Getting Back On the Road Again After a Flat Tire

October 2011

No driver wants to be stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. Calling an emergency roadside service for help can be time consuming, especially in the winter. Roadside assistance isn’t available in some areas, so depending on where the vehicle breaks down, it may not even be available. Knowing how to fix a flat may be the best possible solution.

Here is a quick and easy, step-by-step instructions for changing a flat.

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Tools Needed: Spare tire, Jack, Lug Wrench, Wheel Lock Key (optional if you have wheel locks)

1. Think Safety First If a flat happens while driving, pull over as far off the road as possible. Make sure there is enough room to work next to the car, away from traffic. Hit the emergency brake and turn off the engine. Put the car’s hazard lights on and set up safety flares, warning lights or reflective markers if you have them.

2. Remove Spare Tire Go into the trunk and get the tire out along with the necessary tools. There should be a jack and lug wrench in with the tire. If you have wheel locks, be sure to locate the lock key.

3. Put Jack In Place Slide the jack underneath the vehicle in the correct placement, perpendicular to the lifting rail. You can also find information about the correct place to put the jack in the owner’s manual. Crank it so the jack comes into contact with the frame of the car.

4. Raise The Car Up Raise the jack by turning the hand crank until the tire begins to lift off the ground. Be sure to raise the car high enough to remove the tire.

5. Loosen The Lug Nuts Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Depending on what kind of wheel the vehicle has, the hubcap might need to come off first. Turn them counter clockwise, loosen each lug nut before removing any of them. It is important to do this in a criss-cross pattern.

6. Remove The Flat Once all the lug nuts are loosened remove them, placing them in the hubcap so they don’t get lost and then take the tire off the car. Lay it flat on the ground, so it doesn’t roll away.

7. Push Spare Tire On Line up the spare tire with the lug bolts and push it onto the car. Once the tire is on, take the lug nuts and start screwing them in by hand.

8. Lower Car To GroundLower the jack with the hand crank until the car is safely on the ground.

9. Tighten Lug Nuts

Take the lug wrench and tighten the lug nuts all the way, again doing so in a criss-cross pattern.

10. Clean Up

Reinstall the hubcap and put the flat tire, jack and lug wrench back in the trunk.

It’s important to note that a spare tire is not meant for extended travel. After changing a flat, take your car right away to a local tire retailer. They can inspect it and possibly fix the damaged tire. Some tire retailers offer free flat repairs when you buy new tires. They can get you fixed up and back on the road again, as quickly as possible.

These aren’t necessarily things that will save owners money in the short term, but can significantly decrease the cost of maintenance over the long-run. If two tire retailers offer the same model at the same price, these value-added bonuses should be something shoppers should ask about.

Have you ever researched buying new tires? Let us know, or visit one of our stores to talk with an ASE Certified tire specialist.

About Belle Tire

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