Instructions on How to Change a Tire in Minutes

Nothing is worse than when you go out to your car after a long, arduous day of work and your tire is flat. Even more dangerous and horrible to deal with is the possibility that your tire blows out while you’re in motion. Especially at high speeds, this can be incredibly dangerous, but if this happens to you, you should know how to change a tire as quickly as you can. The last thing you want is to stay stranded on the side of the road for long periods of time while traffic whizzes by you. Most people don’t even know how to change a tire to begin with, so here are a few tips to do it quickly.

If your tire does blow out when you are on the road, the first thing you need to do is to pull over in a safe, flat area with little to no traffic. This will ensure that you will be safe from harm and give you little else to worry about when you are trying to change your tire. The next thing you should do is to chock the wheel. This will make sure that the car doesn’t roll accidentally while you are trying to fix it. Use a nearby rock or something large to wedge safely underneath the tire so it doesn’t roll away.

The next step you need to take is to loosen the lug nuts. You should loosen the lug nuts prior to changing your flattened tire so that it’s prepped and ready to go when you have the car jacked up and are putting the spare on. Only loosen them lug nuts one turn, and no more, as this could create potential problems. Next, jack up your car using the instructions from the owner’s manual. Every car is different, so you will want to follow the specific instructions that relate to your car and your car alone. Once you have the jack in the proper place and you are in a position to lift it, make sure it’s high enough for the damaged tire to be replaced with a fully inflated tire. There can be quite a height difference, so make sure it’s jacked up enough for you to make the switch.

Once you have the car jacked up high enough, you can remove the tire. First take out the lug nuts and set them aside safely. Then, put the blown out tire somewhere around the car. If you put it inside the car, there’s a risk that the car will fall off the jack, and you could get badly injured. This is extremely common, so be careful when putting the tire away. Next, replace the bad tire with a spare and and leave the lug nuts loose in the holes. You will want to tighten them as much as you can with your hands, but do not tighten them with a wrench yet. This could cause damage to the tire and the lug nuts could be improperly aligned. So wait to tighten them until the car is resting safely on the ground.

Once the lug nuts are tightened as much as possible, lower the vehicle slowly so the wheels are resting on the ground. Be very careful when doing this, because there is still the possibility that the car could slip off the jack and you could get injured. Your car could also sustain some damage, so proceed with caution. Once it’s lowered, tighten the lug nuts. This is important, because if your lug nuts aren’t tight enough, the tire could fly off, especially if you are travelling at higher speeds. Use the full weight of your body to gain leverage and tighten them as much as possible. Make sure they don’t budge.

Once you have completed all of these steps, you should have a successfully replaced tire. Don’t keep the spare tire on for too long. They aren’t meant to be on your car for more than seventy miles and no faster than fifty miles per hour. If you do not follow these rules, more harm can come to you and your car, so make sure to get the tire replaced with a brand new one as fast as possible. And make sure to have your mechanic check the rest of your tires as well. This will prevent another incident from happening and you won’t be caught off guard with another flat tire at the most inconvenient time. Preparation is the key to prevention.

Next time you have tire issues, come to Scottsdale Muffler. We have the experience and knowledge to give you the automobile advice you need in order to keep your car in prime working condition. Our services range from auto repair in Phoenix, automobile restorations, and much more. So trust the expert mechanics in Phoenix at Scottsdale Muffler to get the information and know how you need to give your car a long, healthy life. Contact us today!