Replace a Flat Tire in 5 Simple Steps

Driving is usually a pleasurable experience. Cruising through the streets or perhaps the countryside in the comfort lap of your own vehicle can be spiritually rewarding. I know of some people who treat driving as a stress buster. But bad roads and bottleneck traffic-jams can spoil this experience and the stress buster can be major cause for stress if you get a flat tire amidst all of this.

Although it can be sad and disheartening to see a flat tire, there is no need to worry. You can replace a flat tire in 5 simple steps and that too in just 15 minutes.

If your car tire goes flat even in the midst of traffic, here is what you need to do:

1. Don’t panic. You don’t have to stop your vehicle immediately. You can pull over to the side of the road away from any traffic and park your vehicle on a leveled surface. Switch on the parking lights / hazard lights in your vehicle and get the spare tire, Car Jack and the Lug Wrench out (usually kept in the boot).

Don’t forget to turn off the ignition and keep a gear engaged along with the handbrake.

1. With the Lug Wrench, start loosening the Lug Nuts on the wheel but don’t loosen them completely. Next, fix the Car Jack securely in the groove underneath your vehicle (usually to be fixed in the axle groove or suspension bar) and jack your car up so that the wheel is free and almost 2 inches above the ground.

If you don’t know where to fix the Car Jack, refer to the Owner’s Manual of your vehicle.

1. Remove the Lug Nuts and then remove the flat tire. Place the removed tire in the boot of your car. Now fix the spare tire and tighten the Lug Nuts by hand. Remember to tighten opposite Lugs simultaneously. Once the tire is secured, use the Lug Wrench to tighten the Lug Nuts further.
2. Lower the Jack to lower the vehicle and once the tire is back on the ground, the jack will be released from its groove easily. Use the Lug Wrench to secure the Lugs further.
3. Now that the spare tire has been fixed, don’t forget to keep the Lug Wrench and the Car Jack back in their place and close the boot of your car.

Now you can go back on the road feeling confident that you replaced a flat tire all by yourself. But don’t forget to have the flat tire repaired by the mechanic before you breathe easy.

James Rodham

Quality Auto Parts