How to Change Flat Tire
Have you had a flat and had to call someone to help you? How embarrassing. Read on so you can take care of it yourself from now on.Ok the first thing you need to do when you get a flat is pull off to the shoulder as soon as you can. When you get off the road turn on your warning lights immediately. Get out of the car on the side away from traffic. If you have a flashlight in your glove box(which you deffinatly should)get it out. Also get out your jack and your spare and tire iron. Be familiar with were all of these things are in your vehicle.
The first thing you need to do is jack the car up. Near each tire there is a metal plate up under the car on the frame or chassis. If it is a rear tire it will be just it front of it, if it is a front tire it will be just behind it. It is a small square metal plate that your jack is supposed to lock into. Place your jack under the plate right next to your flat and begin cranking the jack(this is often the most difficult part) the tire should be jack up about 4-5 inches off the ground or there abouts. REMEMBER: when the car is jacked up do not lean on it or push it or anything like that because you could push it off the jack and seriously damage your vehicle.
Now that the car is jacked up get the tire iron and twist off the rivet or bolts on the tire. IMPORTANT: do not lose these because you will need them to put the spare on. Once you have all the rivets/bolts off pull the flat off and put it in your trunk and place the spare tire on (make sure it put it on the right direction, it should only fit the right way). Now reattach the bolts/rivets with the tire iron.
Finally lower the jack back down until it can be easily removed from under the vehicle. Now put the tire iron and jack away and your done. One very important thing to remember though is that most spare tires have a recommended speed written on the tire itself which you should never exceed when driving with the spare. REMEMBER: The spare is only meant for short term use until you can get a replacement, so get it replaced ASAP.
Labels: Car
