Nobody ever wants to deal with a flat tire in the middle of a busy day, but it happens. And it’s important to know how to get out of that sticky situation quickly and safely. This is especially true if you’re stuck on the side of the road at night somewhere in College Park, MD.
Driving in MD: How to Change a Flat Tire
The first step is to find a safe location. Pull off the road as far as possible, preferably onto a flat stretch of pavement. If you’re stuck on the highway, try to make your way to an exit or rest stop. This might mean ruining your tire, but it’s much safer than trying to change a flat on the highway.
Once you’re in a safe spot, make sure your emergency brake is engaged and place blocks or wedges behind the wheels that are still inflated. This will help prevent your car from rolling away while you work.
Remove the Flat
Next, you’ll want to loosen up the lug nuts on the tire. You can spray them with penetrating oil if you are having a hard time getting them to move (WD-40 works well). This will allow the nuts to roll a little bit easier. Once they are loose, jack up the vehicle to raise it off the ground.
Now you are ready to remove the lug nuts and take off the flat. Set it aside for now so you can install the spare.
Mount the New Tire
Grab your new tire and carefully mount it on the wheel. This is an important step, as you want to make sure that it is properly aligned. When that’s done, tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern and lower the car back onto the ground.
Now that the tire is installed, you want to make sure it is adequately secured. This means checking if your lug nuts are tightened correctly (using a torque wrench). If not, go ahead and tighten them.
Take Your Flat to a Trusted Tire Shop in College Park, MD
You want to take your flat to a local shop as soon as possible. These folks can patch up or replace the tire, so you can be prepared for the next time this unfortunate incident happens again. However, you want a quality repair job, or you could be back where you started.
Overall, changing a tire isn’t too difficult – especially if you know what you’re doing. Just remember to stay safe and get help from a qualified repair shop when necessary. And that’s where we come in. Schedule a tire service at DARCARS Nissan of College Park today if you need help with a flat. We’ll get you back on the road quickly and safely.
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