Changing a tire is something that no one wants to do, but that everyone should be able to do. Knowing how to change a tire is something that actually makes driving safer.
So, you've blown out a tire and definitely need to replace it with the spare. There are a few safety precautions to consider, both involving moving vehicles. One involves other cars. If at all possible, get to somewhere not near traffic to change a tire. Being hit by freeway traffic can turn a relatively task into an emergency. Get off the road, by driving very slowly. You might damage the rim if you drive fast or for any distance, so find the closest place of safety. A good family auto repair shop can fix a popped tire in a few minutes, but fixing a rim is much more costly.
The second danger involving moving vehicles is the one on which you're changing the tire. Jacking up a car means it's now suspended in the air and could fall. Never get under a jacked car unless there is a very good reason to do so. If you're only changing a tire, there is not a good reason to be under it. Also, be aware that the jack that comes with the car is quite flimsy. If at all possible, jack up the car but rest it on jackstands, large blocks of wood or large bricks €" anything that is solid and cannot collapse.
While you might think the first step to changing a tire is jacking up the car, that's actually not true. First, set the emergency brake. Next, use lengths of 2 x 4 or aptly sized rocks to set behind and in front of the wheels that will not be jacked up. Use the tire iron to crack the lug nuts loose before raising the car. Because the nuts are so tight, if you attempt to remove them when the car is raised, the wheel will turn, making this frustratingly difficult. Don't remove the nuts yet, just loosen them slightly.
Locate the suspension arm behind the wheel to be raised. This is the most secure place to jack from, since the car is suspended by this when driving. You can also jack from a secure place on the frame. Once the wheel is off the ground, place a jackstand under the frame and lower the car onto it. Remove the lug nuts. Remove the wheel and tire. Install the spare, and tighten the nuts most of the way. Jack the car up off the jackstand, remove the jackstand, and lower the car to the ground.
Finish tightening the lug nuts, using a star pattern. This means that you'll start with a given nut, and moving around in a circle, tighten every other nut. So, on a wheel with seven nuts, you'll do 1, 3, 5, 7, 2, 4, and 6, in that order. Most spare tires are not designed to be used for extended distances. Get to your favorite family auto repair shop or tire service as soon as possible.
In dry climates, such as Phoenix, Arizona, changing tires may be necessary because of tire rot. For more details about dry climate driving or Volvo repair Phoenix or other desert-based shops will be able to provide the most relevant expertise. A Volvo of Phoenix shop will also be able to recommend the right tires for dusty roads that turn to slippery clay when wet.
So, you've blown out a tire and definitely need to replace it with the spare. There are a few safety precautions to consider, both involving moving vehicles. One involves other cars. If at all possible, get to somewhere not near traffic to change a tire. Being hit by freeway traffic can turn a relatively task into an emergency. Get off the road, by driving very slowly. You might damage the rim if you drive fast or for any distance, so find the closest place of safety. A good family auto repair shop can fix a popped tire in a few minutes, but fixing a rim is much more costly.
The second danger involving moving vehicles is the one on which you're changing the tire. Jacking up a car means it's now suspended in the air and could fall. Never get under a jacked car unless there is a very good reason to do so. If you're only changing a tire, there is not a good reason to be under it. Also, be aware that the jack that comes with the car is quite flimsy. If at all possible, jack up the car but rest it on jackstands, large blocks of wood or large bricks €" anything that is solid and cannot collapse.
While you might think the first step to changing a tire is jacking up the car, that's actually not true. First, set the emergency brake. Next, use lengths of 2 x 4 or aptly sized rocks to set behind and in front of the wheels that will not be jacked up. Use the tire iron to crack the lug nuts loose before raising the car. Because the nuts are so tight, if you attempt to remove them when the car is raised, the wheel will turn, making this frustratingly difficult. Don't remove the nuts yet, just loosen them slightly.
Locate the suspension arm behind the wheel to be raised. This is the most secure place to jack from, since the car is suspended by this when driving. You can also jack from a secure place on the frame. Once the wheel is off the ground, place a jackstand under the frame and lower the car onto it. Remove the lug nuts. Remove the wheel and tire. Install the spare, and tighten the nuts most of the way. Jack the car up off the jackstand, remove the jackstand, and lower the car to the ground.
Finish tightening the lug nuts, using a star pattern. This means that you'll start with a given nut, and moving around in a circle, tighten every other nut. So, on a wheel with seven nuts, you'll do 1, 3, 5, 7, 2, 4, and 6, in that order. Most spare tires are not designed to be used for extended distances. Get to your favorite family auto repair shop or tire service as soon as possible.
In dry climates, such as Phoenix, Arizona, changing tires may be necessary because of tire rot. For more details about dry climate driving or Volvo repair Phoenix or other desert-based shops will be able to provide the most relevant expertise. A Volvo of Phoenix shop will also be able to recommend the right tires for dusty roads that turn to slippery clay when wet.
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