Changing a flat tyre

Last week, the writer went in tyre maintenance at length. If you do your due diligence, you greatly reduce the chances of running into problems while on the road. But sometimes, the unfortunate happens, and you find yourself stranded by the roadside with a punctured tyre. What do you do then?

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you out.

Safety First

You are driving along like you've done everyday, and suddenly you hear a loud bang followed by the dreaded flapping sound of a deflated tyre- your tyre has punctured.

Don't panic and jam on the brakes immediately or start yanking your steering wheel wildly. Your safety and that of other road users should be your foremost concern.Slow down and carefully pull over to the side of the road as soon as you're able to do so.

Park your car on a hard and level surface. Don't attempt to change the tyre if your car is on a slope or it is sitting on soil or dirt. Turn on the hazard lights and put the warning triangle sign. As an additional precaution, block the tyre diagonally opposite the flat by placing a heavy object against it. If, for example, the left-front tyre is punctured, place a heavy object behind the right-rear tyre. Blocking the opposite tyre makes the car less likely to move while you're raising it.

Procedure

Follow these steps to get your tyre changed:

1. Get ready

Locate the jack, tool kit and spare tyre. Make sure that your gear is engaged, or in "park" position if it is automatic. For good measure, engage your handbrake.

2. Jack up the car

The jack will have to be positioned under the chassis, at a specific position near the flat tyre. Consult your owner's manual if you're unsure (so make sure you keep it in your car at all times.) Once the jack is in place, slowly turn the handle until you shift some of he car's weight from the flat tyre.

3. Loosen the wheel nuts

Use the lug wrench to loosen the wheel lugs by turning it in an anti-clockwise direction. The lugs will almost certainly be very tight, so if your strength fails, position your wrench such that it is more or less horizontal to the ground, then step up onto the wrench and step down on it; that way, you can use your body weight to loosen the lugs.

At this point, you don't want to take out the lugs yet. Just loosen them.

4. Remove the tyre

Once you've loosened all the lugs, jack up the car further so that the tyre leaves the ground. Loosen the lugs all the way, then remove them from the wheel. Next, gently lift the tyre out.

5. Insert the spare tyre

Position the spare tyre over the wheel studs, then slot it in. Make sure the air valves are facing upwards. Tightening the wheel nuts lightly by hand. Don't tighten the nuts completely at this point because the car is unstable while still on jack.

6. Remove the jack

Unwind the jack slowly until the spare tyre bears the weight of the car, then remove it. The final step is to tighten the nuts completely.

Spare tyres aren't meant to be driven for long distances, so get the damaged tyre repaired or replaced as soon as you can.

Source: The Straits Times Saturday, November 20 2010