We here at towtrucknearme.co know there are a lot of advantages to be gained from simply knowing the simple mechanics of car maintenance. This helps to boost morale and provide empowering emotions in situations that might be otherwise disastrous. A major thing that must be learnt when it comes to car maintenance or repair is how to change a car tire. Knowledge in this area has often proved rewarding to individuals who would have found themselves stranded if this information was not at the back of their minds.

It comes as no surprise that in this modern day, a lot of individuals instead of knowing the basics of fixing a flat tire prefer to have roadside assistance services come to their aid. Although having roadside assistance cannot be qualified as a bad thing, it still pays to have this knowledge instead of having to rely on the professionals at every mishap. It pays to be as self-sufficient as possible.

The Process of Changing a Flat Tire

Before a flat tire can even be changed, it is best to always be equipped with emergency supplies for such a scenario. There are cars that when purchased come along with the traditional jack, spare tire and lug wrench. These should be checked frequently to ensure they are in proper working condition. If the spare tire has been inactive for a long period of time, it is most likely to have gone flat so constant vigilance should be kept. Other important tools to have handy are: flashlight with spare batteries, old mat or newspapers, tire gauge, tire blocks and foam spray.

In the case of a roadside emergency, the following are steps on how to treat a flat tire:

  • If on the highway, find a safe spot to pull over to even if it means taken the nearest exit. The hazard lights of the car should be turned on to make other road users aware that there is an emergency. If there is no close exit, then the best thing would be to pull over as soon as possible to the shoulder of the road and not in the middle.
  • After parking, leave the hazard lights on and if you have a manual transmission, leave the car in gear. It is important to remember to set the parking brake to avoid a runaway vehicle.
  • The first tools needed are the lug wrench, jack and spare tire from the trunk.
  • The lug wrench is to aid in loosening the lug nuts. Do not remove the lug nuts just loosen them. Some tires have hub caps and need to be removed before the lug wrench can be gotten to. If the tires are just being replaced for the first time, then it is highly likely that they might be extra tight and might need a bit of force to come loose.
  • The next thing to do is to lift the vehicle off the ground using the car jack. Different car models have different spots in which the jack can be placed so it is best to consult the car manual for the right information. Once the jack has been secured in the right position, then the process of lifting up the car can commence. The tire has to be lifted at least 6 inches above the ground.
  • The lug nuts can now be removed and the tire of the car pulled out. Take care to place the lug nuts in a safe place. The tire should be pulled straight out from the wheel base.
  • The spare tire can then be placed on the car. The lug nut posts should be lined up in the spare before the spare is pushed all the way onto the wheelbase.
  • The lug nuts can be put back on the wheel but not tightened until the car has been lowered back unto the ground using the jack.
  • The jack can then be pulled out from underneath the car and the lug nuts tightened.
  • The lug nuts should not be tightened all the way individually rather, each opposite nut should be tightened halfway before being moved onto the next. This is to ensure uniformity and alignment in the positioning of the tires. Turn until each lug nut is suitably tightened and has no chance of falling out.
  • Put your flat tire and tools back in your trunk. Be sure you don’t leave anything on the side of the road. Also check to make sure everything is in working order before driving off.

If you aren’t comfortable changing your tire for any reason, like on a major highway, in bad weather or you may simply not be physically capable or handy enough you can always call our tow truck company 24/7 and we will get you fixed on back on the road safely in as short as time as possible.

 

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