Pat yourself on the back if you already know how to change a flat tire. If you don’t know how to change a flat tire, you should learn now. Most of us don’t drive on run-flat tires, so one of our tires is going to go flat with a puncture making safe driving impossible. You will feel more safe and comfortable on the road with the knowledge of how to change a flat tire.
Changing a flat tire: being safe first
Now we can start our course in changing a flat tire. If you notice the flat while driving, put on your vehicle’s hazard blinkers and slowly work your way toward the outer shoulder of the road. Get your car off the road and into a safe position away from traffic. If you aren’t on an expressway, simply pull off the road, whether it’s into a parking lot or on a wide shoulder. If you are on an expressway, try to either exit as soon as you can safely do so or find a stretch with a wide shoulder. Make sure that you park on ground that is paved and as flat as possible so the vehicle won’t be prone to shift radically during the procedure. Once you’re reasonably certain you aren’t in physical danger of being struck by another vehicle (you’re far enough away from traffic), move on to “changing a tire” process outlined below.
Getting together the right tools
You’ve already assembled a good car emergency kit ahead of time, right? You will probably need:
1. A jack that works
2. A full-sized spare tire mounted on a wheel that isn’t flat and has good air pressure
3. Get a tire iron
4. A can of WD-40 or similar spray lubricant
5. Wooden blocks to secure the tires, which is optional
6.
7. Hand cleaner if you don’t want to be messy
You first need to find your spare tire. It may be in the trunk, mounted on the tailgate or actually under the car (forget about keeping your clothes clean in that case). Typically, you’ll need your tire iron wrench to remove the spare from its housing. You will then need to take off the tire’s hubcap if it doesn’t have a mechanism for unlocking and locking. You can crack the hubcap if you aren’t patient here. Until it is off, work around the hubcap prying just a little bit at a time.
NEXT, let’s deal with the nuts and bolts! And click here if you need an auto loan.
