TT: Changing a Flat Tire!

Imagine this:

It's early in the morning and you've just left home to go about on your business for the day. You're far enough from home that it would be a pain to turn back around and that's when you hear it. A faint thump-thud thump-thud. So, you pull over to the curbside and get out to look and there it is --- you have a flat tire!

Oh the horror! So now you've got to get out and change it. That's not a problem, you're a pro! You've been driving around for years, so you've had your share of flat tires before. So, we'll let you go ahead and get to work.

Now, for those of you who are new drivers, like teens and perhaps the lucky few who haven't had this problem occur to them, yet, we have a helpful little guide to help you learn how to change your tire!

So, let's get started!

First, when you are prepping to change your tire ALWAYS make sure that your vehicle is OFF and that you put your Emergency Parking Brake ON!!! This gives you the extra support of not having to worry about your car rolling forward or back while you're trying to maneuver the wheel off.

Next, find your spare (or donut) tire. Usually, they are kept under the back of the car, with an access to it and the parts needed inside the trunk of your car. (On the rare chance that your car does not come equipped with a spare tire, or you forgot to replace it from the last time this happened (hey, it happens), you'll have to call roadside assistance, or a good family member or friend to help you out).

Now, most cars do come equipped with the parts needed for this sort of emergency, so we'll continue.

You should find:

1 spare (donut) tire

1 car jack

1 car jack wench

1 tire iron

These four parts are the most crucial.

Your next step is to loosen the lug nuts of the FLAT tire first, but do not completely remove them. It is much safer for you and you are less likely to damage your car more if you loosen the lug nuts prior to jacking your car up. The last thing you want is to jack your car up, start to loosen the bolts, and then have the car slip off the jack because you were pulling too hard with the tire iron.

Now, there is a trick to loosen the lug nuts. Like when tuning a drum, you do not want to stretch the tire mount, or strip the lug nuts. So, there is a pattern you should follow when unbolting your flat tire from your car. Here is the diagram for 4, 5, and 6 lug nut tires:

Always loosen your tire's lug nuts in this pattern and make sure you do it by turning the tire iron counter-clockwise!

Now, you are ready to jack your car. Carefully, kneel down and look under your car, in front of the tire you are replacing, to find the jack strip/point underneath. Every car has 4 jack points from which to position your jack under to raise your car with the tool. Placing the jack in the correct spot will prevent extra damage to your vehicle and lessen the chances of the car sliding off the of the jack while you work. Once you have your jack in place, use the jack wench to raise it, by turning the wench clockwise.

Now that the car is safely jacked up, you can continue to remove the lug nuts completely and take off the flat tire. (NOTE: Sometimes the tire might be difficult to remove and feel stuck. Try sitting and kicking the bottom of rim of the tire with the heel of your foot to jiggle it loose a bit. But, keep in find that you don't want to kick so hard that the car falls of the jack. It's all about precision.).

Put the spare tire on. Keep in mind, it is usually smaller and thinner than the tire you are replacing it with. This is normal because a spare tire is not meant to be used for long periods of time. It is there so that you can fix a flat and drive to the nearest tire repair/replacement shop to have a regular tire re-installed. NEVER travel for long distances on a spare (donut) tire, as this could lead to more serious problems.

It is a good idea to put the lug nuts back on with your hands first, tightening them as much as you can yourself and then use the jack to finish the job. Make sure that NONE of the lug nuts are loose. (NOTE: Most hubcaps will not fit onto the spare tire, so just place it in the trunk along with your flat tire.).

Now that the spare tire is secure, you can safely lower the car back down onto solid ground. Turn the jack wench counter-clockwise to lower the jack. Once the car is safely settled on the ground again, remove the jack out from under the car and store it, the jack wench, and the tire iron away in their place in the trunk of your car again. Once all of the materials you have used are stored back away, you can climb back into your car (remember to put the Emergency Brake back OFF) and you can go on your way. (Again, remember that you should NOT drive for extended periods of time on a spare (donut) tire. ALWAYS try to replace it with a regular tire A.S.A.P.!!!)

We hope that you found this particular post useful!!! =D