How to Access the Spare Tire on a RAV4

Spare tires are often stored in the trunk of a vehicle. However, the Toyota RAV4 spare tire is rear-mounted on all models except on the Sport models, which are equipped with run-flat tires. In the RAV4, the spare tire is typically protected by a cover to safeguard it from the elements.Two types of covers can be found on the RAV4: a full-size spare tire cover or a half-size spare tire cover.

Cover Removal

• 1

  Park the vehicle on a level surface and turn off its ignition. Unhook the latch handle located under the full-size spare tire's cover. Grasp the tire cover on either side of the latch handle base. Pull the cover up.

• 2

  Remove a half-size spare tire cover with the wheel-nut wrench. Place the wrench under the center cover and pry it off, which will uncover a bolt. Place the wrench on the bolt and loosen it by turning the wrench counterclockwise. Remove the bolt.

• 3

  Pull the tire cover off to remove it.

Spare Tire Removal

• 1
  Use the wheel nut wrench to remove the tire. car wheel wrench image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com

  Loosen one of the spare wheel nuts with the wheel-nut wrench, turning it counterclockwise. Loosen the remaining wheel nuts with the wheel-nut wrench.

• 2

  Remove the spare wheel nuts and place them somewhere safe as you will need them later to fasten the damaged tire.

• 3

  Pull off the spare tire.