The following is a school project I did in my technical communications class. Enjoy!

Replacing a flat tire

Introduction

Replacing a flat tire requires only a few essentials: a spare tire, a jack, a tire iron, and a wheel chock (or large rock). Because flat tires are so common and can happen at any time, every driver should know how to replace a tire with a spare. Although it can be daunting the first time you attempt it, replacing a tire is not very difficult. Almost anyone can do it in under 15 minutes, which is less time than it usually takes for assistance to arrive. After reading this set of instructions, you will know how to safely and correctly replace a tire on your own.

Directions

1. Pull off the road, turn off the engine, and turn on the hazard lights.

2. Put the car in park on level ground and apply the parking brake.

Note: If you drive a manual transmission car, you should put it in gear.

3. Place a wheel chock or a large rock behind (if facing uphill) or in front of (if facing downhill) the diagonally opposing wheel to prevent the car from rolling.

Note: This should be done even on a slight incline.

4. Get out the spare tire, a lug nut wrench (tire iron), and a car jack.

Note: To avoid bruised knuckles, you should pull rather than push when removing lug nuts.

Note: Do the following before jacking up the car.

5. Remove the lug nut by placing one end of the tire iron over a lug nut.

Note: The loosening of the lug nuts should be completed in a star pattern, first loosening one a few turns and then loosening the one opposite.

6. Turn the tire iron counter clockwise to loosen the lug nut.

7. Work across the tire until all the lug nuts are loose and unscrewed.

Warning: Cars can slip off jacks. Being extremely careful is very important. You should never get under a car with only a tire changing jack holding it up.

8. Move the jack underneath the car.

Note: Your owner’s manual will specify the correct place to put the jack.

9. Turn the knob at the end of the jack, using the provided metal hand crank.

10. Raise the car with the jack until the flat tire is completely raised off the ground.

11. Remove the wheel lugs completely.

Note: Depending on how tight the lugs are, you might be able to remove them by hand. The lugs should be set aside in a secure location where they can’t roll away.

12. Remove the flat tire.

13. Lift the spare tire onto the wheel studs by holding up the tire and trying to line up the holes in the wheel with the protruding wheel studs.

Note: One trick that might help is to balance the tire on your foot while you move it into position.

Note: If you are confused about which is the right way to put on the new tire, you should check for the valve where you add air: it always faces out.

14. Screw each of the wheel lugs back on by hand.

Caution: Make sure you do not cross-thread the wheel studs and the lug nuts.

15. Use the tire iron to finish the job, working around the wheel in a star pattern.

Note: You should avoid tightening adjacent nuts consecutively.

16. Slowly lower the jack and then pull the jack away from the vehicle.

17. Tighten down the lugs completely.

Note: The reason you tighten the lugs now is that the tire is on the ground and it won’t rotate around like it would if it was still hanging in the air.

18. Place the flat tire back into the space where the spare tire was, and the jack and the tire iron should be put back in the car.

Note: Most compact spare tires are smaller than regular tires, so it is possible that the flat tire won’t fit in the spare tire well.

Warning: Compact spares have a limited top speed. The tire’s top speed will be written on its sidewall. If your vehicle has a full-size spare, you won’t encounter these problems.

Conclusion

You have now successfully replaced a flat tire. With the spare installed, you should be able to reach your house or the nearest service station.