to change a flat tire, you should:

When all the lugs are broken loose, you can now use the jack and raise the tire off the ground. Replace or Repair a Flat Tire? In fact, changing a tire in the rain is not much different than changing one in good weather. Generally located in the trunk or the side panels of the cargo hold in an SUV, there is no universal location for the jack and spare tire. This article has been viewed 2,372,932 times. What Are Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems? We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links. If you're driving when you get a flat tire, don't jam on the brakes. If youve done everything right, your car should be driveable again. Make sure to put on the emergency brake. Its important to tighten the lug nuts in the correct sequence to help ensure they stay secure on the hub. Thats why Bridgestone DriveGuard tires are masterfully engineered to keep you moving for up to 50 miles at speeds up to 50 MPH without disruption. Count Us In! But if you have a spare tire onboard, chances are you can get back on the road within an hour, provided you know what youre doing. Pull the tire toward you to remove it from the hub, then place it on its side and out of your way. If it's being stubborn, kick it. Dont stop on the roadway.. SE, Ste. Lift the spare, place it on the lugs and secure it with the lug nuts, again working in a star pattern. Gather all the items you used and secure them in your car. Flat tires can happen at any time and place, and emergency roadside assistance may not always be available. What now? Most models store these two items in a compartment underneath the floor of the trunk. Engage the emergency brake. However, if you can limp your car to the nearest exit or safe area, its better to do that instead. We used those methods to sell the American public on why then-Chrysler Group LLC was worth bailing out. Why New Vehicles Should Have Apple CarPlay Or Android Auto, How To Prepare Your Vehicle For A Road Trip. Make sure none of your or anyone elses body parts go under the car while youre raising it or once its raised. *Data as of post date. .css-dhtls0{display:block;font-family:GlikoS,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:400;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-dhtls0:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.25rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 61.25rem){.css-dhtls0{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.2;}}The Top Winter Tires for Snow Driving. Next, you need to remove the hubcap. In general, a flat tire can take anywhere from five minutes to two hours to replace. Instead, to save weight and improve mileage, car makers may provide a can of tire sealant and an air pump. An empty parking lot would be an ideal place. At that point, it is safe to remove the spare, jack and other tools from your vehicle. Car jacks usually have a built-in lug wrench. With the lug nuts already loose, finish unscrewing them by hand. Time trial (1 stage): Individual riders race against the clock. To engage the jack stands, use the lever that is attached to them and line it up with the jack stand point (Usually indicated by an arrow engraved into the car) but only raise the stand to about an inch or two away from the jack stand point which is usually the frame of the car. In addition to having the vehicle in Park and setting the parking brake, the placement of a wheel chock is recommended. How to Change a Flat Tire: 18 Simple Steps. Youll also want to chock the wheel farthest from the flat corner with a solid object as a backup. For those looking for a luxury tire experience, 80,000 miles of quiet, comfort and control*, All-season tires that won't stop until they get you there, Extended mobility PLUS improved performance through the elements, Tire performance tailor-made for your electric vehicle, Handle it all in your high performance CUV or SUV, Built to keep you and your workload going, Built for the demands of commercial highway driving, Take on the intensity of on and off road driving, Next level summer performance for your Sport Truck or SUV, Navigate through snow and ice in your SUV, CUV, or truck, Built for blizzards and winters worst in a commerical light truck or van, Keep your commercial truck or van in commission all winter. Tighten the lug nuts just one more time with the wrench as much as you can to ensure they are tight enough before lowering the jack and removing it from under the car. As a vehicle. Oh, great! ", balance I was going for in proper tire replacement. If youre changing a rear tire, place these in front of the front tires. Then use the lug wrench to make them a little more snug, but not fully tight. We admit, its not as simple as jump-starting a car or checking fluid levels, but theres no need to be intimidatedchanging a tire really isnt too difficult. Jan 21, 2019. partnerships@forbeswheels.com. The manufacturers suggestions may differ from the instructions below. You look around and see your tire has a big hole in it! Protect Yourself From Indoor Air Pollution, 21 Small Kitchen Appliances for $100 or Less. How Much Does a Home Security System Cost? You dont need special lug nuts for the spare. Ensure not to over tighten the lug nuts, which can cause damage to the . What Steps I Should Take If Im In An Accident? Here's how to do it in five safe, easy steps, illustrated in the following video clips. Keep all bolts as you will be using them to connect your spare tire to your car. We suggest keeping this guide in your cars glove compartment, and reviewing it every now and then to brush-up on how to change a tire. Use the flat end of your lug wrench to remove the hubcap. If this is your first time changing a flat tire, don't worry, we have a 15-step emergency guide to help you out. Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC. All of these precautions will extend the life of your tires and reduce the likelihood of a flat. Pull off to a quiet side street or a store parking lot and park on a flat section of pavement. Subscribe to SafeWise for updates on safety news, product releases, and deals! Pull the flat off and slide the spare tire on to the threaded studs. Consult your owners manual for proper hubcap or wheel cover removal procedures. Things that make changing a flat tire easier and safer, Tire maintenance tips to help avoid a flat, tighten the lug nuts in the correct sequence, Best Remote Car Starters that Work with Any Vehicle. We suggest driving a few miles and then checking the lugnuts again to ensure none of them have come loose. If your vehicle doesnt have a hub cap, dont worry about that part. Move away from your car and wait for it to fall, then try again. Farmers is a smart Its better to drive on a flat tire to a safe location then to risk changing a tire on the side of the road, Hines tells us. If a tire loses air while youre driving, you will likely receive a low air pressure warning on the instrument panel courtesy of the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Make sure your emergency flashers are on so that other drivers know to take caution when driving past you as you change your flat tire. SafeWise wants you to keep in mind that changing a tire can be dangerous. Jack up the car. Place the lug nuts back onto the bolts and turn them in a clockwise fashion. Turn on the flashers. The tires are Continental brand and have roughtly 20k miles (from Jan 2015) on them. If your tires still have 70 percent tire life, then buying one replacement tire makes sense because your other tires are still relatively new. and the tire was stuck onto the wheel by rust. Locate your spare tire and jack. Its best to find the nearest tire store or service station to have your flat repaired or replaced as soon as possible and swap out the spare and place it back in your trunk for the next time you need it. Don't Go Anywhere Without a Pocket Driver Set. To safely lift and avoid damage to the vehicle, follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle owners manual. Release the pressure from the floor jack by slowly turning the lever to the left and you will start to see the vehicle slowly fall to the ground. Tighten the nuts by hand before lowering the vehicle and tightening them fully. If youre driving when you get a flat tire, slowly decrease your vehicles speed, turn your cars hazard lights on, and look for a safe place to stop. At this point, you should tighten the lug nuts with the wrench, turning clockwise, as much as you can. List of all insurers and states where licensed at farmers.com/companies/state/. He is ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) certified and has over 9 years of experience working with companies such as Valvoline, Instant Oil Change, National Tire & Battery, and Tires Plus. Turn the wheel until the valve is at the top of the wheel. One of the lug nuts may be a wheel lock. As annoyed as you might be, rest assured that this will be an easy job to tackle. Make sure to check your owners manual for instructions on how to drive your car with a spare in place. Or purchase a roadside emergency kit that contains most, or all, of these things. Do New Cars Still Require a Break-In Period? Approved. After the jack is removed, use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts on the spare tire to ensure that it is secure enough to be drivable. In addition to reviewing this guide regularly, remember to do the following: Rotate your tires according to the manufacturers guidelines. Level ground is good because it will prevent your vehicle from rolling. Next, you need to add some wheel chalks to the opposite side wheels of the vehicle. Flip your hubcap upside down to turn it into a small bowl and set your lug nuts inside so that you dont lose them. Remember: lefty-loosey. Changing a flat tire can be a relatively simple process if you perform each step correctly and make sure youre a safe distance from traffic. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. For safety and to avoid damaging your car, consult your vehicle owners manual for specific instructions on where, and how, to place the jack. I was ashamed to say no. Make sure to consult your owners manual and review their specific steps on how to change a flat tire for your vehicle. To change a tire, first chock a wheel on the opposite end of the car that youll be working on. We have tips from an expert on how to swap in that spare using only the tools inside your car. Yes, you can change a flat tire in the rain. In NY: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange, Mid-Century Insurance Company or Farmers New Century Insurance Company. Just to clarify, use the same lug nuts that were previously on your wheel. If your vehicle has a hubcap covering the lug nuts, you'll need to remove it (if your lug nuts are exposed, you can skip ahead to Step 6.) You will tighten them with the wrench after lowering the vehicle to the ground. You will also need your owner's manual, a car jack, lug wrench, blocks or wedges for wheels, and warning flares or triangles. Securities offered through Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC, (In NY: Farmers Financial Solutions and Insurance Agency), 31051 Agoura Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361. Pack these itemsalong with a first aid kit, bottled water, and other safety itemsin a durable bag and stow them in your car. Before you begin the process of exchanging a flat tire for the spare tire, there are several preparatory steps that must be taken. You will begin to see the tires lift from the ground. I couldn't. Aside from taking your tire to a professional, the above procedure shouldnt take more than 15 to 30 minutes to change a tire. Trying to avoid hills to prevent your car from rolling. Once you have found your spare tire, you will want to loosen the lug nuts on your flat tire. By using our site, you agree to our. To learn more from our Mechanic co-author, like how to store the old tire so you can get it inspected, keep reading the article! Thankfully, modern tire design and materials have made flat tires far less common that they were even a couple of decades ago. Use the Handbrake. 1. Ive been covering the auto industry since 1989, first as CNN Detroit Bureau Chief, then as the National Auto Writer for the Associated Press, General Motors beat writer at the Detroit News and video reporter at Automotive News. Ensure not to over tighten the lug nuts, which can cause damage to the lugs or wheel. You want your emergency jack to have a solid base to safely lift your car in the air. To do this, you will need a lug wrench. Take it with you when you have finished changing your tire to dispose of it safely. Step 2 Turn on your hazard lights. Use the jack to lower the vehicle off of the jack by turning the handle in a counterclockwise fashion, so that the spare tire is resting on the ground but the full weight of the vehicle is still not fully on the tire. After the spare is completely installed, place the jack, lug wrench, hub cap, and flat tire back into the trunk of your vehicle. After stowing the flat, the jack and your tools, youre ready to rollbut not too far or too fast. A puncture is a pierce or break in the tire wall. Look in your glove box and trunk for a special tool thatll remove that unique lug nut. This will protect you from oil leaks that can stain your clothes when changing the tire back onto the car. In the rare and potentially dangerous case of a catastrophic failure, often referred to as a blow-out, the occupants may notice an explosion or the sound of tire fragments striking the vehicles body. This article has been adapted from an episode ofTalking Cars. For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure . Things that make changing a flat tire easier and safer Some cars have space-savers with a factory-suggested speed rating, while others are full-size tires that can be used normally. Put the car in Park (for an automatic transmission) or in gear (manual transmission). Be careful not to lower it to the point where it bears your vehicles whole weight. With a pump jack, you repeatedly move the handle up and down to raise the vehicle hydraulically. Once the spare is securely fastened, lower the vehicle until the car is on the ground and remove the jack. Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY) closed at $21.32 in the latest trading session, marking no change from the prior day . If you drive a Jeep or a large SUV, the spare tire may be on the outside or underneath the vehicle. Keeping a jack stand in the vehicle is a good idea and placing it under the vehicle in an appropriate location offers another level of security while the vehicle is in the air. You have before you a jack, a lug wrench, wheel wedges, your flat tire, and possibly a hubcap. Driving with a space-saver equipped for long periods of time could cause uneven wear on your tires or even put extra stress on your differential, if the space saver is on a driven wheel. While theres no way to prevent flat tires completely, proper care can improve performance and ensure your tires last as long as possible. If you note any of these problems, go to an auto repair shop and have your tire repaired or replaced. For any other vehicle-related questions, visit our Car Safety Guide to find auto safety checklists and educational opportunities. Once all the lugs, including the wheel lock, are off, you can remove the flat tire and set it aside. Place the jack in position beneath the jacking point closest to the flat, and lift the car until the tire clears. insurance from First, you want to make sure that you're hub cap is securely placed back on. We still dont recognize that sign in. If you have a manual transmission, leave your car in gear. If your lug nuts are exposed, you can skip ahead to Step 6. There are also on-demand options like Mach1, that offer pricing at fair market prices and free membership. But there are others. Youre in good shape if you have a full-size spare tire, and its inflated. You can often identify a puncture just by the appearance of the tire, which will deflate faster than normal or will have an unusual shape. Steps to Changing a Flat Tire. Remember to shake any debris out before placing it down! Unless you have special run-flat tires designed to run 50 miles to 100 miles when flat (about 14 percent of new cars come with them, according to data from Edmunds.com), drive only as far as necessary. Next, check the tire pressure of your spare tire to make sure it's properly inflated. Carefully lift with your arms and foot to align the tire with the hub. Reverse the order for flat on a front tire. Preventive maintenance can help keep your tires in good working order, but its still important to inspect them frequently. Loosen the lug nuts about to of a turn, but dont remove them completely yet. If your car moves while its on the jack, dont try to stop it. - Consumer Reports Should You Always Replace Car Tires in Pairs? Exercise great caution when going underneath an elevated vehicle that is not properly secured at said elevation on a proper stand. Keep the wedges behind the rear tires if the flat tire is at the front. You may also be able to get help by calling your insurance company., Dont have a spare? Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | How We Rank and Review |. 1. Here's the right way to do it quickly and safely. Once youre finished with the jack, go back to the lug nuts and snug them up. Even . Longer lug wrenches give more leverage, and sometimes you can push the lug wrench down with your foot to loosen the nutjust be careful not to loose your balance. Passwords are 6-20 characters with at least one number and letter. Our demonstratorcars jack was missing, so we used a standard floor jack instead. MemberFINRA&SIPC. Just be sure theyre large enough to stop the car from rolling. Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). 2. When you experience a blow-out on the highway, your first instinct might be to pull over immediately to get off the road and out of the way of other motorists. When To Change a Tire. ", How to Put a Spare Tire on Your Vehicle: 11 Simple Steps, https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/how-to-change-a-tire/, https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/, https://www.consumerreports.org/tires/some-newer-cars-are-missing-a-spare-tire-a9928775934/, https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a26012411/how-to-change-tire/, https://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/PR9191/PR9191O00119A.pdf, https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-change-a-tire-more-2017-6#1-know-your-jack-1, https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/how-long-can-you-drive-on-a-spare-tire. Just send us an email with your full name (must match the name and email address used for your purchase at Driving-Tests.org) within 30 days from the purchase of your Premium membership. Temporary spares (also known as mini-spares) require a minimum of (420 kPa) of air pressure. Uh-oh, you've got a flat. Find a safe and level area to place your flat tire on, preferably with grass or dirt instead of asphalt. Secure Your Vehicle Turn off your engine and engage the emergency or parking brake before you change a flat. Step 5 Finish lowering the car, remove the jack, and give the lug nuts a final tightening. Once they are all on, check each one again, tightening as much as possible. Never put any part of your body under the vehicle when its being jacked up. If you rely on a cell phone to save you in a roadside emergency, theres always that chance you will forget to charge it, be out of range, or leave it at home. Slow down to 15-20 mph and pull off the road to a safe spot as soon as you can. Newer model cars will have specific points that the manufacturer recommends you use when changing a tire, when in doubt, refer to the car's manual. The correct end for the nut will slip easily onto it, but it wont be so loose that it rattles. Take the foot off of the accelerator and apply your parking brake. If you successfully complete all the practice tests for your state, we promise you a passing grade on your DMV written knowledge test or we'll refund your money. You'll also need to have your jack handy before you start. Then, with the car fully on the ground, use your tire iron to fully tighten the lug nuts., Drive to a service station or tire store. Spare Tire There are two basic types of spare tires: full size and temporary (sometimes referred to as "donuts"). Our car experts choose every product we feature. Regular tire maintenance can also help extend the life of your tires, make your vehicle safer to drive, and improve fuel efficiency. This step will keep your car from rolling while you are busy changing out your tire. Dont forget to put all of them in your vehicle before driving away. Then use your lug wrench to fully remove the nuts. It's also recommended to put a block on the tire opposite of the flat tire. Still, it does happen. If youre changing a rear tire, place them in front of the front tires, or the other way round. No, reallya swift kick can loosen any rust and help you pull the tire off. Rich Ceppos has evaluated automobiles and automotive technology during a career that has encompassed 10 years at General Motors, two stints at Car and Driver totaling 19 years, and thousands of miles logged in racing cars. Make sure the kit is complete and its contents free of damage before using it. Flat tires can happen anywhere, and a cell phone is no substitute for knowing how to change a flat tire. Engage the quick-release lever and take out the back wheel. The vast majority of jacks are scissor jacks. Larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks usually have full-size spare tires, while compact cars tend to come with temporary tires. Spare tires can be stored in the vehicle or under it; some have full-size spares while most have a tiny space-saver spare; sportier models sometimes have no spare tire and only provide a sealant and small tire inflator. Place the lug wrench onto each nut and apply pressure to the handle in a counterclockwise fashion. Turn the jack in a clockwise fashion by hand until it meets the vehicle. Getting familiar with the process now will make you better prepared to change a tire under less ideal conditions. Place the jack under the car. Step #1: Prepare ahead. Once there is enough room between wheel and ground, place your jacks handle under the car to hold it there. Family or friends or your roadside assistance company can help. Will You Void a Car Warranty by Not Having Your Car Serviced at the Dealership. Calling these subjects will help you from this trouble, especially if you do not know about changing tires and having no spare tire to replace the broken one. If there are five lug nuts on the wheel, tighten every other one until you've tightened them all. If your tires are less than 30 percent worn you can get away with replacing just one tire and placing it on the rear axle, says Ryan Pszczolkowski, Consumer Reports tire program leader. A: The first thing to do when you have a flat tire: get yourself to a safe area. Lower your car completely and remove the jack. Get out the owner's manual and review the procedure for changing the tire. You really dont want to damage your vehicle with the jack. The payment for your account couldn't be processed or you've canceled your account with us. You might have a pump-assisted jack, though. Save products you love, products you own and much more! 2. 2. To maintain optimum and balanced handling, remember not to change the type of tire. Then, with the vehicles weight resting on the tire, make a final round of all the lug nuts to make sure they remain securely fastened. Carefully place the spare tire on the ground in close proximity to the flat tire.

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