Change Your Flat Tire

By Author: Dennis James
Total Articles: 59
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Almost everybody has had one, and those who haven't almost certainly will, a Flat Tire.

Even if you affiliated to an auto club, which offers towing or on the spot assistance, you may not be near a phone when the flat happens. That is why you must know how to change a tire by yourself. Beside from the advices presented here, read carefully the car's owner's manual, as you will find specific information about your car.

When a flat occurs, it is important to remain calm. Do not panic and the first thing to do is to take the pedal of the gas pedal and let the car come to stop. Because when you loose air from a tire the car will not have the same handling properties, do not make any sudden maneuvers. Put the alert flashers on to show so the other drivers will notice you have a problem and find a place outside the main road where you can start changing the tire.

The first thing to do when you face yourself with the need to change a tire is to find a place away from traffic, a level ground where to park the car. If there is no such spot nearby, you can try to drive until you see one, but only if you do not represent ...
... a threat to you as well as the other drivers on the road.

Turn off your engine and be sure you put the car in the first gear if you own a manual transmission car or into park if your car has an automated one. It is time to get ready the spare tire, the jack and the lug wrench. Most of the times you will find the Jack under the carpet in the trunk. If you own a truck, the jack as well as the lug wrench will be either under the hood, behind the seat or together with the spire tire under the bed.

Next you should locate the place where the written information about the pieces to jack the car is situated. Usually, they are either printed on the jack or somewhere around the storage compartment, as well as in the owner's manual.

You have to remove the hubcap or the wheel cover. To do this you should use a screwdriver or the flat end of the jack.

Next you need to break loose the lug nuts. Because the car stands on the wheel, it will not move and it will allow you to unscrew them more easily. Do not take them out completely. Some of the lug nuts can be tougher to loose and you will have to apply more force. After the lug nuts begins to unscrew, move to the next one.

Find the jacking points under the car (the owner's manual can help you with the exact location). You will see that most cars have a special reinforced place where to put the jack. When starting jacking, be sure that both the car and the jack are on firm level ground. Do not lift your car more than is required to take the wheel out.
Remove the lug nuts and take the flat tire out. Take the replacement one from the trunk and replace it.

After having changed the wheel, put the lug nuts back and screw them into place until the wheel is fixed. Let the jack down so the car will be on four wheels again. Use the lug wrench and screw the lug nuts as hard as you can. Tighten the lug nuts in diagonally, so that the same amount of pressure is applied to each part of the wheel.

All you have to do next is to put the lug cap or the wheel cover back, put the flat tire in the trunk and all the tools back at their places.