Changing a flat tire on the side of the road is a common and dangerous task. Using a scissor or hydraulic jack without support can cause the vehicle to fall unexpectedly, resulting in severe injury or damage.

Consider investing in a pair of jack stands rather than substituting them with boxes, bricks, or other materials. These sturdy supports are easy to carry and store, making them ideal for use on the go or at home.

Safety

A good tire jack should have a sturdy base and locking mechanism. It will ensure that it stays put once you raise your car off the ground, keeping you safe as you work under the vehicle. Also, choose a not-heavy jack, making maneuvering and moving around easier.

Lastly, always use jack stands when working under your car. Doing so will prevent your vehicle from rolling off the jack and potentially crushing you. If you don’t have a pair of jack stands, block the wheels with bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to keep your car from rolling.

Once you have your jack and jack stands set up, wiggle the vehicle a little to ensure it rests securely on them before you start working under the car. Then, remove the jack and lower the vehicle to the ground. With these tips in mind, you should have no problem finding an excellent tire jack that is perfect for your needs.

Durability

You can’t trust a low-quality jack to do the job in a hurry. A faulty or insecure jack can slip from under your vehicle, bringing thousands of pounds of car down on top of you in seconds.

When choosing a jack, look for a hydraulic design with a high lifting capacity. It should also be lightweight and easy to move around and store when not in use.

Before you jack up your car, consult your owner’s manual to locate the jacking points typically a reinforced pinch weld or frame rails. Never crawl under a vehicle supported only by the jack, as it could fail and crush you.

If you’re uncomfortable changing a tire with a jack, a set of ramps can do the trick. They’re easy to position in front of a car or truck, and their nonskid surface reduces the chances of wheelspin while driving up them. They’re a great alternative to the cheap floor jack that comes with many vehicles.

Portability

A good tire jack should be small enough to fit into the trunk of your car, making it easy to keep in the event of an emergency. It also needs to be light in weight so that it’s easy to carry and use.

Look for a decent reach jack that allows you to lift your vehicle’s undercarriage sufficiently to begin working on it. It will depend on the height of your vehicle’s suspension, so check the maximum lifting height in your owner’s manual.

Remember that no matter what kind of jack you have, it’s always best to use jack stands to hold up the vehicle once you raise it. If you don’t, the car may roll off the jack and crush you or someone else. It’s also a good idea to block the wheels with bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks if you need help finding can’t them or want to avoid buying jack stands.

Weight

One of the most essential features of a quality jack is its weight. It will affect how easy it is and how much space it takes up in your trunk. A too-heavy jack may not be worth keeping in your car, and a too-small jack might need more lift capacity to do the job well.

Ideally, it would help to have a pair of jack stands to support the car while working underneath it. These are usually made of metal and are easily stored in your garage or trunk. Always use jack stands that have been rated to hold the weight of your car.

It would help if you also blocked the wheels of your vehicle with bricks, wood wedges, or metal wheel chocks to prevent them from rolling while you are jacking up and lowering them.