Problems with a Flat Tire?

It is a common fact that a majority of car owners do not know the proper way to change a flat tire on a car. Read more to know the easy steps on the best way to change a flat tire on your car.

You will need:

• Spare tire
• Tire wrench
• Jack
• Tire block

Change a Flat Tire

Step 1: Park the car properly. Make sure that the area is level and secure. Apply the parking brake and turn off the vehicle. If you have an early warning device, use it to warn oncoming traffic of your emergency.

Step 2: Grab the tire wrench or tire iron and begin loosening the tire nuts by turning them in a counterclockwise direction. You should follow an “X” pattern when loosening the nuts. Begin with the upper left, then proceed with the lower right tire nut and continue until all the nuts are loosened. DO NOT REMOVE THE NUTS! Simply loosen them with a couple of turns and proceed to step 3.

Step 3: Get the jack and prepare to raise the vehicle. Cars have a built-in “jacking point” or “lift point” located aft of the front wheels and at the fore of the rear wheels. Consult your owner’s manual to specifically determine the right lifting point of your vehicle.

Step 4: Place a tire block on the car. Before you raise the vehicle, you should place a tire block (a block of wood or heavy stone will do) on the opposite side of where the flat is located. Think again of the “X” pattern that you used when loosening the nuts. If the flat is located on the front left of the car, you should place a tire block on the rear right tire to prevent the car from moving when the the car is raised.

Step 5: Slowly raise the car. Make sure that you raise it just enough for the tire to be lifted from the ground. You can then proceed to totally loosen the nuts using the tire iron. Remove the nuts and set aside.

Step 6: Remove the tire. Pull it slowly towards you.

Step 7: Get the spare tire and place it on the wheel mount. Get the tire nuts and insert them on each lug. Follow the same “X” pattern when inserting the nuts. Use the tire iron to tighten the nuts slightly. DO NOT APPLY TOO MUCH FORCE ON THE TIRE NUTS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RAISED!

Step 8: Lower the vehicle, remove the jack from the vehicle and proceed to fully tighten each nut. Follow the “X” pattern when fully tightening each nut.

There you have it! Your vehicle is good and ready to go.

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