Even if you know how to change a flat tire, it can sometimes take a long time or feel frustrating. Changing a flat tire quickly and efficiently is a skill that every driver should have, so read on for some tips and advice on changing flat tires.
The first thing is to do your homework. Right now, go to your car and loosen all your lugs by half a turn. Why? Well, your mechanic probably used an air gun when he or she tightened them, and that can make loosening them in a pinch a pain. Tighten them to the manufacturer’s specified torque using a torque wrench. If you wish, you can use a little oil on each of the lugs – no, this won’t make them come off unintentionally, and yes, it will make changing tires faster in the future. Go do it, right now.
Back? Great. You also need to know what to do when you first get a flat tire. If you can tell that your tire is flat but your car is still in your control, slow down and get into the right lane as carefully as possible. Drive gently so that you do not damage the tire more than necessary – you might still be able to patch it up later! If the tire is on the right, pull onto the shoulder and stop. If it’s on the driver side, try to find a place where you can pull over a little further away from traffic. Changing left-side tire on the left side of the road, especially on a highway, is dangerous. And do not pull over to the left of the highway to change your tires.
When your tire is flat, remove the hubcap and loosen all the lug nuts. Try carrying a four-way wrench, too – you can push and pull for greater efficiency. Now, one at a time, remove the lugs. Leave the topmost one just a few turns away from being off, and put the others in your pocket or somewhere you won’t lose them. Now, it’s time lift the car with the jack and remove the tire.
If the wheel won’t come off, try sitting down and kicking the sidewalls with your feet in an alternating pattern with some force, but not too much.
When you place the spare, tighten the lugs fingertight. Then, spin the wheel a few times. After you’ve done that, tighten the lugs a little with your wrench. Now, you can lower the car. That was easy, wasn’t it?