Changing a flat tire
Eea flat tire. Can happen during the renting a car, or with your own car. But how do you change a flat tire if you've never done it before? It's not that difficult. In a few steps, the wheel is changed, and you can continue driving.
Step 1: Safe place
If possible, find a safe place to stop. If possible, stop the car on a paved surface. If this is not possible: no problem, you only need a sturdy plank or tile, more on this later. Stop the car and pull the handbrake.
Step 2: Do you have everything?
First, check that you have the tools you need with you:
- Jack
- Spare wheel
- Wheel wrench
The car's instruction manual will tell you where the spare tire and tools are. Get the tools and spare tire out of the car.
Step 3: Partially loosen the wheel nuts
Loosen the wheel nuts a little while the car is not yet jacked up. This will allow you to apply much more force.
Step 4: Jacking up the car
The place where the jack should support the car is usually to the left or right of the wheel. There is a small sign (triangle) where you should place the jack, otherwise check the car's instruction manual. Make sure that the jack is always straight under your car, this prevents it from shooting away. On a paved surface you can simply place the jack on the ground. It will sink in the sand, in this case place a tile or a piece of wood under the jack. When the jack is positioned correctly, turn the crank to slowly lift the car. Keep checking that the jack is straight and cannot shoot out from under it. Jack the car up far enough so that the tire is off the ground, but also far enough so that you can put the spare tire with the full tire back on later. Now unscrew all the wheel bolts completely from the wheel. Remove the wheel once you have removed all the bolts. Make sure that the jack is still in the right place.
Step 5: Removing and reinstalling the wheel
Once you have removed all the wheel bolts, you can lift the wheel off the hub. To be on the safe side, place the spare tire next to the jack, under the car. If the car does come off the jack, it will be on the flat tire and not on your foot.
After this, you place the spare wheel. Once the wheel is hanging, the nuts need to be put back on. Turn all the nuts back onto the bolts by hand, all of them. When they are hand-tight, move the wheel to see if it fits completely on the back. After this, you can tighten the bolts with the wheel wrench. Just tighten the nuts, tightening comes later.
Step 6: Tighten wheel bolts and remove jack
Remove the flat tire from under the car. Lower your car carefully. When the tire touches the ground you can tighten the wheel nuts further. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly (don't overdo it, tight is tight) to make sure the wheel is straight. Then lower the car further and remove the jack.
Important issues
- If the surface is soft, place a tile or plank under the jack (plank in the car?).
- Do not jack up the car with the doors open. Do not open any doors while the car is jacked up.
- Make sure you have the key for the anti-theft nut, which you can obtain from the garage or wheel supplier.
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