Flat tires can be a real pain for any driver, but they become even more of a hassle when they happen in the middle of a drive. Instead of being stranded, it’s essential to have a few tools and some know-how to fix the flat tire yourself.
The first thing you’ll need to do is to stop the car in a safe place. Make sure that the emergency brake is on and the car is in gear if it’s a manual vehicle, or in park if it’s an automatic. Try to find a flat surface to work on your car; this will ensure that the jack holds the weight of the car correctly. After ensuring that the car is secure, take off the wheel cover and loosen the nuts slightly with the lug wrench. Make sure to turn the nuts anti-clockwise.
The next step is to jack up the car using the bottle jack in the toolkit. Check the car’s manual for instructions on where to place the jack. Once you have the car jacked up, you can remove the nuts entirely and take off the flat tire by pulling it towards you. Put the tire on its side with the damaged side up. It’s important at this point to check the tire thoroughly to find the cause of the puncture. Look for any visible cuts or punctures. If you can’t find anything, try running your hand over the tire, and you may feel a sharp object poking out of it.
The next step is to plug the hole in the tire. You can buy a tire repair kit from any auto shop near you or online. The kit comes with a reaming tool, a rubber plug strand, and an insertion tool. The first step is to ream out the hole to make space for the plug. Next, insert the plug into the insertion tool and push it all the way in until only about half an inch is left sticking out. Then, carefully remove the insertion tool by rocking it back and forth while holding onto the rubber plug. The rubber plug should still be firmly in the tire.
After you have successfully plugged the hole, it’s time to put the tire back on. Align the holes in the wheel to the studs, and push the wheel on gently. Hand tighten the nuts back on, then use the lug wrench to tighten them a little more. Make sure to do this in a star pattern for even tightening. Lower the car back onto the ground, and use the lug wrench to tighten the nuts fully. Again, make sure to tighten them in a star pattern.
Finally, you can put the wheel cover back on and safely store the damaged tire in your trunk. It’s a good idea to get the repaired tire checked by a professional as soon as possible, and it’s also recommended to replace the tire if the puncture is severe or if the tire has worn out. With these few simple steps, you can now change a flat tire yourself in just a few minutes and be back on the road confidently.