It is almost inevitable that at some point in your life you will be cruising down the street in your ‘64 listening to your favorite jams when suddenly you’ll feel your car vibrating with the song. As great as it may be to think your car is just vibing with the music, you should probably be prepared for the unfortunate event of having a flat tire.
Getting a flat tire is one of those adult life events that is truly dreadful. It can be stressful and tiring, but it is something we must all be prepared to deal with. So, here is what to do if you ever have to change a flat tire.
The best thing to do when you have a flat tire should actually happen long before your tire goes flat that is be prepared. At all times, you will want to have a wrench, car jack and a spare tire in your car.
These items should come with the car when you buy it, but it is important to double check. If these things are not in your car, be sure to purchase them if you can. With these tools already in your car, it will lessen the stress of changing a flat when the time comes.
If you are driving and you notice your tire is flat, you should first turn on your hazards, slow down and find a safe spot to park.
On the highway, pull over on the shoulder. If on residential streets, try to pull into a gas station. Once you’re parked be sure to put on your emergency break; this will prevent the car from rolling.
It is time for arguably the most difficult part of changing a tire and that is loosening the lug nuts. Turn them counterclockwise to loosen their resistance but don’t completely remove them just yet. This step may require some force so don’t be afraid to use your foot and body weight to push.
Next it is time to put in the jack. According to Bridgestone Tire’s website, “The right place for the jack is usually beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire that’s flat. Many vehicle frames have molded plastic on the bottom with a cleared area of exposed metal specifically for the jack. To safely lift and avoid damage to the vehicle, follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle owner’s manual.” Lift the jack about six inches from the ground.
Now you can unscrew the lug nuts the rest of the way. Then pull the tire off and place it flat on the ground. Get your spare, align it with the lug bolts, place the tire on then put on the lug bolts and tighten them by hand.
You can now lower the jack until the car is back on the ground but don’t let the full weight of the tire rest on the ground.
Use the wrench to completely tighten the bolts to secure the tire. Now lower the car completely and pull off the jack. The last step is to put on the hubcap on the spare if it fits. If it doesn’t fit, store it with the rest of equipment.
As soon as you can, take the flat tire to a tire place and see if it can be patched or if you will have to replace it. Hopefully it is not the later.
Changing tires is definitely not fun but hopefully now you will feel a bit prepared. Safe travels!
