When planning a car journey, few of us add time to deal with a puncture.
Whenu00a0planning a car journey, few of us add time to deal with a puncture. Today's tougher tyres mean that there's less chance we'll need it. While some roadside assistance packages include a wheel-changing service, there's nothing as fast, or as satisfying, as doing it yourself.
Follow our simple steps and you'll be back on the road in no time.
As soon as you notice a flat tyre hopefully before the rubber has shredded slow down and find a safe place to stop on a firm, flat surface. If you're on a highway, move to the hard shoulder and wait for help. It's too dangerous to change a tyre here.
If you can't get off the road, switch on your hazard lights. If you carry a warning triangle, set it up 10 metres behind the car. Passengers should get out and wait in a safe place away from traffic.
Find the spare wheel, jack and wheel wrench, which may be under the boot floor or under the car on the back door. You'll get dirty hands and knees so consider carrying gloves and newspaper to keep clean.
Using the wheel wrench, loosen but don't remove the wheel nuts. You may first need to prise off a wheel cover. If your car has locking wheelnuts, use the 'key' attachment to loosen the locked one.
Apply the handbrake and put it into first gear (manual) or Park (auto). Find the jacking point by reading the manual or choose a solid part of the body near the wheel. Raise the wheel so it is just clear of the ground.
Fully remove the wheelnuts in diagonal pairs (it's easier this way), then take off the wheel. It may need a sharp knock to dislodge but be very careful not to destabilise the jack. If in doubt, call the rescue services.
Lift the spare wheel onto the wheel hub it's probably heavier than it looks, so bend your knees as you heave it into place. Line up the holes and screw in the nuts, again in diagonal pairs.
Once the wheel is secure, lower the jack fully. Use the wrench to tighten the wheelnuts fully. Check them all twice before packing up and heading to the nearest garage to get the tyre fixed or replaced.
