Changing a flat tire is not only an annoying task, but can also be dangerous if you do it improperly or without proper tools! Luckily, most cars these days are equipped with at least one good working wheel so that you can pull over to a parking lot or something more private to change the tire.
Sadly, some vehicles still don’t have this convenience, particularly in developing countries where drivers are less experienced. It may even be difficult to find a place to park your car due to traffic!
Fortunately for those people, there is another way to change a flat tire. Here we will discuss how to change a flat tire on the side of the road!
Reminder: Before trying out this method, make sure you are completely prepared by checking out our list of must-know tips here! This includes having enough coins for tolls, buying a new spare tire, and finding a safe place to put down the old one.
Connect the battery
While there are some tire changing tools that have clamps or vise grips, most people do not need these as long as they know how to connect their car’s battery!
To make changing a flat tire more convenient, you should be aware of what kind of vehicle you will get back up within minutes. If possible, stay somewhere with cellular phone service so you can call for help quickly!
It is very helpful to bring an extra set of batteries in case your current ones run out. Make sure to pack them in a safe place, such as under the seat or in the trunk.
You also want to make sure it is easy to access the car’s electrical system. This means leaving windows open and/or removing all heavy bags to facilitate quick reconnection.
Check the tire pressure
Even if you have done this before, it is important to do it again! Changing a flat tire can be tricky because there are so many things that people forget about or mess up.
One of the most common causes of having to change a tire is low air pressure in the tires. This will cause your car to take longer to get going, and could even result in a blowout or crash due to loss of control of the vehicle.
It is very easy to check the pressure in all four wheels of your car, but never assume that they are correct. Get into your car and drive around for a few minutes to determine what size tube each wheel needs.
Look for any damage
Even if you are very experienced with cars, there is still something that every driver needs to know how to do at least once in their life- change a tire!
While changing a car tire can seem easy enough for some, it is definitely not for novice drivers. There are several things that inexperienced drivers should be aware of when working on a vehicle’s flat tire.
Making sure everything is lined up correctly before lifting the wheel off of the vehicle is an important part of taking care of the flat. Once this step has been completed, making sure all wheels are disconnected and have adequate pressure is another important one.
Also, knowing what kind of fluid to use in the engine and being able to identify it is key. A few fluids that can help keep your motor running smoothly are brake fluid, transmission fluid, and engine oil. Make sure to never pour anything else into these containers!
Once these steps have been done, checking the spare tire for air is the next thing to do.
Remove the other tire
Changing a flat tire can be tricky if you do not know how! If your tires are almost completely deflated, then just pulling off the opposite wheel is an easy solution.
You will also need a good amount of paper and a pen to make changing the inner tube easier. Once both items are gathered, have someone help you pull out the old inner tube and roll it up.
Now that there’s less air in the tire, it will take longer for it to deflate which makes replacing the new one more straightforward. Make sure to buy a new inner tube soon after changing the tire because they can sell them at any store.
Changing a car tire doesn’t require special tools or equipment, but gathering those things ahead of time helps make the process go much smoother.
Lift the car up slightly
While this may sound difficult, it is not. You will need to use your hands to do so! The easiest way to do this is to stand next to the vehicle with one foot placed close to the front axle or wheel-well. With the other leg, step forward and lift the vehicle up just enough so that you can reach the flat tire.
By doing this correctly, your body will naturally lean towards the raised side of the vehicle. Your feet should shift away from each other to keep balance, but only for a few seconds as you reattach the wheel!
Once the wheel is attached, drop the vehicle back down and test out the speed of inflation and deflation now. If anything seems tighter than before, then pull off some of the old air that was stored in there.
Find a place to safely put the car down
Changing a flat tire is not for the inexperienced or faint of heart, so do not try it unless you have done this before!
Running out of gas can always be a scary situation, but never having enough cash to buy more makes solving that problem even worse. Luckily, there are many ways to change a flat tire without too much trouble if you know what to look for.
Luckily, most cars these days come with an adequate amount of tools to help you fix a flat tire. These tools usually contain at least a screwdriver, hex key, and something to push against to get some pressure. Some even have wire cutters in case you need to replace the broken glass from getting hit while changing the wheel.
There are several different types of vehicles, so no matter which one you are looking to work on, there will almost definitely be at least one of each tool type already installed. If there is not, don’t worry about going somewhere to purchase them- you can usually find them online or at your local automobile store.
Look around for help
Changing a flat tire is not something you should attempt if you are not sure what to do. Luckily, most cars these days have either an in-car manual or a smartphone app that can help!
Most vehicles now include free tools designed to make changing a tire easy. These tools usually involve using a spanner to take off old tires, putting in new tires, and then pumping up the pressure of the new tire.
There may also be someone who comes with you to push your newly inflated wheel back onto the car. Or, there could be a toolbox full of supplies like wrenches and nuts and bolts so people can help while you work on the rest of the repairs.
If none of those things exist where you are, don’t worry! There’s no reason why everybody shouldn’t know how to change a tire.
Make a plan for repair
Changing a flat tire is not something you should do while driving, nor is it advised to change a flat in some cases. If you must, there are several tricks that work!
Luckily, most cars come with an owner’s manual or tool kit full of common tools. Many also have a second set that can be purchased at any auto store.
Fortunately, we will teach you one of the best ways to change a car tire when your feet are already stuck firmly under the vehicle and you don’t have anyone around who knows how to do it. So let us get into changing a car tire on the side of the road!
Step One: Find Some Helpers
It goes without saying that if you are going to change a car tire out somewhere alone, then you should make sure there are people close by who know what to do. Unfortunately, I cannot emphasize this enough.
If nothing else, call someone you know and ask them if they could watch for help. Or better yet, both you and your friend could push off and look together until help arrives.
Also, try looking around outside the vehicle where you can see things coming and goings. Most police departments offer free roadside assistance now days so you may be able to use their services.
Never give up hope! We all have our limitations, but being aware of yours isn’t a bad thing.
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