ALT-1 Diy Automotive Repair how to Change a Flat Tire
Hopefully you won't have to use the information in this article, but if you do, here are some helpful tips to get you on your way safely and quickly.
I would recommend getting to know your car, sooner rather than later. Before your next outing go through your owners manual and locate the jack, lug wrench and any other tools you may need. If you have after-market wheels, you will most likely need a wheel-lock key or a Gorilla-lock key. Both of these items should have been provided to you when you purchased your wheels.
After you locate your car's jack and tools, I would recommend including a large flat-head screwdriver, a pair of leather work gloves and a blanket or towel in the same place your car manufacturer put the jack.
First of all, find a spot on the shoulder of the road where your car will be even, you will be visible to traffic, and where you are far enough off the road that you won't get hit by passing traffic
On most car's (except high-end sports cars), there should be what is called a "pinch-weld" that runs along the bottom of the car's body. Typically this is the safest place to put your jack(unless otherwise noted in your owner's manual).
After you place the vehicle in "park", engage the E-brake. Next line up the the jack with the "pinch-weld" closest to the flat tire and raise the jack until it just touches the metal. With the jack securely in place, put on your gloves(if you have not already done so), take your flathead screwdriver and pry off the hubcap(if neccessary).Take your lug-wrench and gently loosen (do not remove, just loosen)all of the lug-nuts. Next raise the car with the jack until the flat tire is about 1-inch off the ground. Continue to loosen the lugnuts now until you can take all of them off. With your gloves still on, carefully place your hands at 9 and 3 and gently pull the tire off of the hub. Always be very careful if you have had a "blow-out" since there is a good chance sharp steel-belting is exposed in the tire. Then, take the SPARE tire and place it back on the hub. Completely push the wheel until it sits flat against the hub and while holding the wheel in place with one hand, completely run down one lugnut by hand (usually the closest one to the bottom).
Next finish putting all of the lugnuts on by hand.Note: All lugnuts are 2-sided, ALWAYS put the curved end of the lugnuts facing the wheel, because there is a possibilty of the wheel coming loose!
Finally, tighten all of the lugnuts with the lug-wrench, lower the car with the jack and re-tighten all of the lugnuts with the lug-wrench using a star crossed pattern. Put the flat wheel/tire into the trunk on the towel or blanket(so that brake dust does not get in your trunk.
Find the nearest tire shop and (even if you can't afford a new tire or flat repair)ask them to torque your wheels to spec and check the air pressure for you.
The above steps are tried and tested to be quick, safe and accurate. I hope you will find this article helpful in case you ever need it!
