Changing a flat tire
Submitted by: Kevin Chertkow

No matter what car your driving it’s a good idea to know where the spare is located before you have trouble. While you’re at it, know and check for a jack and lug wrench. Lastly don’t forget to check to make sure the spare has enough air in it.

When you get started make sure the car is secure and won’t roll. If you are able you could use rocks, wedges, or something to choke the opposite wheels from the end that is to be raised.

If you’re dealing with a scissor jack or a hydraulic jack place the jack in its appropriate place. Usually you want to position and pump the jack so it’s under part of the frame of the car near the tire that you’re changing.

Once you’ve raised the jack enough so the jack is secure to the frame and won’t move, you’ll need to pry the wheel cover off (if you have one) to be able to get to the lug nuts. Taking of the wheel cover is much like taking off a lid of paint. The cap should pop off as you pry the cover away from the tire where the edges meet.

If you have a four way lug wrench, a Star wrench as some call it,  find which end fits and turn the wrench to the left. Remember, righty tighty, lefty loosey. The lugs may be very tight so you may have to put your weight into it. At first you just need to break the lugs loose enough so you can remove them by hand, don’t remove them completely. When the lugs are loose raise the car higher with the jack.

Now the tire is off the ground enough so it can be removed, you can proceed to remove the lug nuts the rest of the way. As you take each lug off, place it in the hub cap which should be upside down. This makes for a great holder and you won't have to try and remember where you placed them on the ground.  Pull the flat tire off by pulling towards you with both hands. You’ll need to pull it completely off by clearing the bolts it sits on.

With the replacement tire or spare remember, tires can be heavy so aligning the bolts ahead as best as possible before you lift it might be a good idea. Also remember that when you raise the vehicle off the ground to get the flat off will be different than trying to get a new tire on that has all it's air. Make sure you have raised the car high enough to accomodate the size difference. Getting the bolts into the wholes of the spare can be challenging so if you don’t get it the first time. Set the tire down, realign the wholes and try again.

Once you have slid the tire onto the bolts, screw the lug nuts back on. Give each lug nut a good tug to get it firmly into place. When the car is back on the ground you can give each nut a stronger turn to make sure they are as tight as you can get them.

Consult your owners manual for wheel covers that have delicate finishes. If your car has hubcaps, hold the cap in place next to the tire and hit it back into place with the heel of your hand. Don’t hit it with anything that may dent or crack it.

If your spare is not a full size tire make sure you’re aware of the recommended speed that should be used when driving on it. When possible it should be replaced with an actual full size tire. Most spare tires now days on smaller cars are refered to as "doughnuts" and they are little. There is usually a recommended top speed of 50 miles an hour and should only be driven on for the shortest amount of miles possible. These tires are NOT made to accomplish what your normal tires do.