How to Change a Flat Tire ~For Women~

The probability of encountering a flat tire at one time or another is greater than any other mechanical problem that could disable your vehicle. This usually occurs at the most inopportune time. Most everyone has a cell phone; however, help due to lack of preparation is expensive and routinely not timely. Keeping this in mind, ladies, there is a way to make this experience much less painful and allow you to change a tire yourself easily and still walk away with your nails and appearance intact. A little knowledge and preparation can save the day.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Car's complement of tools
• Tire air gauge
• Flashlight (optional)
• Gloves (optional)
• Towel (optional)
• Sensible shoes (optional)
• 12-by-12-inch piece of plywood (optional)
• 2 short chunks of 4-by-4-inch lumber (optional)

Preparation

1. Locate the owner's manual and familiarize yourself with the location of the tools and the directions for their operation. Find the location of the spare tire and the instructions for extracting it from its location in the vehicle. Most cars will have the tire in a recess under the carpet in the trunk. SUVs and trucks usually have the tire suspended underneath the vehicle. Locate and inspect the tools to make sure they are present should you need them. Keep in mind that if your trunk is full of stuff, it will all have to come out on the side of the road, should you need to change the tire.

2. Inspect the spare tire and check the air pressure. If you don't have a tire gauge, buy one. They are inexpensive, and are an essential tool. Spare tires lose air over time, and there is nothing more aggravating than pulling out the spare and finding that it's flat.

3. Locate a piece of plywood 12 inches square and at least ½-inch thick. Stash it in the vehicle. The jacks that come with most vehicles have a narrow bases. If you end up with a flat and the ground is soft due to rain or is covered with stones or gravel or anything that will prevent the jack from laying flat, the vehicle could roll off the jack. Positioning the jack on the wood will help to prevent a perilous situation.

4. Locate two short pieces of wood to block the wheels and prevent the car from rolling. Stash these in the vehicle also. Purchase a four-way lug wrench. The tire irons that come with most vehicles have short handles, making it difficult to loosen the lug nuts. They would work with but little effort it life was perfect and all mechanics tightened lug nuts to the correct torque. However, that rarely happens. They frequently use air guns that produce far more torque, making removing the lug nuts difficult for the strongest man. The longer the handle on the lug wrench, the more torque you can apply with the least amount of effort. The four-way lug wrench has long handles, but it also allows two hands as opposed to one. This makes life much easier, and they are not expensive.

5. Locate a clean, thick rag or towel. It is likely that you will need to kneel while changing the tire. This is hard on knees and stockings. Use the rag to kneel on when changing the tire.

6. Purchase an inexpensive rain suit -- one that comes in a small packet and contains blouse and pants. You can improvise on your own, but you'll want to protect your outfit, and changing a tire is a dirty job. Get a set of gloves to protect your hands. You may also want to consider a pair of sneakers or work shoes, so you don't have to change a tire in heels. Lay these items in the corner of the trunk for easy access. Keep a flashlight with fresh batteries with these supplies.

Changing the Tire

1. Keep control of the vehicle when encountering a flat tire. Do not hit the brakes suddenly. Allow the car to slow with the minimum amount of gradual braking. Pull off to the side of the road. A flat tire is dangerous at high speed, but not as much so when moving slow. The car can still be moved safely, so keep moving slowly to a spot where the car is completely off the road and the ground is as flat as possible.

2. Place the car in Park or first gear and apply the emergency brake. Turn the emergency flashers on, and turn the engine off. Don the gloves and protective clothing. Remove the tire changing tools and the tire.

3. Place the short pieces of wood in the front and rear of the front tire opposite of the one being changed. Place the square piece of plywood on the ground under the jacking position and lay the jack on it. The jacking points for cars are described in the owner's manual. On most modern cars, it will be just toward the center of the car from the affected wheel. If there is not a solid frame, there will be a "pinch-weld" -- or double-thickness of metal -- to support the jack. This would be a good thing to familiarize yourself with as part of your preparatory measures, so you don't have to search for it when the time comes. Raise the jack just enough to start to lift the car and pause there.

4. Remove the hubcap, if there is one, using the tool with a flat screwdriver-type end, by placing it between the edge of the cap and wheel and twisting it. Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts by turning them counterclockwise one turn with the lug wrench. Remember, all lug nuts, unless otherwise marked with an "L" on the end -- which is rare -- all come loose to the left and tighten to the right. Place the lug wrench on a lug nut with the handle up at the 11 o'clock position. This allows you to apply torque much easier on the top arm while pulling with the bottom arm, if you have a four-way. If you have a standard tire iron, and if you need to, place the arm of the lug wrench at the 9 o'clock position and use your foot to apply leverage (this is where "sensible shoes" may come in handy).

5. Lift the car while keeping an eye on the jack. If it begins to tilt in any way rather than going straight up, put it back down, reposition the jack and try again. Lift the car until the tire is off the ground. Remove the lug nuts and place them where they won't get lost or dirty. Pull the wheel off.

6. Install the spare tire, making sure the air valve on the tire is facing you. You may have to raise the jack a little farther to compensate for the difference between the flat tire and the full one. Install the lug nuts by hand, turning them clockwise for a few threads. Slide the lug wrench onto each lug nut and spin it clockwise to expedite turning them all the way on. Jerk the lug wrench clockwise slightly on each lug nut just to set them in position in their recess in the rim.

7. Lower the car with the jack stand and remove it and the piece of wood. Tighten all the lug nuts securely with the lug wrench. Place the wheel cover, or hubcap, in the trunk. Don't worry about installing it now.

8. Remove the two short pieces of wood blocking the front tire. Place the flat tire in the trunk. If it is too heavy, place your hip against the rear of the car and bend over and grab the tire with one hand at the top and the other in the center of the wheel and lift. This will protect your back. Place all your tools in the trunk.

9. Drive to the closest service station to have the lug nut torque and air pressure checked. If your spare is of the "mini" variety, keep in mind that they are designed to last for 50 miles, and at speeds no higher than 50 mph. If it's on the front, it will affect your steering, and in any position it will affect your braking and handling. Drive gingerly. Have the flat tire repaired or replaced right away.