Auto-Carrier.com

When was the last time you had a flat tire? If you are anything like me you are not currently thinking: Was that during the Johnson, or Nixon administration? For whatever reason, I get flat tires like they are going out of style. With that in mind I though I might pass on a few pointers regarding changing a flat. The following words of wisdom are for every person who has ever found themselves kneeling next to a car in 100 degree temperatures with complete humidity saturation: the sun beating down, you had to be somewhere important 12 minutes ago, and as you cut your finger on that rusty bolt you ask “when was the last time I had a tetanus shot?” Such a seemingly simple task can become a beast of burden if you are not prepared physically, and mentally.

Gemini automotive care recommends the following procedures:

* Find a level spot completely off the side of the road, even if you must drive for a few hundred yards on a flat tire. Make sure you are out of the way of traffic.
* Apply your parking brake. If you have an automatic transmission, place the car in “park.” Manual transmissions should be placed in first gear or reverse.
* Turn off your engine and turn on your hazard lights.
* Alert other drivers of your presence by placing safety flares and / or reflectors about five car lengths in front and back of your vehicle.
* Gather your tools: the spare tire, jack, lug wrench and the wheel key (if your car requires one).

* The Process: Remove your wheel covers (if applicable). Depending on the type you have, you may need to unlock them first. Others can be popped off or unscrewed.
* Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts. Usually you can achieve this by turning them about a half-turn counterclockwise.
* Determine the proper positioning for your jack according to the owner’s manual and raise the car until the tire barely touches the ground. It should take the weight off the tire, but not come off the ground.
* Rotate the lug wrench counterclockwise, removing each lug nut. In order to remove the flat tire, it will be easiest if you position your hands at the “three o’clock” and “nine o’clock” positions and pull it straight toward you.
* Replace the flat with your spare tire. It’s easier if you align the holes in your spare tire with the bolts first, then place it firmly on them.
* Replace and slightly tighten the lug nuts.
* Lower your car back to the ground and then finish tightening the lug nuts in a cross pattern.

* Final Steps: Put your tools back in the proper places and conduct a final check to be sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
* Get to a service station as soon as possible. You will need to have the flat tire repaired and reinstalled (if possible) and have your lug nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the proper specification for your vehicle.

I would personally add to this list:do not throw your lug wrench in anger or disgust (always important), and try to be on level ground, if you are not, you may find yourself repeatedly jacking the car up and lowering it in a hopeless effort to simply get the tire far enough off the ground to change. This becomes a sad dance of desperation after about the third move, so you may want to move “level ground” to the top of your list.

If you are a visual learner, you may find this video (the first in a series) quite helpful.