Just about everyone has needed or will need to change a flat tire at some point during their lifetimes. Flat tires can occur when you drive over something sharp, pinch a tire on a curb, or when your tire experiences wear and tear. Whether you have a new or used car, it is important to know how to change a flat tire in order to stay safe and mobile.
Here are the steps you’ll need to take in order to change a flat tire on your used car:
1. Make sure that you park your vehicle safely on the side of the road or in a well-lit parking lot. Engage your emergency brake to prevent your car from rolling.
2. Remove the wheel covering with the flat end of your lug wrench (which should be located in the rear of your car).
3. Loosen the lug nuts with a tire iron (or wrench) so that they are easy to turn. You may need to step on your wrench in order to loosen tight lug nuts. To loosen the nuts, turn the wrench to the left.
4. Place your car jack on a solid surface on the ground underneath the solid metal of your vehicle. Twist the handle of the jack clockwise in order to raise the car off of the ground. The wheels will rise with the car.
5. Once the wheels of your used car are off of the ground, loosen the lug nuts even more until they come off of the car. Place them in a secure place where you can find them.
6. Pull the tire off of the wheel base and lay it flat on the ground (if it’s flat, it can’t roll away). If you are on the side of the road, make sure that the tire is not in the middle of the road where it could cause an accident.
7. With your spare tire, line up the holes with the wheel studs and slide the tire onto the wheel. Tighten the lug nuts over the tire.
8. Tighten the lug nuts as much as possible using the tire iron that should have come with the used car.
9. With the wheel securely in place, lower your used car by unwinding the jack.
Contact us today at www.denhamcrystalchrysler.ca for more information about the tools that will come with your used car.