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Tips for Car Owners: Changing a Flat Tire

Changing a tire is a fundamental skill to have as a driver. In this post by AMSOIL: OilWerx in Mandan, we’ll go over the basics on how to quickly and safely change a tire on your car, as well as the gear you should have at hand.

Choose a Safe Place to Stop

Having one of your tires blow out while driving down the street can be a scary situation, but it’s essential to stay calm, turn on your emergency lights and find a safe place where to pull over. If you’re driving down the highway, a shoulder will be the safest place where to stop as you won’t be blocking traffic, and you’ll have enough space to change your tire without putting yourself in danger. If it’s dark out, make sure to stop somewhere well lit. Also, avoid stopping on a sloped road, dirt, or grass as it could be harder to change your tire.

Another part of taking care of your car is to have a synthetic oil change in Mandan as a part of your regular maintenance routine. Call the experts at Oilwerx at (701) 426-8970 or send them an email at [email protected] for more information on excellent oil products like AMSOIL's Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil.

Get the Tools You’ll Need

To change your tire, you’ll need a few tools. Some of them might already be in your car’s emergency kit, but it’s still a good idea to know what you have and what you should have in case of an emergency. The tools you��ll need are a lug wrench, a car jack, and a spare tire that is fully inflated and in good condition. Other materials that you might find helpful are a safety vest, a flashlight, gloves, wheel wedges, a rain poncho, and reflective safety triangles.

The oil specialists at Oilwerx can help you to find the right products for your engine. Give them a call at (701) 426-8970 to schedule a synthetic oil change in Mandan or visit their website to place an order.

5 Steps to Change a Tire

These are the basic instructions on how to change a tire, and even though it’s not hard, familiarizing yourself with the process is helpful in an emergency. If you have doubts that you can do it yourself, you can always call a towing company to help you out.

Loosen the lug nuts: The first step in changing a tire is to loosen the lug nuts that keep it in place. Remove the hubcap on your tire and use a lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts until you can loosen them with your fingers. Don’t remove the lug nuts yet.
Lift the car: Next step is to lift your vehicle. Make sure your vehicle has the emergency brake pulled up and that it’s in park. Your owner’s manual should say where the jack should go. Once you’ve set it up, crank the jack until it meets the car’s frame and connects with the lift point. Lift the vehicle to where you can remove the tire.
Removing the lug nuts and tire: When your car is raised, finish removing the lug nuts and place them somewhere safe. After this, your tire should come off easily. Place it on a flat surface.
Replace with the spare tire and secure it: Next, you should place your spare tire and secure it with the lug nuts. Screw them on in a criss-cross pattern to ensure the tire is even, but don’t tighten all the way.
Lower your car and tighten the lug nuts: Lastly, slowly crank down your car. Once it’s on the ground, finish tightening the lug nuts in the same criss-cross manner. Tighten them until they don’t budge.

After You Change the Tire

It’s important to remember that your spare tire is only a temporary solution, as a spare tire should only be driven for no more than 70 miles. Using a spare tire for more than that could cause your other tires to get worn unevenly. After a blowout, it’s a good idea to take your car to a certified mechanic’s garage to make sure your vehicle didn’t suffer any damage and to assess the rest of your tires. As the last recommendation, it’s essential to keep your tires in the best condition possible to avoid these types of accidents.