Things You'll Need:
- Jack, jack wrench and spare tire
- Chalk
- Pliers
- Patch kit
- Knife
- Portable compressor
-
Step 1
Remove the spare and the jack from under the carpet in the trunk. When you patch a tire on the Ford Focus, put on the emergency brake and block the tire diagonal to the flat. If you just put the car in park, it still rolls.
-
Step 2
Loosen the wheel nuts if you choose to change the tire. If you can't see the object in the tire, raise the tire just enough off the ground to rotate it, if you choose to patch the hole in the Focus's tire. Place the jack in front of the back wheel if the flat's there or behind the front wheel of the flat. Raise it far enough to remove the tire if you change it.
-
Step 3
Locate and remove the object from the tire and mark the spot with chalk.
-
Step 4
Use the rasp in the tire plug kit. Push it into the hole and pull it out two times to clean the hole.
-
Step 5
Load the tarry worm onto the needle that came with the kit. Pull the worm far enough on so the needle is in the middle. Push it into the hole so only 1/2 inch of the tarry worm shows on the outside of the tire.
-
Step 6
Pull the needle straight out and leave the tarry worm inside the hole. Trim the worm to the level of the tread or below it.
-
Step 7
Fill the tire with air if you put a patch on it. Remove the jack from under the Ford Focus. If you changed the tire, tighten the nuts after you put on the spare and take the tire home to patch it.
