Lindsey Christiansen
As you veer insanely off the side of the highway you start to panic. First you panicked because you were worried the blowout was going to land you an accident, but by the time your car has come to a somewhat stilted halt, you realize there is even more cause for concern; you have no idea what to do with a flat tire. Before you find yourself in this situation, listen up and learn these four simple things to do to change out your flat tire.
Underneath the floor of the trunk car manufacturers, like Toyota and Ford, place essential tools for tire changing. Connect the tire iron to one of the lug nuts and place your foot on the tool to loosen the nut. Be sure to focus so that you do not strip the edges of the lug nuts; if they are stripped you won’t be able to get them off and you’ll have to call a tow truck.
The diamond jack is provided by most manufacturers, such as Lincoln and Ford. Use the diamond jack, found under the floor of your trunk, in conjunction with the tire iron to raise your car off the road. If the jack doesn’t have a lever to turn, use the tire iron to turn the jack. The jack needs to be placed under the frame of the vehicle in order to lift your car up correctly. Focus on placing the jack in the slow cut next to the tire.
You have already loosened the lug nuts so simply use your hands to unscrew them all the way and pull the old tire off. Take the new tire and focus on matching up the holes on the rim with the bolts of the car. Hold the tire in place as you screw on the nuts with your hands as tight as you can get them. Lower your Ford or Mazda to the ground with the jack before you use the tire iron to fully tighten the lug nuts.
Once your Dodge or Ford is on the ground, you can finish up. Use the tire iron to tighten the lug nuts, but be sure you do so in a diagonal pattern. After the first nut is tightened, tighten the nut diagonally across from that first nut. By focusing on diagonally tightening the nuts, you will ensure that you do not have a wobbly tire once you start to drive. Also remember that whether you drive a Ford Mustang or a Honda Civic, spare tires are not meant to last; drive slow and take your car in to a dealership as soon as you can to get a new full-sized tire put on.
Looking for a new or used Ford near Salt Lake City? Henry Day Ford offers a great selection of Ford vehicles and much more. Whether you're from West Valley City, Sandy, or Murray, visit us today for a test-drive or great Ford service!
