How to Change a Flat Tire

Getting a flat tire is a real pain but if you can change it yourself, it can save a whole lot more delay and frustration. Once you have got the car safely to the side of the road, you will need to find the spare wheel and tools to replace the flat. In most cars the spare wheel and replacement tools are located together under the floor in the back. The replacement tools consist of a jack to raise the car so you can remove and replace the wheel and a wrench to take off the wheel nuts that attach the wheel to the car. Before you start to change your wheel, always make sure the hand break is on and the car is on a firm flat surface so it cannot move. To begin with, find the jacking point closest to the wheel that you need to replace. If you cannot find it easily, check the owner’s manual that is usually located in the glove compartment. If a car has a hubcap, use the tool provided to remove it. Loosen up the wheel nuts just a little before you start jacking the car. The wheel nut should be quite tight, so you will need to use some strength to remove them. If you cannot do it by hand, try using your foot. The next step is to jack up the car until the flat tire easily clears the road. Then take the loosened wheel nuts right off, remove the wheel and replace it for the spare. This might be a bit fiddly but once you have lined up the holes in the wheel with the corresponding screw holes on the car, fixing the wheel nuts back on should be relatively easy. Tighten the wheel nuts opposite each other until they firm. Then lower the car until the wheel makes contact with the ground and tighten them firmly. When you have done that, lower the car completely. Remove the jack and remember to put all the tools back where they came from. Put the wheel with the flat tire somewhere handy so you can take it out for the garage to repair. Finally, here are a couple of useful tips, firstly, always keep a cloth in the car so you can wipe your hands after you are finished. Secondly, there is not much point in replacing one flat tire with another. So from time to time, check the pressure in the spare tire and make sure it is hard. Oh and by the way, if you buy a used car, always check to see if its got the tools you need to change the tire.



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