How to Fix a Flat | Vehicle Maintenance Tips

Oct 8, 2015

How to Fix a Flat | Vehicle Maintenance Tips Fixing a flat is quintessential car knowledge; you never know when something will happen and you spring a leak or blow a tire. Some flat fixes involve patching the damaged tire, but that only works for small leaks caused by punctures. Knowing how to put on your spare tire works for all types of tire damage.

Drive to a Flat, Safe Location

The side of the highway is the last place you want to change your flat, and a parking lot or your driveway are much better locations for changing a tire, if you have the option. Make sure you’re on level asphalt; it’s not going to work on gravel or dirt. Then secure your car by putting on your parking brake. Pop the hood, too, so passing people know something’s up and can give you a wide berth.

Locate Your Tools

You’ll need your jack, your wrench, and your spare tire. You will also want to get out your owner’s manual, as it will tell you exactly how to operate your jack and how to get the cap off your wheels that obscures your lug nuts.

Loosen Your Lug Nuts

Don’t take them off yet, just loosen them so you can get them off easily. The lug wrench will fit over them, and you want to turn it counter clockwise. You may have to use all your strength, or leverage some of your body weight to get them loosened.

Raise the Car

Make sure your jack is secured to the right part of your car and that it’s level on the ground. When you start jacking up the car, pay attention to how it raises. It should be lifting straight up, and the jack shouldn’t be turning or slipping at all. Continue with the jack until the damaged tire is an inch or two above the ground.

Replace the Damaged Tire

Now take the lug nuts all the way off and slide off the damaged tire. The spare tire will slide into place when you line it up. Your owner’s manual will tell you exactly how the spare is supposed to fit. There’s a chance you’ll have to jack the car up a little more if your spare is a different size than your regular tire. Then manually attach the lug nuts until they’re snug.

Lower the Car

Use the jack in the opposite direction to get your car back on the ground. Then put your tools and your damaged tire into your trunk, and the owner’s manual back in your glove box. Now it’s time to get to a mechanic. You can drive on your spare tire for a specified amount of time, which you can find out from the tire manufacturer. But best practice is to get to your mechanic as soon as possible for a new tire.

Don’t be caught without a spare tire, or this knowledge won’t help you much. Check your spare tire every so often. If you aren’t sure what to look for, your mechanic can help you out.

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