If you're unlucky enough to get a flat tire while driving, do not panic! There are a few simple steps you can take to change the tire and get back on the road. Check out the steps below to make sure you are prepared!
Step 1
After you have pulled over into a safe a brightly lit location, the first thing you need to do is find the puncture. The main indication of a where the puncture could be is if you can visually see something sticking out of the tire. If not, you can also try to feel for any air bubbles coming out of the tire. Please note, you might have to roll the car a few feet to locate the issue.
Step 2
Once the puncture is found, you will need to remove the wheel. Grab your spare out of the back and place it near whichever tire you are going to be changing. If you are changing the front tire, put it in front and under the front bumper. If it is in back, put it behind and under your back bumper. This will protect your car in case it falls off of your jack. You will then use your jack to safely lift your vehicle off of the ground. Make sure to place your jack underneath the metal frame of your car!
Once you have your car lifted all the way up, you will need to use your wrench or tire iron to turn the lug nuts counterclockwise. Be careful not to lose any of them! Once the lug nuts are removed, you should be able to pull the tire straight out and off of your vehicle.
Step 3
Next, you will need to evaluate the puncture. If it is small or a hole in your tread (less than 1/4 inch), you can probably fix it yourself using a repair kit. If it is any bigger or located on the sides of your tire, you will need to put your spare tire on instead. When you can, make your way safely to a tire and body shop in order to get a new tire. You do not want to drive on a spare for a long period of time.
If you discover that you are able to patch up your tire, the first thing you want to do is enlarge the hole roughly to the size of a pencil. Use a screwdriver or knife to make the hole bigger (this will make it easier to patch). Your repair kit should have something called a rope plug, use this to patch your tire and follow the repair kit steps to set the patch in place.
Step 4
The final step is to re-install the wheel. Once you have put the spare or newly patched tire in place, screw the lug nuts tightly back on in a counterclockwise direction and star pattern for the tire to fit snugly against the frame. Slowly lower your car off of the jack and do a final tightening. Put the un-used tire back in the boot of your car and safely get back on the road! It is always a good rule of thumb to go to a car body shop and have an expert double check your lug nuts and tighten more if needed.
Flat tires are never fun, but with these simple steps, you can be back on the road in no time. Remember to drive safely and always keep a spare tire and repair kit in your trunk, just in case!
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