Changing Tires: A Step-by-step Procedure

One of the basic skills every driver must learn is changing flat tires. In a very unfortunate instance or during emergency, it is important that we know to change tire, especially if there is no mechanic shop near the place or your mobile phone battery is drained. It pays to know this very essential job that will get you back in the road in no time.

Always keep in your car instructional materials or manuals about the step-by-step procedure on changing tires. It is better that you have this handy item with you any time. There are many key points that you have to remember in changing tires. Wearing of safety gear like eye protector is important whenever you need to change tires. Better safe than sorry. Also remember that when going underneath your car, make sure that there is enough support to your car. You wouldn’t want to end up crashed by your own car.

There are a couple of items that you need when changing tires. You will need a large screwdriver, tire iron, wheel nut wrench, jack, gloves, rubber mallet, and wheel chocks. Now, here’s the step-by-step procedure on changing tires:

1. The area where you will change your tires must be flat or as much as possible in a level ground. Apply the parking brake and place manual transmission cars in gear. Turn off the engine. Safety tip: Make sure that passing vehicles know that you’re on changing tires. You may turn on the hazards lights or place anything near you that will notify them that you’re on-going repairs.
2. Get your wheel chock or if you don’t have one, use a large rock to prevent the car from rolling. Get you repairs essentials such as spare tires, tire iron, and jack. If you need to remove the hubcap, do so.
3. Loosen the lug nuts before jacking up your car. Using your lug wrench, turn it counter clockwise to loosen the nuts.
4. Get your jack and place it underneath your car. Be sure that you know where to place your jack correctly. Raise the jack high enough that you can remove the tires. Remove the flat tires after you have removed the lug nuts from the wheel.
5. Get you spare tires and align the holes in the wheel. Once the tire is properly placed, tighten up the lug nuts. Lower your car by lowering the jack.
6. Double check every detail before you head back on the road again. Make sure that the lug nuts are tight enough. Remember, it takes time changing tires. You would not want to repeat the same process again.

Always keep a spare tire in your car. Sometimes even at the most inconvenient time, a flat tire pops up. However, nowadays with the advancement in technology, there are cars with warning system indicating flat tires. But if your car doesn’t have one, you have to deal with the process of changing tires. It is a tedious task but it doesn’t have to be very bad at all. Enough knowledge and skill on changing tires is as important as knowing how to drive. So read a lot, and watch self-taught videos on this. You’ll never know when you’ll change one.