How to Fix a Flat Tire

One day, you'll get a puncture. And I guarantee, it will be at the worst time possible. Here's how to install a spare tire.

NOTE: Some cars have locking wheel bolts. If yours does, check your glove box for a special key. If you don't have this key, and have a lock -- you will not be able to remove your wheel.

If you are uncomfortable with changing your tire on the side of the road. Call for assistance - do not drive with a spare tire or punctured tire unless you have run flat tires.

Never raise a vehicle with people inside.

It is beneficial to practice this operation in your driveway so you can complete the task quickly and comfortable on the side of the road.

Check the pressure of your spare tire frequently (at least once a month) and before long trips. There's nothing worse than finding all you have to replace your flat tire with is... a flat tire.

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Avoid products like "Fix-A-Flat" and alike. These make tire repair, if not impossible, much more difficult. Only use these as a last resort.

Step 1 Get to a Safe Location

Once you've determined you have a flat or a puncture -- turn on your hazard lights and pull off the road. Ideally, you want to park on a hard, level surface that is visible to other drivers.

Once you've come to a stop, make sure that you can safely open your door.

Comments

[menahunie]

Jacks can and do fail; especially the junk ones that come with your car.
My girlfriends Lexus RX300 did just that. Just as I had removed the loosened lug nuts on the front tire the jack BENT ( it was in the proper lift point and straight up and not at any angle; nor did the car move ) and car dropped down... I had slid the spare tire under where you show and it stopped the car from landing on me. I use a mini FLOOR jack I bought instead and way stronger with rubber wheel chocks. You can find these in any auto or Walwart Store..

[PlayPatterns]

The most important part is to have the proper tools and be prepared BEFORE you get the flat...I stopped by the side of the road today to try to help some guys with a flat and couldnt because they didnt have the right size wrench...and neither did I

[abadfart]

ya and one of the X shaped tire irons goes along way 

[Derin]

Is that car a Golf?

[trebuchet03]

Negative. It's the golf's notchback counterpart - Jetta

[robz40]

There's a far easier way. Pump it up and run to the nearest garage.

http://www.instructables.com/id/mini_compressor_car_boot_flat_tyre/

[HamO]

Extremely well done, as usual. Good job. Nice space spacing jack the VW has.

[Derin]

my van also hides it in a convenient place,although i cant say the same with the spare wheel,the spare is under the car

[Derin]

here instead of opening the hood you need to place a reflective triangle 5 meters from your car (and possibly cones if you have them) be careful with car regulations

[Derin]

oops,seems the min distance is 50m ps vw rocks

[Lithium Rain]

LOL! I was going through all my old comments/replies, and only just now found out you actually made this! A rather belated thank you and 5/5 stars.

[JerryMopar]

This instructable should be actually called CHANGING a flat tire, NOT Fixing it. Fixing it would be putting a plug in it, would be totally different. IMHO

[trebuchet03]

Semantics. Putting a plug in a tire is totally different than fixing it - you just can't see what sort of damage was done inside.

TIA

[bdl]

One extremely useful tip I once had was to keep your hands at the "four" and "eight" clock positions on the wheel when removing or replacing. Should the car topple, this will throw your hands clear of the arch. The person who told me this had a hand on the "twelve" position of a wheel when the draft from a passing vehicle tipped his car off of the jack and his hand was trapped (and badly broken) for about 15 minutes until a patrol car arrived by chance. Nice instructable though. Here in the UK, I am amazed that this is not taught during driver training.

[killerjackalope]

It's now being added to the test next year in both mainland and northern Ireland, along with some other stuff.

[trebuchet03]

That's a very good point that I forgot to mention.

[killerjackalope]

A couple of little additions for you, the locknut key may also be in the space saver kit somewhere (where you find the tyre) and sometimes in a little compartment behind a door in the side of the boot (trunk) why there are so many places I don't know. The only tyre sealant i have ever seen work is an industrial brand one, it's not a thin gel like most and actually resembles tar, you pump that stuff in and it will seal a large hole up to about 30psi, also great for sealing tyres on to the rim, also it can be cleaned off for patching. I will remember the trade name I can only remember calling it the black stuff and black magic. Most older european cars have a scissor type jack that is 99% of the time painted black, the trick to using the crank here is to turn the handle at the bend, it's just easier. Also your fears about the jack are a sensible point to make, I actually know an owner who got a rather large chip in his shin bone when the jack pinged out. If the jacking point allows you putting the jack diagonally minimizes risk to you and still gives you good access for the actual jacking... Last point is carrying an extra piece of sturdy steel bar in the space saver is generally considered sensible, idiots at places like kwik fit alway use the air gun and even if you weigh 300lbs those nuts wont move with that little leverage, just slide the bar over the handle and it saves you alot of effort... By the way I was a tyrefitter for three years so... meh Which reminds me, if you have anything heavier than a normal saloon car I suggest finding somewhere for a cheap trolley or bottle jack, a pickup truck is best with a bottle jack, the extra lift makes life easier when you get stuck on a curb or the jungle...

[trebuchet03]

All good points... For those not aware or don't watch Top Gear :p Saloon is the same thing as a sedan...

[killerjackalope]

I thought saloon was known in both, that's why I used it...

[heyzuphowsitgoin]

that canned fix-a-flat or whatever its called works if u hav an air compressor in your car...

[trebuchet03]

I never said it doesn't work --- and you shouldn't need a compressor. Using products like that will likely make repairing your tire impossible. Sure, that may be fine this time -- but get another puncture... You can't keep adding that stuff in there. The best thing to do is replace the tire with the spare -- then have your tire patched using a two part repair where the tire is taken off the wheel and repaired from the inside. I've used the type where you push in an RTV stick type of thing from the outside. And I've never had problems. But the safest way is to have the tire dismounted and repaired from the inside.

[bleachworthy]

"You can't keep adding that stuff in there." BS, I want my tire to be made of it before I finally buy a new one!!

[hondagofast]

Is that fabric in your trunk, or frilly dresses?

[Visitor]

The statement "Call for assistance - do not drive with a spare tire" is pretty confusing considering your topic. I assume you mean "fix the punctured tire as soon as possible, do not drive around on a spare tire?" Also note that the jack that comes with the car is meant for emergency road side work only and is pretty much unsafe. For planned maintenance you need to get a proper jack.

[trebuchet03]

Here's the whole sentence ;)

If you are uncomfortable with changing your tire on the side of the road. Call for assistance - do not drive with a spare tire or punctured tire unless you have run flat tires.

I mean, if you're uncomfortable swapping the tire... Don't -- and don't drive with the flat/punctured tire either. Changing a wheel that you're not very sure of can lead to some very dangerous situations.