1996 Ford Thunderbird Owner's Manual - Page 197

Preparing to Change the Tire 1. Make sure that your vehicle will not move or roll. Put the gearshift in P (Park). Set the parking brake and block the wheel that is diagonally opposite the tire that you are changing. When one of the back wheels is off the ground, the transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park). To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be sure the parking brake is set, then block the wheel (both directions) that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed. RWARNING If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be seriously injured. RWARNING To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off the ground, such as when changing a tire. 2. 3. Get out the spare tire and jack. Remove any optional wheel covers or hubcaps with the tapered end of a wheel nut wrench. Insert the handle of the wrench and twist it against the inner wheel cover flange. For more about removing wheel covers, see the information later in this chapter. 194