How to Change a Flat Tire

You’re driving along, enjoying the trip behind the wheel of your ride, when suddenly you come across an obstacle in the road and hear a pop. You have a flat tire. This is a situation that drivers should be prepared for in any conditions, especially if the weather is not ideal.

Here at Norm Reeves Subaru Superstore Rockwall, we want to help you be prepared for this situation. Our team is providing this guide on how to change a flat tire and get you back on your way on the roads near Mesquite, Rockwall, and Garland, TX.

Get to a Safe Location

When you discover that you have a flat tire, one of the first things to do is direct the vehicle to a safe place. Slowly reduce your speed and search for a safe space along a straight stretch of road or an empty parking lot where you can work on the tire.

Put Your Hazard Lights On

If you are on the side of the road, turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. You should also apply the parking brake once you are stopped to prevent the vehicle from rolling as you change the tire.

Removing the Flat Tire

There are some tools that can help you in this process. To be prepared for this situation, have a jack in the trunk of your vehicle. This can help you elevate the tire off the road and allow you to remove it more easily. You can also place wheel wedges under the other wheels to prevent rolling.

To remove the tire, remove the hubcap or wheel cover if there is one and loosen the lug nuts counterclockwise. Before completely removing the lug nuts, leave them on the tire as you use the jack to prop up the vehicle. Then you can unscrew the lug nuts and remove the tire from the vehicle.

Apply a Spare Tire

You should have a spare tire that comes with the set of tires you choose. Before you start removing the flat tire, you should have this tire ready to make the replacement easily.

Mount the spare tire on the lug bolts and align them with the rim. Push on the tire gently until the lug bolts are showing through the rim. Then you can reapply the lug nuts and tighten them to secure the spare tire. Once this is complete, you can lower the vehicle off the jack, replace the hubcap if necessary, and be on your way after cleaning up.

Visit Us at Our Dealership

After you have a flat tire, you want to consult with a technician to see if the tire needs repair or replacement. Our team can help you in this process. Here at Norm Reeves Subaru Superstore Rockwall, we always look out for drivers and their safety.

You can contact us at our service center for more tips on how to change a flat tire or visit us if you are near Mesquite, Rockwall, and Garland, Texas, to get more help with this.

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