| Almost everybody has had one, and those who | | | | written information about the pieces to jack the |
| haven’t almost certainly will, a Flat Tire. | | | | car is situated. Usually, they are either printed on |
| Even if you affiliated to an auto club, which offers | | | | the jack or somewhere around the storage |
| towing or on the spot assistance, you may not | | | | compartment, as well as in the owner’s |
| be near a phone when the flat happens. That is | | | | manual. |
| why you must know how to change a tire by | | | | You have to remove the hubcap or the wheel |
| yourself. Beside from the advices presented here, | | | | cover. To do this you should use a screwdriver or |
| read carefully the car’s owner’s manual, | | | | the flat end of the jack. |
| as you will find specific information about your car. | | | | Next you need to break loose the lug nuts. |
| When a flat occurs, it is important to remain calm. | | | | Because the car stands on the wheel, it will not |
| Do not panic and the first thing to do is to take | | | | move and it will allow you to unscrew them more |
| the pedal of the gas pedal and let the car come | | | | easily. Do not take them out completely. Some of |
| to stop. Because when you loose air from a tire | | | | the lug nuts can be tougher to loose and you will |
| the car will not have the same handling properties, | | | | have to apply more force. After the lug nuts |
| do not make any sudden maneuvers. Put the | | | | begins to unscrew, move to the next one. |
| alert flashers on to show so the other drivers will | | | | Find the jacking points under the car (the |
| notice you have a problem and find a place | | | | owner’s manual can help you with the exact |
| outside the main road where you can start | | | | location). You will see that most cars have a |
| changing the tire. | | | | special reinforced place where to put the jack. |
| The first thing to do when you face yourself with | | | | When starting jacking, be sure that both the car |
| the need to change a tire is to find a place away | | | | and the jack are on firm level ground. Do not lift |
| from traffic, a level ground where to park the | | | | your car more than is required to take the wheel |
| car. If there is no such spot nearby, you can try | | | | out. |
| to drive until you see one, but only if you do not | | | | Remove the lug nuts and take the flat tire out. |
| represent a threat to you as well as the other | | | | Take the replacement one from the trunk and |
| drivers on the road. | | | | replace it. |
| Turn off your engine and be sure you put the car | | | | After having changed the wheel, put the lug nuts |
| in the first gear if you own a manual transmission | | | | back and screw them into place until the wheel is |
| car or into park if your car has an automated | | | | fixed. Let the jack down so the car will be on |
| one. It is time to get ready the spare tire, the | | | | four wheels again. Use the lug wrench and screw |
| jack and the lug wrench. Most of the times you | | | | the lug nuts as hard as you can. Tighten the lug |
| will find the Jack under the carpet in the trunk. If | | | | nuts in diagonally, so that the same amount of |
| you own a truck, the jack as well as the lug | | | | pressure is applied to each part of the wheel. |
| wrench will be either under the hood, behind the | | | | All you have to do next is to put the lug cap or |
| seat or together with the spire tire under the bed. | | | | the wheel cover back, put the flat tire in the |
| Next you should locate the place where the | | | | trunk and all the tools back at their places. |