How to change a flat tire
Why should you know how to change a flat tire when a quick phone call will bring roadside assistance? Because tires blow out in the middle of nowhere, even the best cellular network has dead zones and phone batteries die.
Do yourself a favor and learn to change a tire before you need to. While you're at it, check your spare tire regularly for proper inflation. Knowing how to change a flat is pointless if your spare is also flat.
When Your Tire Goes Flat
Stopping in a level spot is safer than an incline, and always set
the parking brake.
Gather your needed tools:
* Spare tire
* Jack
* Lug wrench or tire iron
* Tire blocks, bricks or large rocks for chocking
Then get to work.
Chock a Wheel
Block movement of the wheel diagonal to the flat by putting
something large and heavy in front of and behind it.
Loosen Lug Nuts
Lugs are basically big bolts and lug nuts hold the wheel on the
lugs. Loosen the nuts before jacking up your car. Remove the
hubcap if you have one. Then put the lug wrench or tire iron on a
nut with the handle facing left and turn counter-clockwise. If you
cannot turn it by hand, step on the end of the handle and push down
with your foot, bouncing lightly if necessary. Once you've
loosened the nut, turn it two turns. Do not remove it. Repeat with
the remaining nuts.
Lift the Car
You may need to check the owner's manual to find the correct
position for the jack, or there may be a sticker on the jack. If
you have neither manual nor sticker, compare the top of the jack
with the car frame immediately behind the front wheel or in front
of the rear wheel. For example, a small indentation in the top of
the jack should line up with a small bump protruding from the
frame. Try to learn this before an emergency. Assemble the
jack and handle, then expand the jack so that it just fits under
the car. On soft ground, you may want to place the jack on a piece
of wood to keep it stable. Crank the handle slowly until the wheel
lifts off the pavement by about 6 inches. Remember that cars
do fall off jacks, so if other people are with you, keep them out
of the way.
Remove the Wheel
Take off those loosened lug nuts, put them somewhere safe, and
lift off the wheel. If it sticks, sit down and kick it, alternating
feet, until it comes loose. Just don't kick hard enough to knock
the car off the jack. Put the wheel somewhere out of the way.
It is not safe to put it in the trunk while the car is on the
jack.
Put on the Spare
Line up the holes in the wheel with the lugs and slide the wheel
in place without banging the threads. Screw on the lug nuts and
hand tighten.
Lower and remove the jack. Tighten the lug nuts just as you
loosened them. Put the wrench on one nut, but this time with the
handle facing right. Step on the handle and bounce lightly until it
stops moving. Tighten the other nuts in a diagonal pattern,
crossing back and forth until they are all tight.
Put Away Your Tools
Put your tools back where they belong and the tire into the
trunk.
Unless you have a full-size spare, slowly drive home or to a nearby service station for a new tire.
