DIY: Changing a Flat Tyre

By NYC 12 hours ago

Knowing how to change a flat tyre is essential for every driver even if you are a member of a 24-hour breakdown service; drive mostly on highways with emergency assistance; or even just a phone call away from a personal handyman.

As long as the spare wheel is pumped up together with all the standard tools provided in the boot, the job could be over in less than 30 minutes together with some elbow grease. Here are the steps.

 

Tools:

• Jack
• Jack handle
• Wheel lug nut wrench
• Spare wheel
• Lock nut key or lug nut adapter (if applicable)
• Flat-head screw driver (if applicable)

Steps

1. Park the vehicle on a surface that is as flat as possible and evacuate the vehicle.
2. Apply the handbrakes firmly, and leave in gear or “Park” for automatic vehicles.
3. For wheels with wheel caps, some lug nut wrench have a flattened end to pry open the cap in order to expose the lug nuts. Otherwise, use a flat-head screw driver to pry the edges at different locations for the same purpose.
4. While the wheel is on the ground, loosen all lug nuts using the wrench but do not remove them. Most nuts are loosened by turning them anti-clockwise. If the nut is too tight to be removed by hand, stepping onto the wrench’s handle with one foot should be enough to get the job done.

Support the wrench’s elbow while loosening/tightening the lug nut if possible

 In case the wheel is fitted with lock nut(s) or non-standard sized lug nuts that requires an adapter, support the wrench’s elbow with one hand while the other push (or pull) the wrench’s handle. This will minimize chances of wearing down the edges of the nut or adapter.

Jacking the vehicle at the proper jacking points (between both grooves), NEVER in the circled area above it

5. Locate the proper jacking point and place the jack there. Confirm that the jack has a stable footing otherwise it will tilt and fall when raised. An incorrect jacking point can also result to nasty dents at that area.
6. Jack up the vehicle by turning the jack handle clockwise.
7. Once the wheel is off the ground, remove all the lug nuts together with the jack handle and place them in a safe location. You do not want to have any of them in the way or worst, loose them once the spare wheel is on.
   

   Place the removed wheel under the vehicle as a safety measure
8. Place the spare wheel under the vehicle next to the jack. This will help prevent the whole undercarriage from crashing onto the ground if the vehicle slips off the jack.
9. Put the spare wheel in place before refitting the lug nuts as tight as possible by hand.

Tighten all lug nuts in opposite sequence

10. Lower the vehicle. When fully on the ground, tighten the nuts in opposite-side sequence, e.g. 1-3-2-4, or 3-1-2-4 for an even spread of pressure.

Additional Tips:

• A cheap pair of cloth gloves in the boot is always a welcome from dirty hands and attire. They also reduce friction on the palms when you use the nut wrench or jack handle
• Always make sure the spare wheel is not flat
• For vehicles provided with a space-saver spare wheel, get the flat tire repaired or replaced as soon as possible as the thin wheel is not designed for high speed or long journeys.
• For lug nuts that utilizes lock nut keys or adaptors, always place them together with the tool kit.
• If you have to park the vehicle on the road shoulder of a highway with an emergency response service,

1. give them a call with details of your location and problem
2. turn on the hazard lights and place the emergency triangle 45 meters behind the vehicle
3. move everyone behind the guard rails or further to the side of the road
4. wait for the emergency response team to arrive

Reason behind being that many highway accidents occur because other speeding drivers fail to notice the parked car especially in the dark.

• Practice in the comfort of your sheltered porch or residential car park to be familiar with your tools

Picture from Bhiwandi.olx.in