Tires are very important in a vehicle. Without it, your car won’t properly run even if the engine is properly working. Your tires will certainly benefit well from proper maintenance and checks however, there are times you just need to replace them.
Nobody plans or wants to get a flat tire. Sometimes, there are just sharp objects on the road that can get your tires damaged. Having a flat tire is can come as a surprise but you can overcome this situation if you have the skills to change the flat tire in your car.
The solution to a flat tire is really simple and easy but if you just don’t want to deal with it, you can always call on 24-hour roadside assistance and towing company for help. They can either change your tire for you or tow your vehicle to the auto shop.
However, you should still learn how to deal with a flat tire. For that, we’ll guide you into the necessary steps to take. We will also tell you what tools and things you need for the job.
What Do I Need
Having the right tools and equipment to change the tire will not only help you do the process easily and smoothly. It will also help improve your safety while changing your flat tire. Here are the things you will need:
- Spare Tire – A spare tire is something that you should always have in your vehicle. It is a tire that you can use to replace your flat tire but it isn’t meant to replace it permanently. It is just used to get you to the nearest auto repair shop.
- Tire Jack – This is a very important tool and without it, you won’t be able to replace your tire. This is what lifts the car frame off the ground so you can remove your tire and replace it.
- Lug Wrench – This the tool you will use to remove the lug nuts on the tire frame.
- Screwdriver – This helps remove the hubcap to separate the tire from the frame.
- Safety Equipment – This would include the triangle sign, safety vest, warning lights or flares. These will help make you visible to other people on the road. This also warns them of your presence so that they can slow down and avoid accidentally bumping into your vehicle.
Steps In Changing A Flat Tire
- With the first sign of having a flat tire, you should try to maneuver your car in a safe location. Pullover the side of the road over a flat surface so your car doesn’t roll down while you are trying to change your tires. Also, make sure that the parking brakes are used.
- Before you start working on your vehicle, make sure to use your safety equipment. Setup the warning lights and triangle signs so that people will see you. Don’t put your triangle sign immediately behind your car. It should be about 100 meters away from your car.
- The first thing to do is to remove the hubcap to expose the lug nuts.
- Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts by turning it into a counterclockwise direction. Once loosened it would be easier to remove it by hand.
- Use the tire jack underneath the frame of the car near the tire you are working on. Use it to lift the car for about 6 inches and make sure the jack is stable.
- Remove the loosened lug nuts by hand then remove the flat tire.
- Place your spare tire and reattach the lug nuts. Tighten them with the use of your hand.
- Use the jack to place the car back to the ground. Make sure that the tire is touching or resting on the ground but the full weight of the car isn’t carried by it. Now tighten the lug nuts with your lug wrench.
- Completely lower the vehicle on the ground and remove the jack. Tighten the lug nuts once more with the lug wrench.
- Place your hubcap back. You should also place the tools you used back in your car.
