How to change a flat tire

Regardless of what type of vehicle you have you might come across a flat tire. What are you going to do if you don't know how to change it? Of course many individuals pay for roadside assistance services, but what if they are delayed? This step-by-step process should aid in changing that flat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A well-inflated spare tire
• Lug Wrench
• Jack
• Flares (Optional)
• Flashlight (If at night)
• Work Gloves (Optional)

1. Turn on your emergency lights, pull your vehicle to the safest area on the side of the road and put up flares if you have them.
2. Remove the hubcaps if needed and use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts, but do not remove the lug nuts. You can step on the wrench to give yourself leverage.
3. Position the jack. There is usually a small plate in the front of the rear tires and just behind the front tires where the jack will meet the car. Work the jack until it is about six inches off the ground.
4. Now remove the lug nuts. Position the tire at the 9 o'clock position and the 3 o'clock position and remove the tire.
5. Align the holes in the spare tire with the bolts on the car's wheel well. Push the tire onto the car until it stops, then replace the lug nuts on the bolts and tighten them but not too much.
6. Lower the car back down to four tires, and tighten the lug nuts again. Remember each one you tighten to be sure that you tighten them all.
7. You're finished!

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful changing a tire at night. Always use safety first!
• You should always have a reliable roadside assistance service that you can call for help, such as AAA and many GM vehicles come equipped with OnStar.