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Figure out what to do if your tire blows when it’s dark out
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Getting a flat tire is never fun, but it can be especially unpleasant if you can barely see outside after you pull over. Don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of options. In this article, we’ll break down all of your options and walk you through the process based on the route you take. We even spoke to Howard Fleischmann, a tire repair specialist, to get expert guidance for you on what to do if you get a flat tire at night.
Things You Should Know
- Don’t panic. Put your hazards on, slow down, and look for somewhere absolutely safe to pull over.
- Call roadside assistance or your insurance company if you can’t get any friends or family to help and you aren’t sure what to do.
- Change the tire now if you aren’t in a rush and want to take a crack at it, but you can always leave the tire for tomorrow if you’re parked legally.
Steps
Section 4 of 5:
Changing Your Tire
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Remove the jack and spare from your trunk. Pop your trunk and look underneath the carpeted floor to find your spare tire kit. You should have a spare tire and a (probably handheld) jack and tire iron. Remove all of these items from the trunk and set them down next to your flat. [6] X Research source
- Changing your tire at night isn’t difficult, but you do need some light. Turn a flashlight on or use the flashlight on your phone to help.
- If you do not have a full spare, jack, and tire iron, you cannot change your tire.
- Most of the time, the tire iron is also the device you use to raise the jack up, just FYI.
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Loosen the lug nuts on the flat. Use the tire iron to unlock all of the lug nuts holding your flat tire in place. Your lug nuts should be attached pretty firmly, so you may have to put your weight into this. Don’t worry—you aren’t going to break anything. Once you’ve unlocked the lug nuts, loosen them until they’re weak enough that you can turn them by hand, but don’t remove them. [7] X Research source
- You may have to pry off a hub cap to access the lug nuts. To do this, use your finger or a flathead screwdriver to
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Raise your vehicle off the ground with your jack. Look and feel under the nearest door for a thin, metal railing that matches the opening on top of your jack. This is the frame of your vehicle. Set the top of the jack underneath this location and begin raising the jack. Continue raising the vehicle until the flat is high enough off the ground that you can install the spare. [8] X Research source
- You might hear a scary creaking noise as your vehicle lifts off the ground. It’s just settling, don’t worry.
- Usually, you’ll use the tire iron to spin the nut on the end of the jack to raise the spring in the middle. Some jacks will have unique raising mechanisms, though.
- Refer to your manual if you can’t find the location for the jack. Some (mostly modern) vehicles come with a special platform for the jack.
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Remove the lug nuts and take the flat off. Use your hands to unscrew all of the lug nuts and set them aside. Then, carefully lift the flat tire up a little and pull it off of the axle. Set it aside as you finish up the rest of this process. [9] X Research source
- It’s dark out, so pay special attention to where you put your lug nuts. You’ll need them to install your spare.
- When you’re done, throw the flat tire in your trunk or back seat. A mechanic will likely be able to patch and reinflate the tire.
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Install the spare and tighten the lug nuts. Slide your spare tire onto the same bolts you removed the flat tire from. Then, use your hands to screw the lug nuts on. Tighten the nuts as far as you can so that the tire is sitting flush against the axle. [10] X Research source
- Do not try to tighten the nuts all the way while the tire is in the air.
- Most spares have an inside and an outside. The side with the air valve belongs on the outside.
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Lower the vehicle, remove the jack, and tighten the nuts. With your spare in the wheel well and attached to the axle, use your tire iron to begin lowering the vehicle. If you turn the jack nut clockwise to raise it, turn it counterclockwise to lower it. Continue lowering the vehicle until it’s on the ground and slide the jack out. Then, tighten the lug nuts with the iron as hard as you can. [11] X Research source
- Follow the 50/50 rule when you have a spare on. You can drive no faster than 50 miles per hour (80 km/h) for 50 miles (80 km) before you need to replace the spare with a standard tire. [12] X Research source
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about fixing flat tires, check out our in-depth interview with Howard Fleischmann .
References
- ↑ https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter10/section46.2-1040/
- ↑ https://jacosuperiorproducts.com/blogs/news/what-happens-when-you-drive-on-a-flat-tire-a-deep-dive
- ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/roadside-assistance
- ↑ https://www.txdot.gov/about/programs/highway-roadside-assistance/san-antonio-hero.html
- ↑ https://www.motorbiscuit.com/white-towel-bag-broken-car-mean/
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/
- ↑ https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/a5855/how-to-change-a-flat-tire/
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