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How to Change a Flat Tire

 

It may seem simple, but there it can be stressful if you've not had to do it before! Here are the tips to follow on How to Change a Flat Tire.

Flat tires happen to all of us but sometimes we’re caught off guard when it happens. This is when we have to drag the spare out and get it put on so we can continue with our day. However, if you don’t know how to change a tire, this could put a serious kink in your day especially if you have to sit and wait on someone to come help you. If you’re ever stuck, here is a step-by-step process on how to change your tire.

  1. Try to get the car on level ground. So, if you are on the side of the road, try to make sure you are on a flatter portion of it. Also, keep your car on solid ground. If you try and jack up your car on softer ground, the jack will sink or could even give way which is dangerous.
  2. Before jacking your car up, use a wheel chock to block the wheels of the opposite end that you need to jack up. For example, if the flat tire is in the front of the car, put the stopper or wheel chock on the back tires. Make sure that the wheel chock is in the front and the back of the tires. In other words, both back tires would have a wheel chock in front of them and in the back of them.
  3. Before jacking up your car, loosen all lug nuts on the wheel that you’re removing. Do not remove them, just loosen them.
  4. Position jack where it needs to be according to your owner’s manual. Jack up the car. As you’re jacking it up, be aware of the position of the car. Make sure the car is not coming off the jack. Further, make sure the jack is level and isn’t sitting at an angle.
  5. Once the flat tire comes off the ground, remove all lug nuts. Make sure you do not put any part of your body under the car. If the car falls, this could cause serious injury.
  6. Remove the flat tire and place the spare on. Hand tighten all your lug nuts. Use lug wrench to then tighten the lug nuts as much as possible. As soon as all lug nuts are snug, put the jack down and retighten lug nuts to specific manufacture’s torque.

Note: Practicing this process with others around is wise. Although this process can be very simple, if mistakes are made it can cause serious injury.