How To Change A Flat Tire

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Tires withstand a great deal of pressure every day and are subject to an extreme amount of wear and tear while driving. Eventually, it is unfortunately a likelihood that your tire will be punctured by a piece of debris or will simply blow out due to heavy wear. Thankfully, with a few simple tools that you should always have in the trunk of your car, you can quickly and easily change a flat tire and get to a mechanic.

What You'll Need

You should always have these tools in the back of your car in case of an emergency.

  • Car jack
  • Jack Stands
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Spare Tire
  • Flashlight
  • Gloves
  • Tire Blocks

Changing a Flat Tire

First, pull over as soon as you safely can on a flat part of the shoulder, as far away from moving traffic as possible. Avoid driving for an extended period of time on a flat, as you can damage the rim that the tire is mounted on. Be sure to activate your parking brake and hazard lights.

Loosen the lug nuts holding the tire to the vehicle using the adjustable wrench, turning counterclockwise. Don't remove the lug nuts from the tire just yet, but leave them loose enough to easily remove by hand.

Put the jack behind the flat tire, and lift the car off of the ground. Be sure to mount the jack onto the metal body of your car, and not the car door, as the door can break and cause the car to fall. For added safety, place the jack stands on either side of the jack to hold the car up in case the jack fails.

Remove the lug nuts that are holding the flat tire to the car, and keep them in a safe place nearby. Remove the flat from the vehicle, and put it in the back of your vehicle.

Then, take the spare tire, and slide it onto the lug nut posts. Put the lug nuts back on, tightening by hand (turning clockwise), before removing the jack stands and lowering the car off of the jack.

Tighten the lug nuts using the adjustable wrench. Instead of tightening them in order, tighten one lug nut, and then tighten the opposite one, continuing in the same manner until all the lug nuts are tightened. This ensures that the tire is tightened evenly onto the rim, and won't be installed at an angle, which can cause problems while driving.

Return all the tools to the trunk of your car, and head straight to a mechanic to have your tire replaced. Spare tires are only designed to be driven on for a short distance, and a regular tire has to be installed as soon as possible.

For more information, contact PDR Automotive Inc or a similar company.


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