How To Change A Flat Tyre

Imagine having a flat tire while driving to work, it can become a daunting task to get back on the road. So it’s important to be aware of the procedure involved in changing a tyre as we can’t call out for technicians then and there.

Here are 10 steps on how to change a flat tyre.

Stop in A Safe Location

Once you realise you have a flat tire, do not stop immediately. Drive slowly to the left and park your car in a safe location. Do not park in bottlenecks or curved roads. Make sure you park your car on a straight, flat road.

Turn on Your Flashlights

Your hazard lights or flashers will help other drivers identify you on the side of the road. To avoid an accident, turn them on as soon as you want to pull over.

Apply the Parking Brake

Apply the parking brake to replace a flat tire. This will minimize the possibility of your vehicle rolling and will establish balance.

Apply Wheel Wedges

Wheel wedges go in front of or behind the tires to further ensure the vehicle doesn’t roll while you fix the flat tire. If not the real wheel wedges, use bricks or large stones.

Loosen the Lug Nuts

Using the lug wrench, turn the lug nuts anti-clockwise until you break their resistance. Use your foot if necessary to loosen it. Loosen it to ¼ to ½ a turn but don’t remove them completely until you place the jack. Once your jack is fixed, then remove the lug nuts.

Fix Your Jack

The right place for the jack is usually beneath the vehicle frame alongside the tire that’s flat. Follow the instructions for jack placement in your vehicle owner’s manual. With the jack properly positioned, raise the vehicle until the flat tire is about six inches above the ground.

Never put any part of your body under the vehicle during or after raising the vehicle with the jack.

Remove the Flat Tyre

Hold the tire by the treads and pull it gently toward you until it’s completely free from the hub behind it. Set it on its side so that it doesn’t roll away.

Mount the Spare Tyre

Now place the spare on the hub by lining up the rim with the lug bolts. Push gently until the lug bolts show through the rim. Put the lug nuts back on the lug bolts and tighten them.

Lower the Vehicle Gently

Use the jack to lower the vehicle and make sure you do it gently otherwise there are chances that the tire might hold the weight of the entire car. Check your lug nuts and tighten it once again. Bring the vehicle all the way to the ground and remove the jack.

Put All Pieces of Equipment Back

A jack, a lug wrench, wheel wedges, your flat tire, and possibly a hubcap will be around. Make sure you put all of them in your vehicle before driving away.

Once you have your car in place, make sure you drive to the nearest petrol station to check the pressure in your wheels and also cross check if you have placed it right. Make sure you get the original wheel fixed. Also, keep the contact number of a technician who might be able to help you through the phone.

Just be calm and gentle but equally street smart during such situations.

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Reshma Ganeshbabu is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.