"How to change a flat tire " by Santiago R

     I believe it is extremely important to know how to change a flat tire for your safety and convenience. As seniors, a lot of us drive already and although some may not drive yet you most likely will at some point so this information can still be useful. Most people don’t know how to change a flat simply because they do not need to. It is estimated that about 60% of Americans do not know how to change a flat tire. All they have to do is call AAA and wait for a roadside assistance specialist to arrive and take care of the tire for you, or call a friend or relative to come help. For some people who rarely leave town, this is more than enough. But what if one day you find yourself with a dead cellphone and in a remote area? What if it’s the middle of the night and you caught a flat mid road trip? Roadside assistance is not always a guarantee, and even when it is available many things such as traffic and weather can have you waiting for hours. Working at a tire shop i've seen similar scenarios play out countless times and people wishing they had known how to change a flat before. That's why I will teach you how in a few simple steps, so if you ever find yourself in a similar spot you will know what to do. 

Tools: Spare tire, Lug wrench, jack Optional: Hazard Triangle, Reflective Vest 

(Note: These tools are provided for most cars, they should be under the trunk carpet lining)

 
 

STEP 1: Be aware of your surroundings and make sure it is safe. Also make sure your car is on a flat surface. Park the car and engage the emergency brake. Turn your hazards on to warn other drivers you are working on your vehicle. If you have a reflective triangle place it near your car facing oncoming traffic. Wear a reflective vest if you have one available. 

STEP 2: Place the car jack underneath the frame and lift the car up. The jack will come with a small wrench which you will use to turn the circular knob on the side of the wrench. Lift the car until the damaged wheel is off the ground. (Note: Do not get under the car for any reason,as it can be unstable) 

STEP 3: Remove the lug nuts. These are the small bolts in the middle of the tire. Most lug nuts follow the righty-tighty lefty-loosey rule. Attach the lug wrench to the nut and turn until it is loose. Do this for all five nuts and remove them with your hand. Remove the tire after all nuts are removed. (Note: Lug nuts tend to roll away, so make sure they are all in a safe spot) 

STEP 4: Mount the spare tire on the wheel lugs. Once it is centered place the lug nuts on and tighten them by hand and then follow with the wrench. Make sure you tighten the lugs in opposite pairs so the tire remains centered. (Note: make sure all the lug nuts are tightened as hard as possible)

STEP 5: Lower your vehicle all the way and remove the jack. Place all the tools and the damaged tire in your trunk. The tire shop workers will try to salvage your tire if all it needs is a patch. This can help you save a lot of money. (Note: Spare tires are not meant to be driven at high speed. Your owners manual should have the maximum speed for the tire, if not a safe bet would be not to drive over 50 mph)

After completing these steps you’ve successfully changed a flat tire and are now part of the 40% of Americans who can replace a tire on their own. Now you can get yourself to the nearest tire shop and they will patch or replace your tire. It’s important to remember it is not recommended to drive on a spare tire for a long time. Get it replaced as soon as possible. If after reading this you realize your car doesn’t happen to have the tools needed, you should go buy them at your local auto store. They are fairly inexpensive and could possibly save you hundreds of dollars in fees if you ever have to change one of your tires.