What is what to do when tire is flat?

Dealing with a Flat Tire

Having a flat tire can be a frustrating experience, but knowing what to do can help you handle the situation safely and efficiently. Here's a breakdown of the steps involved:

1. Safety First:

   • If you experience a flat while driving, immediately slow down gradually. Avoid slamming on the brakes.
   • Turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers.
   • Pull over to a safe location away from traffic. A wide, flat shoulder is ideal. Avoid stopping on a curve or hill if possible.

2. Gather Your Supplies:

   • Locate your spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and owner's manual.
   • You may also want to have gloves, a flashlight (if it's dark), and wheel wedges.

3. Prepare to Change the Tire:

   • Apply the parking brake firmly.
   • Place wheel wedges behind the wheels that are NOT being lifted to prevent the vehicle from rolling. If you're changing a rear tire, place wedges in front of the front wheels. If you're changing a front tire, place wedges behind the rear wheels.
   • Consult your owner's manual for the specific jacking points on your vehicle's frame.

4. Loosen the Lug Nuts:

   • Using the lug wrench, loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire. Turn them counterclockwise.
   • Important: Loosen them before you jack up the car. Don't remove them completely at this stage, just break them loose.

5. Jack Up the Vehicle:

   • Position the jack under the vehicle's frame at the designated jacking point as indicated in your owner's manual.
   • Slowly and steadily raise the vehicle until the flat tire is off the ground. Make sure the car is stable.

6. Remove the Lug Nuts and Tire:

   • Completely remove the lug nuts and carefully pull the flat tire off the wheel studs.

7. Mount the Spare Tire:

   • Align the spare tire with the wheel studs and push it onto the hub.
   • Hand-tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern (opposite nuts) to ensure even pressure.

8. Lower the Vehicle and Tighten the Lug Nuts:

   • Lower the vehicle until the spare tire is touching the ground, but the full weight of the car isn't on it.
   • Using the lug wrench, fully tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern.
   • Lower the vehicle completely to the ground.

9. Final Tightening and Check:

   • Give the lug nuts one final tightening.
   • Remove the wheel wedges.
   • Double-check that all lug nuts are securely tightened.

10. Stow the Flat Tire and Tools:

    • Place the flat tire and tools back in their designated storage areas.

11. Check Tire Pressure and Visit a Professional:

    • Check the tire pressure of the spare tire and inflate it to the recommended pressure (found in your owner's manual or on a sticker on the driver's side doorjamb).
    • Important: Spare tires are often temporary and may have speed restrictions. Get your flat tire repaired or replaced by a professional as soon as possible. Don't drive for extended periods on a spare tire.

Here are some important concepts related to flat tires:

• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Tire%20Pressure">Tire Pressure</a>: Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for safety and fuel efficiency.
• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Spare%20Tire">Spare Tire</a>: Understanding the type of spare tire you have (full-size, temporary, or run-flat) is important.
• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Lug%20Nuts">Lug Nuts</a>: Properly tightening lug nuts is essential to prevent wheel detachment.
• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Jacking%20Points">Jacking Points</a>: Using the correct jacking points prevents damage to your vehicle's frame.
• <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/Roadside%20Safety">Roadside Safety</a>: Taking precautions like using hazard lights and wheel wedges is crucial for safety.