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