Have you ever changed a flat tyre?

If you live in a developed country, with a half decent infrastructure with plenty of roads, you probably will have been in car that has experienced a blow out while driving, at least once in your life.

On its own this in an extremely unpleasant experience, but the part that comes afterwards can be even more troublesome, especially for folk who have no clue how to remedy the situation. And surveys have found that a shocking number of people don’t really know how to go about replacing a flat tyre.

It’s actually quite simple to go about changing a flat tyre, and this blog post will endeavor to outline the simple steps to getting back on the road and to your destination. Providing you have a spare tyre, of course. If you don’t, then get one. Seriously. Why do you not have a spare tyre in your car? For shame. Head on down to Used Tyres Auckland and buy one.

The first step is obvious: park your car somewhere. Of course it comes with specific provisions: this “somewhere” has to be safe for you and other vehicles. Get that car as far away from traffic as possible. Don’t park your car in the middle of the road (that’s just being silly), or on a hill where it can roll, or on gravel. Unless you have no choice (i.e. there is nothing but gravel, hills and oncoming traffic as far as the eye can see). Don’t forget your hazard lights either. I mean turn them on, not just remember that they exist.

After setting your parking break, it’s also a good idea to put a big object like a brick or rock in front of the back and front wheels.

Remove the hubcap and loosen the lug nuts. Providing you have a wrench. Do not attempt to use your bare hands. This will result in looking the fool.

Now get your spare tyre and appropriate tools out of the boot. One of those appropriate tools is called a jack. Take this contraption and place it under the car near the flat tire. If you are unsure of where exactly this is, check the owner’s manual for your car. Some cars actually have small cut out notches indicating the area where they should be placed. Putting the jack in an incorrect position could result in an injured car.

Try experimenting at home with your jack to get a taste of how to correctly use it. You might have one of two different types: a scissor jack, or a hydraulic jack. It’s a great idea to learn how to use them in pre-emptive preparation for the calamity that is the road-side blow out.

Use the jack to raise the car just slightly. The tyre should be 15 cm off the ground. If it is only 14 cm that is ok. An error bar of 1 cm is acceptable. Now you can completely remove the lug nuts, put those things in a safe place like your pocket or a container, pull the flat tyre off, and put the spare tyre on. Use the wrench to replace the lug nuts, make sure they are as tight as humanly possible, and then lower the car back to the ground.

Now you are ready to continue on your way!

If you have a car that is need to be wrecked, Toyota Wreckers Auckland will help you.

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