Car Care
Changing a flat

You dread it like you dread a hole in the head - a flat tire.

That sudden pop or unnatural bumping suddenly shaking the car from below. You swerve over to the side of the road and sit there, stranded.

Sure, most drivers would prefer to leave tire changes to the professionals. Bu t blown tires rarely adhere to set schedules. They usually 'blow their tops' when you're eight cars deep at a busy downtown intersection, or 15 miles outside town on the inside lane of a multi-lane roadway. And it's situations like these when you'll have to know how to change a flat tire yourself.

The following items detail how to swap tires in minimal time. Be sure you have a working car jack, a spare tire, a jack handle (or crank) and a lug wrench, to help you complete your task. Luckily, most vehicles come standard with these tools.

1 Park in a safe spot, well off the road so you'll have enough room to work without getting blindsided by a motorist screaming into a cell phone. Also make sure you're parked on a firm and level surface. Avoid dirt or grass if possible, since these are fairly unstable surfaces.

2 Engage your emergency or parking brakes before exiting your car or truck. Also, if you possess the equipment, set up flares, flags, warning lights or triangles.

3 Loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire slightly before using the jack to lift up the car.

4 Remove the wheel cover (hubcap), either using a screwdriver or the flat end of your jack handle or lug wrench.

5 Use your lug wrench to loosen the various lug nuts only one single turn, counter-clockwise. Hold the wrench firmly and push down. Never pull up on the wrench. If the nuts are too tight, use penetrating oil to loosen them or use your foot to push down on lug wrench. Loosen the lug nuts only one turn. Don't remove the lug nuts at this time.

6 Assemble and place your jack using the instructions provided in the vehicle's owner's manual. Most cars are equipped with scissors jack, consisting of a handle and jack assembly. The manual will show you exactly where you need to place the jack beneath the car. Remember to never place a jack under the axle or suspension member.

7 Jack up the car until the flat tire clears the ground by at least an inch. Be sure the jack stays in the correct position as you work. Remove the jack handle.

8Now use the lug wrench again to remove the loosened nuts. Place the lug nuts where you won't lose them - inside the wheel cover is a good idea.

9 Pull the wheel off and set it aside.

10 Roll the spare into position. If necessary, jack up the car a bit more to fit the spare. Make sure you have the correct side of the spare facing out. Align the wheel holes with the studs and slide the spare onto the studs.

11 Hold the wheel in place and screw on each lug nut tight with the tapered end facing the wheel.

12 Use the wrench to tighten the nuts following the sequence directed by your owner's manual in a clockwise motion.

13 Lower the car, lower the jack until it's free from the weight of the car. Remove the jack and block. Tighten all nuts once more, in the proper sequence.