The maintenance of car tyres is vital to keep your drive safe. Tyres, going flat, due to improper inflation or rigorous exposure to poor road conditions can cause serious problems especially when you don’t know how to change a car tyre. Not all of them, but a majority of men drivers are used to of changing a car tyre on their own but many women drivers are not accustomed to it. This is why changing a car tyre can be more tedious for women drivers especially when they are driving alone or going on a long road trip.
Also read: Driving Safety: Quick ways for knowing When to Replace Car Tyres
How Driving Facilities have Improved for Women Drivers
This is a day and age where driving facilities for women drivers have improved not only in the UAE but also all over the world. With road side assistance services available, women can easily travel long distances in their cars without having to worry about problems like getting a car tyre changed or any other related issue.
However, sometimes, it is hard to get help and something as small as a flat tyre can put an abrupt end to your plans. Knowing how to change a tyre cannot only save your time, but it will also make you self-sufficient. Many women believe that changing a tyre is hard and very difficult, but in reality it is a simple task that needs just a little hard work.
We have made a guide for women that makes tyre changing easy for women of every age. Read it, remember it and next time when you encounter a flat tyre, you can conquer it.
Always Be Careful
Before you begin your journey, it is always best to have your car serviced or checked. It is always better to be cautious than to suffer later. If you are planning a road trip, you should have your car checked and serviced before you begin your journey.
Even if you are not planning a road trip, it is always advisable to have your car checked and serviced every year and that includes your car tyres. You should always have a mechanic or a professional take a look at your car tyres and have them upgraded or changed according to your needs.
Visually inspect the tyre before you start your trip. Look for any scuff marks, worn out patches or anything out of the ordinary. If you find any of these, you should replace the tyre because sooner or later you will need to do so.
Also, you need to make sure that you are familiar with the tools that you might need when you might be on your road trip. Make sure that you have a spare tyre, a car jack and wrench.
Also read: Annual Car Maintenance Guide
What Tools You May Need to change a Car Tyre
Apart from the jack, the wrench and the spare tyre, you may need other tools. These are not necessary, but they will make the tyre changing process easier. Always make sure that you have these tools in your tool box:
- Gloves
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Tire gauge
- Rain gear
- Tire blocks
- Flat Fix Spray
Changing a Tyre the Easy Way
Changing a car tyre is no rocket science by any means, in fact, it is a very straightforward process. You just need to be prepared for it to avoid panic. If you ever encounter a situation where you have to change a tyre, follow these steps:
Take the car to a Roadside Safely
The moment you realize that you have a flat tyre, look for a safe spot on the road and pull over. Always stop at a spot where there are no incoming cars. Never stop in the middle of the road, no matter how bad the flapping sound gets. You need to make sure that the area you park on is a flat surface. Jacking your car will be much easier on a flat surface, if your car has a manual transmission, you must always keep your car in gear before stopping and pulling over. Once you have taken the car to a roadside, put it to the neutral and then start changing the tyre.
Hazard Lights
Once you are safely parked, you must always turn your hazard lights on before you get out to take your tools and the spare tyre.
Loosen the Lug Nuts
This is where you need to use your tools and a little strength. Remove the hubcaps if your car has it and loosen the lug nuts with the wrench. You don’t need to remove them right now and you shouldn’t. Use a counter clock movement to loosen the lug nuts, if they are too tight, you can try to stand on the wrench to get it done, but always be safe.
Use Jack to Lift Car
Different cars have different places for the jack, you should always consult the owner’s manual before you place the jack beneath the car. Once you have the jack in the right position, you should start jacking your car up. Always stop jacking the car up when it is 6 inches above the ground.
Remove the Lug Nuts
This is the point when you will use the wrench to loosen the lug nuts all the way and to remove the tyre. Just make sure that you place the lug nuts somewhere you will not lose them. Carefully remove all lug nuts and pull the tyre towards you to take it off the wheel base. Try to pull it straight towards you, this will make the process easier and smoother.
Replace With the Spare Tyre
Replacing the spare tyre is easy, simply make sure that the holes of the tyres line up perfectly with the lug nut posts. Simply push it all the way in until it cannot go back any further and fits snugly against the wheel base.
Put the Lug Nuts
Place on the lug nuts on their designated space, but don’t tighten them. Just make sure that they will stay in their place without falling over.
Bring the Car Down
Carefully bring the car back down once you have placed all the lug nuts in place. Remove the jack from underneath the car and only do it once you have completely brought the car down.
Tighten the Lug Nuts
Once you have the car back on the ground, you should tighten the lug nuts. Instead of tightening one lug nut after another, go about them in a circle, tighten each lug a little until all of them are tightened completely and they are securely fit to the tyre.
Pack Up and Go
Once all of these lug nuts are in their places, pack your things and go. Make sure that you don’t leave anything behind. Also, make sure that you take your spare tyre with you as well. You should have it fixed at your earliest.
Some Quick Fixes
Sometimes, a flat tyre can be fixed without having to change it with a spare. Sometimes, your tyre may be giving you issues because it was pierced by a nail or any sharp object, or just that you have not got it serviced regularly. For that, you can use any flat fix spray that you can easily find in the market.
This will not really fix the problem, but it will help you drive your car for a few kilometers until you can take your car to the next rest stop or to a nearby mechanic. The flat fix foam will only be able to help you seal the puncture for some time. To use the tyre properly, you will have to get it fixed by a professional or by changing the tyre altogether. This is how women drivers can easily change a car tyre.
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