Chapter 20

How to Change a Flat Tire

• For starters, make certain the vehicle is in park (or in first gear if it is a standard) and always put the emergency brake on. Put some sort of blocks (or even use rocks) behind the vehicle's wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
• Make sure you have everything including a good and inflated spare, a lug wrench, the key to any locking lugs, and a jack.
• Remove the hub cab if applicable.
• Loosen, but do not remove, the lug nuts.
• Some vehicles have special jacking instructions so be sure to check your owner's manual. In the absence of special instructions, put the jack under the vehicle's frame near the flat tire. Make certain the part of the frame you select can support the vehicle.
• Jack up the vehicle until the flat tire is sufficiently off the ground. Never open any door, crawl under, start, or do any work on a jacked up vehicle.
• Remove all lug nuts.
• Remove the flat and replace it with the spare.
• Replace the lug nuts finger tight.
• Lower the vehicle slowly using the jack.
• Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern alternating between lug nuts a little at a time until they are fully tightened.
• Remove any blocking you put behind the wheels.
• Put all your tools and the flat tire back into the vehicle and off you go.
• Make sure and get the flat fixed as soon as possible. You never know when you might get another flat.