Flat Tire Assistance
So You've Got a Flat Tire
Regardless of how well one takes care of ones tires, carefully keeping an eye on wear and tire pressure, flat tires are not just caused by the things we can control. They are often caused by sharp objects like glass, nails, tree debris and sharp metals that end up on the road surface. When you get a flat tire your car simply cannot be driven safely at any reasonable speed until the flat tire is replaced. A tow truck companies drivers can help you install your spare tire and get you back on the road quickly. If you happen not to have a spare tire the dispatcher can have the drive bring you one and install it for you as well.
How To Change A Tire Yourself
The silver lining with a flat tire is that it is not a difficult fix, and can be done by most everybody as long as they have the right tools and a little bit of patience. Here in Michigan the weather and terrain will have to cooperate too our course! If your car is not on a flat, dry surface, please do not attempt to change a tire yourself. Call a tow truck and sit tight. It's just to risky to attempt yourself, because the care could slip off a jack and seriously injure you or damage the car.
That said, assuming passable condition the other things you need are a few tools and an new tire to put on in place of the flat one. The tools you'll need are a lug wrench or tire iron and a jack. Most cars come stocked with all three of these things so you should be good to go if they haven't been removed.
First you should apply the parking brake, or emergency brake. This will ensure that the wheels are immobilized. To further ensure this safety, you should place a heavy object like a brick, stone or similar behind and in front of all the wheels except the one you'll be replacing.
After that take out the spare tire, then the tire jack. Most of the time they will be in the truck beneath the inner lining. The jack must be place on the metal part of the car. Most cars have notches that will fit the jack. If not, it can be put underneath one of the metal beam forward of the back wheel or behind the front wheel.
Next just lift the jack until the wheel is just off the ground. No need to lift the entire vehicle. In fact doing so is dangerous. Then remove the hubcaps and lug nuts. Remember left is loose, right is tight. This can be the tricky part. Lug nuts can be on there pretty tight. Best to go in expecting this and use the proper amount of force. Stop if you think you might damage the lug nuts though.
Once the lug nuts are off, you're almost there. Just pull the tire off. Now sometimes the tire can be seized. You can try beating it with a rubber hammer if you have one handy, but if not don't chance it. In that case, it's time to call roadside assistance. If not it should slip off.
Finally, put the new tire on the hub, lining up the holes of the tire and the bolts. Replace the lug nuts and tighten by hand until tight then with the lug wrench. Low the jack back down and pull out the jack. Then put the original tire in the truck, in the place of the spare.
If You Can't Change The Tire
Don't panic. You can always call us 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, rain or shine, even on holidays. We offer around the clock roadside assistance and towing, and that includes flat tires. We'll be able to tow you to where you need to go, just give us a call: 616-366-9824.
Regardless of how well one takes care of ones tires, carefully keeping an eye on wear and tire pressure, flat tires are not just caused by the things we can control. They are often caused by sharp objects like glass, nails, tree debris and sharp metals that end up on the road surface. When you get a flat tire your car simply cannot be driven safely at any reasonable speed until the flat tire is replaced. A tow truck companies drivers can help you install your spare tire and get you back on the road quickly. If you happen not to have a spare tire the dispatcher can have the drive bring you one and install it for you as well.
How To Change A Tire Yourself
The silver lining with a flat tire is that it is not a difficult fix, and can be done by most everybody as long as they have the right tools and a little bit of patience. Here in Michigan the weather and terrain will have to cooperate too our course! If your car is not on a flat, dry surface, please do not attempt to change a tire yourself. Call a tow truck and sit tight. It's just to risky to attempt yourself, because the care could slip off a jack and seriously injure you or damage the car.
That said, assuming passable condition the other things you need are a few tools and an new tire to put on in place of the flat one. The tools you'll need are a lug wrench or tire iron and a jack. Most cars come stocked with all three of these things so you should be good to go if they haven't been removed.
First you should apply the parking brake, or emergency brake. This will ensure that the wheels are immobilized. To further ensure this safety, you should place a heavy object like a brick, stone or similar behind and in front of all the wheels except the one you'll be replacing.
After that take out the spare tire, then the tire jack. Most of the time they will be in the truck beneath the inner lining. The jack must be place on the metal part of the car. Most cars have notches that will fit the jack. If not, it can be put underneath one of the metal beam forward of the back wheel or behind the front wheel.
Next just lift the jack until the wheel is just off the ground. No need to lift the entire vehicle. In fact doing so is dangerous. Then remove the hubcaps and lug nuts. Remember left is loose, right is tight. This can be the tricky part. Lug nuts can be on there pretty tight. Best to go in expecting this and use the proper amount of force. Stop if you think you might damage the lug nuts though.
Once the lug nuts are off, you're almost there. Just pull the tire off. Now sometimes the tire can be seized. You can try beating it with a rubber hammer if you have one handy, but if not don't chance it. In that case, it's time to call roadside assistance. If not it should slip off.
Finally, put the new tire on the hub, lining up the holes of the tire and the bolts. Replace the lug nuts and tighten by hand until tight then with the lug wrench. Low the jack back down and pull out the jack. Then put the original tire in the truck, in the place of the spare.
If You Can't Change The Tire
Don't panic. You can always call us 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, rain or shine, even on holidays. We offer around the clock roadside assistance and towing, and that includes flat tires. We'll be able to tow you to where you need to go, just give us a call: 616-366-9824.