Camrys have a wheel cover or hubcap that must be removed before you can reach the wheel nuts. Use the removal method shown in the owner’s manual instead of forcing a plastic cover with an unsuitable tool.
It is also smart to keep gloves, a flashlight, reflective triangles or flares, a tire pressure gauge, and wheel chocks in the car. These items are not always included, but they make the job safer and easier.
Note: If your Camry does not have a spare tire, check the trunk for a tire repair kit or inflator. Follow the instructions supplied with the kit. Call roadside assistance if the tire has sidewall damage, a large puncture, a damaged wheel, or will not hold air.
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Before You Start: Is It Safe to Change the Tire Here?
Safety matters more than speed. Toyota’s owner guidance begins with stopping in a safe place on a hard, flat surface, setting the parking brake, shifting to Park, turning off the vehicle, and switching on the emergency flashers. Check the procedure for your exact model year through Toyota Owners.
If a tire suddenly fails while you are moving, hold the steering wheel firmly, avoid slamming on the brakes, ease off the accelerator, stabilize the car, and pull off the road only when you can reach a safer location. NHTSA reported 511 deaths in tire-related crashes in 2024, so safe vehicle control and roadside positioning matter more than completing the change quickly. See NHTSA TireWise for tire and blowout safety guidance.
Warning: Do not change a tire on a narrow shoulder, soft ground, a steep slope, or anywhere traffic puts you at risk. Turn on your hazard lights, stay clear of traffic, and call roadside assistance if the location is unsafe.
Call roadside assistance instead of changing the tire if:
- The shoulder is narrow, the surface is soft or sloped, or traffic is passing too close.
- The jack, spare tire, wheel, or supplied tools appear damaged.
- You cannot identify the correct Toyota jacking point.
- A wheel nut will not loosen with safe, steady pressure.
- You are not physically comfortable lifting the spare or operating the jack.
Before lifting the car, place wheel chocks in front of and behind the tire diagonally opposite the flat tire if you have them. For example, if the front left tire is flat, chock the rear right tire. This helps reduce vehicle movement while the Camry is on the jack.
How Do You Access the Camry Spare Tire and Tools?
Open the trunk fully and lift the trunk floor cover. The spare tire is usually under the floor panel, with the jack and tool set stored nearby. Exact placement varies by model year and equipment, so check the owner’s manual if your layout looks different.
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Where Are the Camry Spare Tire and Tools?
Lift the trunk floor cover and locate the spare tire, jack handle, wheel-nut wrench, and any adapter socket or wheel-lock key. Keep the parts together while you work so nothing rolls under the car or gets left behind.
| Tool | Typical Location |
|---|---|
| Spare Tire | Under the trunk floor panel |
| Jack Handle | Beneath or beside the trunk floor cover |
| Wheel-Nut Wrench | Stored with the jack tools |
| Adapter Socket or Wheel-Lock Key | In the tool compartment, glove box, or wheel-lock kit if equipped |
| Jack | In the trunk-side storage area or near the spare tire compartment |
How Do You Open the Trunk Area Safely?
Open the trunk lid fully and remove loose cargo from the floor area. Lift the floor cover and set it aside or secure it so you can reach the spare and tools without bending or twisting awkwardly.
How Do You Remove the Spare Tire?
If a retainer bolt or cover holds the spare in place, loosen it by hand or with the specified tool. Remove any spacer carefully, then lift the spare out of the well. Check the sidewall for cracks, bulges, exposed cords, or other obvious damage. If the spare looks unsafe or is flat, call for help instead of driving on it.
How to Change a Flat Tire on a Toyota Camry: Step by Step
Follow these steps in order. Loosen the wheel nuts while the flat tire is still touching the ground, raise the vehicle only at the approved jacking point, and tighten the spare evenly before driving.
- Park safely. Move to a hard, flat surface away from traffic. Shift to Park, set the parking brake, turn off the engine or hybrid system, and turn on the emergency flashers.
- Get the spare and tools. Remove the spare tire, jack, jack handle, wheel-nut wrench, and wheel-lock key if equipped.
- Remove the wheel cover if equipped. Follow the owner’s manual and avoid prying against a plastic cover with an unsuitable tool.
- Chock the opposite wheel. If you have wheel chocks, place them at the tire diagonally opposite the flat.
- Loosen the wheel nuts. Place the wrench on each wheel nut, also called a lug nut, and turn counterclockwise. Loosen each nut about one turn, but do not remove it yet.
- Position the jack. Find the Toyota-approved jacking point near the flat tire. Use the reinforced notch or jacking area shown in the owner’s manual for your exact model year.
- Raise the Camry. Crank the jack slowly until the flat tire is just off the ground. Do not put any part of your body under a vehicle supported only by the emergency jack.
- Remove the flat tire. Remove the wheel nuts the rest of the way and place them somewhere clean. Pull the flat tire straight off the wheel studs.
- Install the spare tire. Line up the spare with the wheel studs and slide it on fully. Hand-thread each wheel nut to reduce the risk of cross-threading.
- Snug the wheel nuts. Use the wrench to tighten the nuts lightly in a crisscross pattern while the car is raised. Do not try to apply final torque while the wheel can spin.
- Lower the vehicle. Lower the Camry slowly until the spare touches the ground and cannot rotate. Continue lowering until the vehicle is fully supported by the ground.
- Final-tighten the nuts. Tighten them progressively in a crisscross pattern. Use a torque wrench and the wheel-nut torque specification in the owner’s manual for your exact model year and wheel type. If you cannot confirm the specification, have a tire shop check the torque before normal driving.
- Store everything. Put the flat tire, jack, wrench, wheel cover, retainer parts, and trunk panels back securely before driving.
Pro Tip: Push down on the wheel-nut wrench with steady body weight instead of jerking it. If a nut will not loosen, stop and call for help rather than risking injury or damaging the wheel stud.
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How Do You Use a Toyota Camry Jack Safely?
The emergency jack is designed to lift the vehicle only long enough to change the tire. It is not a support stand and should never be used on soft dirt, loose gravel, a slope, or an uneven shoulder.
Place the jack under the approved point near the flat tire. Toyota commonly identifies lift areas along reinforced sections near the lower body, but their exact shape and position vary by model year. If you cannot identify the correct point confidently, use the owner’s manual or call roadside assistance.
Raise the vehicle slowly and stop as soon as the flat tire clears the ground enough to remove it. Lifting the car higher than necessary makes the setup less stable.
Warning: Never crawl under the Camry while it is held up only by the emergency jack. If the jack or vehicle shifts, the car can fall without warning.
How Do You Install the Camry Spare Tire Securely?
Make sure the spare sits flat against the wheel hub. Dirt, rust flakes, or a crooked wheel can prevent it from seating correctly. If a wheel nut does not turn smoothly by hand, stop rather than forcing it onto the stud.
- Check the spare’s condition. Look for cracks, bulges, exposed cords, severe aging, or low pressure before mounting it.
- Line up the wheel holes. Slide the spare straight onto the wheel studs without forcing it.
- Start every nut by hand. Hand-threading reduces the risk of cross-threading or damaging a wheel stud.
- Use a crisscross pattern. Tighten one nut, then the nut across from it, moving around the wheel evenly.
- Apply final torque after lowering. Use the exact specification in the owner’s manual for your vehicle and wheel type.
A spare tire is a temporary way to get out of danger and reach service. It is not a permanent replacement for repairing or replacing the damaged tire.
How Do You Lower the Camry and Check the Spare?
After the spare is mounted and the wheel nuts are snug, lower the vehicle slowly until the tire touches the ground and cannot spin. Tighten the nuts progressively in a crisscross pattern, lower the jack completely, and remove it.
The emergency wrench cannot measure torque. If you do not have a torque wrench, ask the repair facility to confirm the wheel-nut torque as soon as practical.
Before driving, check the spare tire pressure if you have a gauge. Use the pressure specified for the spare in the owner’s manual, vehicle label, or dedicated spare-tire label. Do not assume that the regular road-tire pressure applies. NHTSA advises checking tires, including the spare, while they are cold and following the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. See NHTSA TireWise.
If the spare is visibly low, cracked, bulging, severely aged, or otherwise damaged, do not drive on it. Call roadside assistance or arrange a tow.
How Fast and How Far Can You Drive on a Compact Spare?
Most compact spares are smaller and less durable than a regular tire. They can change how the Camry steers, brakes, and rides. Avoid hard braking, quick lane changes, sharp turns, potholes, heavy loads, and unnecessary highway driving.
AAA advises drivers to keep temporary-spare speed at 50 mph or less and distance at 50 miles or less. Follow any stricter warning printed on the spare or stated in the owner’s manual. Federal rules for certain non-pneumatic spare assemblies also require temporary-use and 50 mph labeling. Review AAA’s temporary-spare guidance and 49 CFR 571.110.
Note: If your Camry has all-wheel drive, follow the owner’s manual exactly because temporary-spare placement and operating limits can differ. Replace or repair the damaged tire as soon as possible.
Should You Repair, Replace, or Recycle the Flat Tire?
Not every flat tire needs to be discarded. A tire shop may be able to repair a small puncture in the tread area if the tire was not driven on while flat and its sidewall and internal structure remain undamaged. A shredded, cracked, sidewall-damaged, severely worn, or internally damaged tire normally needs replacement.
Where Can You Recycle a Damaged Tire?
Many tire retailers accept old tires when you buy a replacement. Some communities also offer tire collection events or recycling drop-off locations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says surplus tires may be returned to a tire retailer or local recycling facility that accepts them. Confirm quantity limits and local rules before visiting. See the EPA’s scrap tire recycling FAQ.
Can You Put an Old Tire in Household Trash?
Do not place a used tire in regular household trash unless your local waste authority specifically permits it. Tire-disposal rules vary, and some locations charge a disposal fee. Contact your local solid-waste office, recycling center, or tire retailer when you are unsure.
How Do You Keep a Camry Spare Tire Ready?
Your spare is useful only if it has the correct pressure, is free from serious damage, and can be installed with the tools in the trunk. Add it to your regular maintenance routine instead of waiting for an emergency.
- Check the pressure monthly. Use a tire pressure gauge while the spare is cold and follow the pressure specified for the spare.
- Inspect for aging and damage. Look for sidewall cracks, bulges, exposed cords, tread separation, or dry rubber.
- Check the DOT date code. NHTSA notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to 10 years old regardless of treadwear.
- Keep the tools complete. Confirm that the jack, handle, wrench, retainer parts, and wheel-lock key are in the vehicle.
- Do not rotate a compact spare into regular use. A full-size matching spare should enter normal rotation only when the owner’s manual and a qualified tire professional permit it.
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Another Flat Tire?
You cannot prevent every nail, screw, pothole, or road hazard, but basic tire care lowers the risk of a roadside failure. Check tire pressure monthly, inspect tread depth and sidewalls, rotate the tires according to the owner’s manual, and replace tires that are worn, cracked, damaged, or repeatedly losing air.
Avoid continuing to drive after a tire loses pressure. Driving on a flat can damage the sidewall and internal structure, turning a repairable puncture into a tire that must be replaced.
Pay attention to the tire-pressure warning light. TPMS is a warning system, not a replacement for checking pressure with a gauge. If the warning returns after inflation, have the tire inspected for a puncture, valve leak, or other pressure-loss problem.
Should You Practice Before a Roadside Emergency?
The best time to learn the Camry’s spare-tire setup is in your driveway during daylight, not beside a busy road at night. Open the trunk, locate the spare and tools, identify the jacking points in the owner’s manual, and practice assembling the jack handle without lifting the car.
You do not need to remove a wheel during practice. The goal is to understand where everything is stored, how the tools connect, and where the approved lift points are. Return every part to its storage location afterward.
When Should You Call Roadside Assistance?
Call roadside assistance if you feel unsafe, cannot loosen a wheel nut, cannot identify the jack point, find that the spare is flat, or discover missing or damaged tools. It is also safer to call when the car is on soft ground, the shoulder is narrow, visibility is poor, or weather conditions make the job risky.
What Information Should You Give Roadside Assistance?
Stay inside the vehicle with your seat belt fastened if you are near moving traffic and remaining inside is safer than standing outside. Turn on the hazard lights and provide your exact location, direction of travel, vehicle description, contact number, and which tire is flat.
What Should Be in a Camry Roadside Emergency Kit?
A practical emergency kit includes a flashlight, reflective warning triangle or flares, gloves, a tire pressure gauge, a first-aid kit, drinking water, a phone charger, and hand wipes. Wheel chocks and a compact air compressor can also help, but they do not make an unsafe roadside location suitable for a tire change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the jack point on a Toyota Camry?
Use only the reinforced jacking point identified in the owner’s manual for your exact Camry model year. The point is near the flat tire along the lower body, but its marking and position can vary. Do not lift from an unverified suspension, floor-pan, or body location.
What is the Toyota Camry wheel-nut torque?
Use the wheel-nut torque specification in the owner’s manual for your exact model year and wheel type. Do not rely on one general Camry number because specifications and wheel equipment can differ. Have a tire shop verify the torque if you cannot confirm it.
What if my Toyota Camry does not have a spare tire?
Check under the trunk floor for an inflator and sealant kit. Follow the kit instructions only when the damage is within the kit’s stated limits. A damaged sidewall, bent wheel, large puncture, or tire that will not hold air usually requires roadside assistance or towing.
How do I know if my spare tire is safe to use?
Check the spare for the specified air pressure, visible cracks, bulges, exposed cords, tread separation, and severe age-related wear. If it is flat, damaged, or too old to trust, do not drive on it. Use roadside assistance instead.
Can I drive on a spare tire long-term?
No. A compact spare is for temporary emergency use. Drive carefully and go directly to a tire shop. A full-size matching spare may be usable longer only when it matches the other tires and the owner’s manual permits it.
How fast can I drive on a Toyota Camry compact spare?
Follow the warning printed on the spare and the instructions in the owner’s manual. Unless they state a stricter limit, keep your speed at 50 mph or less and drive no more than 50 miles before reaching a repair facility.
What if my jack fails while lifting the car?
Move away from the vehicle immediately and do not try to catch or stabilize it. If the jack slips, the ground moves, or the car shifts, stop the job and call roadside assistance.
Are there different types of spare tires?
Yes. Common options include compact temporary spares, full-size matching spares, full-size non-matching spares, and repair kits with sealant or an inflator. Your Camry’s equipment depends on its model year, trim, market, and factory configuration.
How can I prevent flat tires in the future?
Check tire pressure monthly, inspect the tread and sidewalls, rotate the tires on schedule, avoid visible road debris when possible, and replace tires that are worn, damaged, cracked, or repeatedly losing air.
Conclusion
Changing a flat tire on a Toyota Camry depends on safe roadside positioning, correct jack placement, even wheel-nut tightening, and cautious driving afterward. Call roadside assistance when the location is unsafe, the tools or spare are damaged, or you cannot confirm a step. Check your spare and tool kit now so you do not discover a missing key, flat spare, or damaged jack during an emergency.
Sources
- Toyota Owners: 2025 Camry Hybrid, If You Have a Flat Tire: supports Toyota-specific emergency preparation and model-year manual guidance.
- NHTSA TireWise: supports tire pressure, spare-tire checks, TPMS, blowout response, tread, and tire-aging guidance.
- AAA Club Alliance: How Far Can You Really Drive on a Spare Tire?: supports temporary-spare speed and distance guidance.
- 49 CFR 571.110: supports temporary-use and 50 mph labeling requirements for certain spare-tire assemblies.
- U.S. EPA Scrap Tire FAQ: supports returning unwanted tires to accepting retailers, recycling facilities, or local waste programs.
