What Do You Do if You Have a Flat Tire on a Road Trip?

By Michael Ferguson

Flat tires are an unfortunate reality of driving, especially on long road trips. They can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and sometimes dangerous.

However, if you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. With the right tools and knowledge, changing a flat tire can be a simple task. Here’s what you need to do:

Gather Your Tools

The first step is to gather all the tools you’ll need to change your tire. These include a spare tire, a jack, and a lug wrench. You should also have gloves and a flashlight on hand in case you need them.

Locate a Safe Spot

Once you have your tools ready, it’s time to find a safe spot to change your tire. Ideally, this should be on level ground away from traffic. Make sure your hazard lights are on and use warning triangles or flares if you have them.

Remove the Flat Tire

Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire but don’t remove them yet. Then use the jack to lift the car off the ground until the flat tire clears it. Once it’s off the ground, remove all of the lug nuts and take off the flat tire.

Put On The Spare Tire

Line up the spare tire with the wheel studs and push it onto them until it won’t go any further. Then tighten each of the lug nuts by hand as much as possible before lowering your vehicle back onto its wheels using your jack.

Tighten The Lug Nuts & Lower The Car

Once your car is back on its wheels, use your lug wrench to tighten each of the lug nuts as much as possible in a star pattern – tightening one nut then moving across to tighten its opposite nut (diagonally across), repeating until all nuts are tight.

Check Your Spare Tire

After you’ve changed the tire, it’s important to make sure your spare is properly inflated. If it isn’t, you won’t be able to drive very far on it. Also, take your flat tire to a professional for repair or replacement as soon as possible.

Conclusion

Changing a flat tire can seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and knowledge, you can get back on the road in no time. Remember to always prioritize safety and use caution when changing a tire on the side of the road.