Got a Flat Tyre? How to Change a Car Tyre

A flat tire can occur extremely fast, rendering your vehicle undriveable in a matter of moments. This can happen in a matter of seconds.

There are a variety of factors that might cause a puncture, too, whether it’s a piece of debris on the road, a massive pothole or even just rubber that’s a bit worse for wear.

You will want to get back on the road as soon as possible, regardless of the reason for your situation; nevertheless, you may be wondering how to change a car tire.

Technically speaking, this is a bit of a trick question because the alteration of the tire itself can only be accomplished through the utilization of specialized equipment, which can be found at a company that specializes in tyre fitting.

In the event that you find yourself stranded on the side of the road, you will either have to switch your complete wheel over to the spare or make use of the on-board equipment that is included in your vehicle in order to temporarily repair and reinflate the damaged tire.

This undertaking could appear to be somewhat challenging to you if you do not have a mechanical mindset.

There is no need to be concerned, however, because our comprehensive tutorial will teach everything that you need to know in order to change the tire on your vehicle in a secure manner.

To be back on the road in the shortest amount of time possible, you will be able to remove the old wheel, install the spare wheel, and do all of this with only a little amount of work.

Everything you need to know about replacing a car’s tire is included in this article…

Does your car have a spare wheel?

In spite of the fact that this may appear to be a bit of a no-brainer, you need to make sure that your vehicle has a spare wheel.

The spare wheel may be completely removed from certain models by the manufacturer in an effort to improve fuel efficiency by reducing the amount of weight that the vehicle carries.

In the event that this is the situation with your vehicle, there need to be a puncture repair kit sitting instead of it.

When you discover that your vehicle does, in fact, have a spare wheel, the next step is to determine the sort of wheel that it is.

If you have alloy wheels, this may be a steel wheel instead. Alternatively, as is the case with many current automobiles, you might have a space-saving wheel.

Either way, it will be a fully-sized wheel that is an exact match in size and diameter.

What gives a space-saver wheel its name is that it is supposed to take up less space in your vehicle than a fully-sized spare tire.

It accomplishes this by being far thinner than the conventional tires, which is how it achieves its goal.

However, this tiny size comes with certain tradeoffs, since these tires are significantly less durable than a standard tire.

You should be aware of this fact. As a consequence of this, space savers will have a maximum speed restriction and are only meant to be used while they are temporarily available. It is imperative that you switch back to a standard wheel and tire as quickly as possible, even if they will bring you home safely.

In the event that you are unable to locate a spare wheel of any sort, it is possible that your vehicle is one of the growing number of models that comes equipped with a car tire repair kit instead.

The repair kit for a bicycle is not at all comparable to the one that is used for a car’s tires. These kits often include a bottle of tire sealant and an air compressor that is powered by 12 volts from the manufacturer.

After the air valve has been used to fill the tyre with sealant, the compressor is next used to increase the pressure within the tyre.

Because the sealant won’t go deep enough to cover the gap if the damage to the tire is anything more severe than a small hole created by a nail or anything similar, the repair kit is meant to be a solution that will allow you to get back to your house.

The most effective way to get you back to your house is to hire a breakdown company to collect your vehicle if the damage to your tires is larger than that. We also have another comprehensive tutorial that is specifically designed to educate you how to utilize a tire repair kit if you already possess one.

Run-flat tyres

Some automobiles that do not have a spare wheel are instead outfitted with run-flat tires; these tires will either be installed in addition to or in place of a repair kit once the vehicle has been repaired.

Tires that are designed to be run flat feature sidewalls that are more rigid and a unique internal architecture that allows them to carry the weight of a vehicle even when the tire is flat.

Vehicles that are equipped with these often come equipped with tire pressure monitors that alert the driver when there has been a loss of pressure.

In the case that this occurs, a warning will show on the dashboard, and it will suggest that you slow down in order to avoid any additional harm from occurring.

It is imperative that you receive a replacement tire as quickly as possible, regardless of whether you utilize a repair kit or run-flat tires. To put it simply, both of these alternatives are only short-term remedies that are intended to send you back home.

Where is your car’s spare wheel?

In most cases, the spare wheel of your vehicle will be fixed in a recess that is located beneath the trunk floor.

Despite the fact that this is the most typical placement, there are some models that will have their spare wheel attached on the outside instead.

In certain instances, the spare wheel of a four-wheel-drive vehicle is placed in a prominent location on the rear door.

In the event that your spare wheel is situated beneath the floor of the trunk, it will be fastened in place by means of a substantial bolt.

The wheel may be removed by simply unscrewing this by hand, removing it, and then lifting it out. Take caution, however, because it could be rather hefty.

It is necessary to liberate your spare tire from within the trunk if it is located beneath the vehicle. The purpose of this safety precaution is to assist in preventing theft. It is in the owner’s handbook that you will discover the information that will allow you to remove it.

A jack and a toolbox ought to be included in the package along with the spare wheel. In the majority of automobiles, this equipment is stored in the trunk, typically within the spare wheel itself.

However, there are certain automobiles that conceal it in compartments behind the rear wheelarches or even beneath the floor of the passenger compartment.

In the event that you are unable to locate them, the owner’s handbook for your vehicle will provide you with instructions on where to look.

How do I change a car wheel?

Your next point of contact should be the owner’s handbook for your vehicle, provided that your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel or that you were astute enough to select the spare wheel option when you purchased your vehicle.

In terms of automobile maintenance, changing a wheel is a very uncomplicated task; yet, even the most fundamental tasks require some knowledge before you get sunk in them.

Going into a job without doing any research might be just as risky as attempting to drive on a flat tire.

You will be able to locate the jacking points of your vehicle by consulting the owner’s handbook. The underbelly of the vehicle is where the jacking point is located, and it is a location that has been reinforced to support the weight of the vehicle.

Typically, the jack that comes with the automobile will have a bracket that is specifically made to meet the jacking point of the vehicle. There should be four jacking points, one for each corner, and they should be located close to the wheels.

If you do not have the owner’s handbook for your vehicle, there may be telltale marks on the sills of the vehicle that indicate where you may jack up the vehicle.

These signals may include arrows pointing at specific areas of the underneath of the vehicle or indents in the body seams between the body panels.

If, on the other hand, you are doubtful, you should not just guess because doing so might result in significant harm.

The vast majority of automobiles are equipped with a scissor jack as a standard feature, and these jacks are rather easy to operate.

Rotate the handle in the opposite direction as the clock to lower the jack, and in the other direction to raise it. When you are using the jack, you are required to make sure that it is situated on dry, level ground.

When utilizing the jack, you should be sure to exercise extreme caution. When you are below a car that has been elevated on a jack, you should go at a modest pace and you should never go underneath the vehicle.

Now that the wheel nuts have been slightly loosened, it is time to position the jack in the appropriate location, as described in the owner’s handbook, so that it is fully prepared for lifting.

If you want to be sure that you have the jack in the correct position when the automobile is being lifted, it is preferable to wind the jack up slightly and then offer it to the jacking point before beginning to elevate the car.

The vehicle will begin to move slightly on its wheels as you lift the jack, and this movement will continue until the wheel that you wish to change begins to come off the ground.

It is not need to be concerned about this matter since the vehicle will remain in its current position if the handbrake is applied, the vehicle is in gear, and the wheels are chocked.

The suspension of the vehicle will lengthen as you lift it, which means that you will have to raise it more than you may anticipate. However, you do not have to lift the vehicle to the entire range of the jack’s movement; all you need is sufficient height to get the new wheel on without it contacting the ground.

How to take off a wheel from an automobile

Now that the vehicle is in the elevated position, it is necessary to use the wheel wrench that is included in the equipment that comes with the vehicle to completely remove the wheel nuts.

The wheel will be able to rest on the wheel hub once all of the nuts have been removed, so begin by undoing the nut that is the lowest and work your way up to the one that is the uppermost.

In the event that you choose the other approach, there is a possibility that the wheel will come loose when you remove the last nut.

As soon as the wheel is free of any nuts, take it off the hub in such a way that it does not interfere with the hub in any way, and then set it to the side. Additionally, make sure that the nuts are stored in a location where they will not be lost.

Installing a wheel on a vehicle

The technique of installing a wheel is identical to that of removing it; the only difference is that it is done in reverse.

First, you will need to align the holes for the nuts, and then you will need to rest the wheel on the hub while you screw in the nut that is the tallest.

Carry out the process of securing all of the wheel nuts to the point where they are finger-tight. It is likely that you will need to press the wheel flush with the hub while you are doing this in order to guarantee that the holes are aligned. Additionally, make sure that the nuts are installed without any difficulty.

As you manually screw the nuts into place, if you encounter resistance, this indicates that the thread has not aligned itself correctly. If you try to force the thread to line up, you can end up with a crossed thread.

As soon as all of the nuts have been fastened, you should use the wheel wrench once again to tighten the nuts even more. However, you should be sure to do this in a certain order so that the wheel stays flush on the hub.

The first nut on wheels with four studs should be tightened, followed by the nut opposite it. While you are going around the wheel, you should tighten every other nut on wheels that have five studs. Carry out this process until all of the wrenches are securely fastened.

After it has been adjusted, it is time to lower the automobile once more. Scissor car jacks are designed to “unwind,” which allows the vehicle to be lowered in a manner that is both safe and gradual.

In the event that you are utilizing a trolley jack, it is imperative that you engage the bleed valve of the jack. Once more, be sure to go gently in order to ensure that the wheel that has been replaced is able to return to the ground in a secure and controlled manner.

Now that the vehicle is back on all four wheels, you should go around and tighten the wheel nuts one more time. You may accomplish this in a practical manner by placing the wheel wrench on each nut in such a way that it is horizontal with the ground.

Then, you can apply pressure to each nut by putting all of your weight behind it. This will ensure that the nuts are securely fastened.

How to drive on a space saver wheel

If you have installed a space saver spare wheel, you should be aware that it is solely intended to get you home and will have a lower maximum speed restriction. This information should be marked on a label or on the tire itself.

As a result of this, you will need to obtain the replacement of the flat tire and the wheel that was originally attached to the vehicle as soon as feasible.

Moreover, it is important to note out that the area that was intended for the space saver spare tire might not be able to accommodate the flat tire. In the event that this is the case, you will either need to cover it so that it does not discolor the interior of your vehicle or you will need to get some interior cleanser.

Changing out a tire that has been damaged

It will be necessary for you to change the flat tire if you are currently driving on a spare tire that saves room to save space.

When you reach home, it is essential to make an appointment for your vehicle to be serviced at a tyre-replacement business. Driving for any longer than is absolutely required might prove to be hazardous.

Assuming that your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel that is of the same size as the other wheels, it is possible that you may continue to drive the vehicle with the new wheel in place.

On the other hand, if the spare tire is significantly more recent than the rest of the tires, it could be worthwhile to replace one of the other tires so that you have a set of tires that are identical to each other on one axle. It is possible to use the spare tire that is still available.

When should I change an undamaged tyre?

In spite of the fact that you might only see yourself changing a tire along the side of the road after experiencing a blowout or a puncture, even a tyre that has not been damaged will eventually need to be replaced with a new one at some time.

Despite the fact that the legal maximum for tread depth on tires is 1.6 millimeters, it is typically suggested that you replace a tire whenever it reaches 3 millimeters or less.

Using a tread depth gauge, you are able to determine the depth of the tread on a tire.

Got a Flat Tyre? How to Change a Car Tyre –  careerscholars.com