Since 1997, the Chevrolet Corvette has come standard with "run-flat" tires that allow the car to keep driving even after a loss of tire pressure. However, if you own an older model Corvette and experience a flat tire, drive slowly until you find a safe place to pull over. Park the car, then engage the parking brake, turn on your hazard lights, turn off the engine, and follow these steps to change the tire.
Gather the necessary equipment for a tire change. You will need the wheel wrench, which should be stored underneath the driver's seat, and the special wheel socket nut and wheel lock key, both of which are stored in the center console. The jack and spare tire will be located in the tire carrier tray underneath the back end of the vehicle. To lower the tire carrier tray, use the socket end of your wheel wrench to loosen the latch bolt, and then use the hooked end of the wrench to lift the tray. Pull the latch bolt toward you to free the tray and gently lower the tray using the wheel wrench. You will then be able to remove the spare tire and jack.
Remove the plastic wheel nut caps with the socket end of the wheel wrench. Attach the wheel lock key to the wrench and use it to remove the one locking wheel nut. After this nut has been removed, you can then use the regular wheel nut socket to loosen the remaining nuts. Do not remove them yet.
Look underneath the vehicle. Near each tire, there will be triangles in the rocker panel that indicate where the jack should be placed. Position the jack underneath the pair of triangles closest to your flat tire and attach your wheel wrench to the jack, rotating the wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it fits between the triangles. Continue to turn the wheel wrench to raise the jack until the flat tire is off the ground.
Remove the loosened wheel nuts and put them in a safe place so they won't be lost. Take off the flat tire and clean off any noticeable dirt or debris around the wheel bolts and mounting surface. Place the spare tire on the mounting surface, then replace all of the wheel nuts with the rounded ends toward the wheel, and tighten them by hand until the tire is held securely.
Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the jack. When the vehicle is back on the ground, tighten the wheel nuts as much as possible, then replace the plastic wheel nut caps and tighten those as well.
Store the flat tire in the tire carrier tray by pushing the tray toward the front of the vehicle, which will make it drop into a lower position. After putting the tire in the tray, tighten the latch bolt to hold the tray in place. Put the rest of your tools back in their storage areas.
