How to #2 - How to Change a Flat Tire

      My dad was an avid outdoorsman. This kept life pretty busy; we were always headed off to into the depths of the forest to explore the unknown reaches of the wilderness. Being this far out into the woods had a great deal of challenges; we never knew what we would be in for. The goal was to always make it home by Sunday night in order to not miss school for Monday morning. At the time it seemed like a big hassle to go through all these different unexpected scenario’s , but now having a chance to look back, not only are they treasured memories, I also realized that they were great opportunities to learn some practical life skills. Skills like; learning how to change a flat tire.

        I realized that not everyone has had experiences to learn these valuable lessons. There are several people who have never had the privilege of being stranded in the middle of nowhere with darkness closing in, and had no other choice but to find a way to make it work. Mostly, women are the ones who don’t seem to be taught this knowhow, but I know that there are also several men who have not had the opportunity to learn these skills. I hope these instructions will help you if you find yourself in a situation that requires you to do it yourself, no matter your gender.

                It might be a good idea to read one of our previous blogs “Safety on Winter Roads.” There is a lot of good information to help you to be prepared for these situations, no matter the season. Here are some supplies you will need for a tire change:

Air Pump 

Tire Gauge

Car Jack

Lug Nut Wrench (Tire iron) 

Spare Tire

Blocks

Flat Screwdriver

                Some other things that would be a great help are: a flashlight, gloves, and tarp. Planning to have these things in the vehicle just in case is a great idea. Also, make sure you know your vehicle, especially where the spare and jack are located. It would be a good idea to have a look at your spare before you head out to make sure it is in good shape and has enough air in it.

                Before you get started it’s a good idea to have a look at your surroundings. When things like flat tires happen, we are not always lucky enough to be in the right place at the wrong time. Make sure you are safely out of the way of any traffic and are on flat ground if possible. Passengers should all be out of the vehicle and at least 10 feet away from the area. Turn on your hazard lights. Use blocks or large rocks under the tires to keep your vehicle from moving; place them under the front tires if you are changing a rear tire and under the rear tires if you are changing a front tire. If you are on a hill, or even a small incline, be sure to put them in the rear (if facing up hill) or in the front (if facing downhill.)

1 – Put the car in park and apply the parking break. Place manual transmission cars in gear.

2 – Get the spare, lug nut wrench, and the car jack

3 – Remove the hubcap, if Necessary. You can use a screwdriver to pry the wheel cover off. Insert the point of the screwdriver where the edge of the cover meets the wheel, and then apply a little leverage. Do this is a few different places around the edge of the cover. The cap should just pop off.

4 – Loosen the lug nuts; these hold the wheel in place. Place one edge of the lug nut wrench over a lug nut. Turn the wrench counter clockwise to loosen the nut. Loosen one, and then loosen one opposite from it. Work in a star pattern, until they are all loose. Unscrew the nuts slightly by hand. They can be on very tight, you might have to use all of your strength and leverage to get them loose.

5 – Carefully jack up the car. (Check your owner’s manual for the correct placement.) Jack the car up a little higher than is necessary to remove the old tire, leaving room to put the spare on. There should be a few inches space between the tire and the ground.

6 - Remove the lug nuts all the way. Set them in a safe place where you won’t lose them. The flat tire should have nothing holding it in place now.

7 – Remove the flat tire and set it aside.

8 – Lift the spare onto the wheel studs. The valve where you add air to the tire always faces out.

9 – Replace the lug nuts. Tighten them the same way you loosened them, working in a star pattern again. Give each one a few turns. Wait until the car is on the ground before really tighten them.

10 – Slowly lower the jack and move it out of the way.

11 – Tighten the lug nuts as much as you can with the lug nut wrench.

12- Use your tire gauge to check the tire pressure. Look in the owners' manual or (on most vehicles) on the inside of the driver's side door for the standard cold tire inflation pressure. This number is the lowest PSI one would inflate the tires to and is suggested by the car's manufacturer. If needed, use your air pump to add some air.

12- Replace the hub cap. Place the hub cap against the wheel and give it a good whack with the heel of your hand. You may want to use a rag as a cushion so you don’t hurt yourself. Don’t hit the hub cap with a wrench or hammer; you will dent it.

13 – Clean up. Make sure you pick up all of your tools and your flat tire and load them back into your vehicle.

14 - Now take a moment to relish in a job well done. You are now ready to be on your way!

                Load everyone back into the vehicle and carry on to your destination. If you still have a long distance to travel you should head for the nearest repair shop and have your flat repaired or replaced. Some spare tires are not made for travelling long distances or for going over 80km/h.

                Once you have your flat fixed or replaced make sure you put your spare tire back where it belongs, as well as all of your other tools. You want to make sure you are ready if it happens again.

                

                Having to fix a flat tire is a frustrating situation to be in. Hopefully, this will help you if you are ever in need of changing one on your own. Keep in mind if you have kids with you (or anyone who has never changed a flat before) have them watch you. It may be an experience that could help them in the future. Thanks Dad!

-Muriel Rolufs