| The experience of getting a flat tire seemingly | | | | the lug nut across from the previous one. Continue until |
| happens to people at the worst possible time and | | | | all lug nuts are loosened slightly. |
| place. While inconvenient, replacing a flat tire is one of | | | | Now it is time to elevate the vehicle. Refer to your |
| the simplest responsibilities related to vehicle care. In | | | | vehicle owner’s manual for the recommended |
| fact, the need to change a tire is so common that all | | | | location on the vehicle to apply the jack. Since the |
| of the required equipment is conveniently included | | | | entire weight of the vehicle will be resting on a small |
| when you purchase a vehicle. Since most people | | | | mechanism, it is extremely important to use caution |
| experience a flat tire sometime in their driving career, | | | | and to place the jack in the appropriate place. Raise |
| the ability to change a tire is a valuable skill. | | | | the car slightly higher than required to remove the flat |
| If a tire goes flat while you are driving, pull over | | | | tire, leaving space for the full spare tire to be attached. |
| immediately and park the car on level ground. Always | | | | Once the vehicle is securely lifted, remove the lug nuts |
| engage the parking brake, and put the car into gear if it | | | | completely using the lug wrench. Make sure to set the |
| is a manual transmission. If you are close to moving | | | | lug nuts aside in a safe location where they will not roll |
| traffic, turn on your vehicle’s hazard lights to warn | | | | or otherwise get lost. Remove the flat tire by it pulling |
| other drivers to be cautious. If you have wheel chocks, | | | | straight out, and replace with the spare tire, ensuring |
| which are wedges intended to keep a car from rolling, | | | | that the valve is facing outward. |
| place them behind or in front of the tires (depending on | | | | Finally, tighten the lug nuts using the same star pattern |
| the direction of incline where the car is parked). Rocks | | | | as you used to remove them, concentrating on the nut |
| are a good alternative to use if you do not have | | | | opposite the last. The technique here is not tightening |
| wedges. | | | | two neighboring lug nuts all the way consecutively. |
| Next, locate the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench. All | | | | Carefully lower the jack and return it to the trunk. |
| three of these items are secured in the trunks of most | | | | Replace the hubcap if you can, and do not forget to |
| vehicles. Remove the hubcap on the flat tire if it has | | | | remove the wheel chock or rock before driving away. |
| one. Before jacking the car, you should loosen each lug | | | | Spare tires typically have limitations on speed and |
| nut holding the wheel in place. To loosen the lug nuts, | | | | distance, so be sure to check and adhere to these |
| place one end of the lug wrench over a nut and turn | | | | requirements. Have the original tire checked by a tire |
| counterclockwise a little. It is recommended to follow a | | | | specialist, who can determine whether it can be |
| star pattern when loosening lug nuts, always loosening | | | | repaired or requires replacement. |