Changing a flat tire is not only difficult but dangerous.
If you’ve ever had to replace a flat tire, then you know how frustrating and stressful it can be. It’s an unpleasant experience that most of us would prefer to avoid if possible.
But don’t worry, we’ve got your back! Keep reading to see exactly how to replace a punctured tire with our flat tire replacement guide.
1 . Jack up Vehicle
After finding a safe location, the next step is to use your car jack and lift your vehicle off of the ground. Place the jack underneath one end of your car and make sure that you raise it high enough so that the car gets lifted off of all four wheels evenly.
This makes it easier for work because you will not have to worry about keeping balance when changing out your tire.
2 . Remove Wheel Coverings
There are two basic types of wheel coverings that you will come across. One is the hubcap that simply covers the wheel and can be removed by hand. The other type of wheel covering is the larger plastic cover that wraps around the entire tire.
This cover should be held in place with small screws or clips, which makes it much easier to remove.
3 . Remove Valve Stem Cone & Tire Iron
Once your cone is out, use a tire iron to take off your flat tire from your car. It may take a few goods pulls but it will eventually come off. Be careful not to break anything as you are doing this!
If you have an alloy rim, this time the tire iron will not work. In this case, you will have to use a special tool called a “rim-protecting tire bead breaker” which you can rent at some auto parts stores.
This looks like a small crowbar and is inserted into the gap between the rim and the tire. Once it goes through, turn it back and forth until there is enough room for your tire iron to go in. Then remove the same way as before.
4 . Place New Tire On Vehicle
Once your old flat tire is removed from your car, place your spare on by lining up the bolts with the holes of your rim. Try applying equal pressure to all four studs so that they go straight down evenly.
Before starting any work, put on gloves and a rag to protect yourself from tire pressure and sharp edges. Never use your hands as they will slip and cause injuries. Start with the valve stem first then workaround in a circle until all of them have been placed down.
Make sure that the surface of the tire iron is not sharp or jagged as this might damage the rim of your vehicle. Once it has been placed on, make sure that there are no wrinkles or bunches in your spare tire before replacing the wheel covering.
5 . Find & Replace Valve Stem Cone
Once you have replaced your flat tire, check to make sure that everything is working properly and that none of the studs had come out and dropped into your car’s wheel well (commonplace especially if you were in a rush to finish the job).
You can always hire a professional. See here.
How to Replace a Flat Tire
The best way to replace a flat tire is by using common sense and being mindful of the safety precautions. We hope this post has been informative, please check out our blog for more flat tire replacement tips on how you can protect your car from a possible breakdown!