| Almost everybody has had one, and those who | | | | information about the pieces to jack the car is situated. |
| haven't almost certainly will, a Flat Tire. | | | | Usually, they are either printed on the jack or |
| Even if you affiliated to an auto club, which offers | | | | somewhere around the storage compartment, as well |
| towing or on the spot assistance, you may not be | | | | as in the owner's manual. |
| near a phone when the flat happens. That is why you | | | | You have to remove the hubcap or the wheel cover. |
| must know how to change a tire by yourself. Beside | | | | To do this you should use a screwdriver or the flat |
| from the advices presented here, read carefully the | | | | end of the jack. |
| car's owner's manual, as you will find specific | | | | Next you need to break loose the lug nuts. Because |
| information about your car. | | | | the car stands on the wheel, it will not move and it will |
| When a flat occurs, it is important to remain calm. Do | | | | allow you to unscrew them more easily. Do not take |
| not panic and the first thing to do is to take the pedal | | | | them out completely. Some of the lug nuts can be |
| of the gas pedal and let the car come to stop. | | | | tougher to loose and you will have to apply more |
| Because when you loose air from a tire the car will | | | | force. After the lug nuts begins to unscrew, move to |
| not have the same handling properties, do not make | | | | the next one. |
| any sudden maneuvers. Put the alert flashers on to | | | | Find the jacking points under the car (the owner's |
| show so the other drivers will notice you have a | | | | manual can help you with the exact location). You will |
| problem and find a place outside the main road where | | | | see that most cars have a special reinforced place |
| you can start changing the tire. | | | | where to put the jack. When starting jacking, be sure |
| The first thing to do when you face yourself with the | | | | that both the car and the jack are on firm level ground. |
| need to change a tire is to find a place away from | | | | Do not lift your car more than is required to take the |
| traffic, a level ground where to park the car. If there is | | | | wheel out. |
| no such spot nearby, you can try to drive until you see | | | | Remove the lug nuts and take the flat tire out. Take |
| one, but only if you do not represent a threat to you | | | | the replacement one from the trunk and replace it. |
| as well as the other drivers on the road. | | | | After having changed the wheel, put the lug nuts back |
| Turn off your engine and be sure you put the car in | | | | and screw them into place until the wheel is fixed. Let |
| the first gear if you own a manual transmission car or | | | | the jack down so the car will be on four wheels again. |
| into park if your car has an automated one. It is time to | | | | Use the lug wrench and screw the lug nuts as hard as |
| get ready the spare tire, the jack and the lug wrench. | | | | you can. Tighten the lug nuts in diagonally, so that the |
| Most of the times you will find the Jack under the | | | | same amount of pressure is applied to each part of |
| carpet in the trunk. If you own a truck, the jack as well | | | | the wheel. |
| as the lug wrench will be either under the hood, behind | | | | All you have to do next is to put the lug cap or the |
| the seat or together with the spire tire under the bed. | | | | wheel cover back, put the flat tire in the trunk and all |
| Next you should locate the place where the written | | | | the tools back at their places. |