Change a Tire as Easily as You Change Attire

OK, changing a tire isn’t really as easy as changing clothes, but you shouldn’t be afraid to do it if you find yourself with a flat. It really isn’t difficult, and you needn’t be some sort of He-Man to pull it off in a pinch.

Following are some tips that will get you back on the road – at least to the garage to have your flat tire fixed or buy a new one (or two):

Find a safe place

This can’t be overstated. Find a flat place as far off the road as feasible to stop. Even if it means driving a bit on the flat and ruining the tire and the rim, you’ll be alive. If you’re on or too close to the road, you’ll be in a great deal of danger from approaching motorists.

In the best of all situations, you see the tire is flat while you’re still in the driveway or are in a parking lot.

Getting started

Put on your hazard lights. If it’s really dark, flares also are a good way to let oncoming motorists know that you’re there. Do not, by the way, use flares to illuminate your work on the tire. For that, use the flashlight in the emergency kit you should have in your trunk.

Apply the parking brake. If you have an automatic transmission, put your car in “Park.” If you have a manual transmission, go with first gear or reverse.

Time to get jacked up

Get the stuff you’ll need out of the trunk, including your jack, lug wrench and spare tire. Find the right position for your jack (check the owner’s manual if necessary) so that it will make contact with the metal part of the car’s frame. Raise the jack enough to support the car without actually lifting it.

Remove the wheel cover, if necessary, and use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts. Turn counterclockwise. Don’t remove the nuts.

Jack the car up high enough to not only remove the flat but install the spare. Finish removing the loosened nuts – generally about 6 inches off the ground.

Swapping out the tires

Finish removing the lug nuts, and keep them nearby in a safe place. Remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare. Tighten the nuts by hand but don’t make them too tight. Lower the car on the jack until it’s resting on all four tires. Then tighten the lug nuts with the wrench. Tighten one nut, then the one directly opposite it. (If you do it otherwise, you could upset the vehicle’s alignment.

Once you’ve finished tightening the nuts, release the jack completely, replace the wheel cover and put away all your tools, including the flares.

Now you’re ready to go to a garage and have the flat repaired or replaced. Most spares aren’t designed to be driven great distances – or at speeds faster than 50 mph, so take care of this right away.

You’ve changed a tire. No sweat. Well, some sweat. And some dirt. Which means you might have to change attire, too.

Source: AutoInsurance