A flat tire can occur anytime — during a family road trip or while coming back from work, or even when your car is idle in your garage. And when that happens, it is likely to ruin your plans or even a day. But that doesn’t have to be the case with you, provided you know how to properly handle a flat tire.
Here’s a quick guide to help you properly handle a flat tire situation and when to call in emergency flat tire roadside assistance:
Don’t drive on a flat tire
Many people are often tempted to drive their vehicles with a flat slowly to the nearest mechanic, especially when the mechanic is only a mile or two away. However, experts suggest avoiding it. Driving on a flat tire may damage the rim of the wheel, which may then require wheel replacement. The best course of action is to move your vehicle on a flat as little as possible to avoid causing real damage to the wheel
Plan ahead
No matter where you headed, whether on a family road trip or to your workplace, make sure you are well-prepared for a flat-tire situation. This means keeping in your car all the tools and equipment you may need to replace a flat tire — a working spare, jack, and lug wrench. Also, routinely check the air pressure of the spare so that you can rely on it in the event of a flat. It’s also important to have contact details of reliable emergency flat tire assistance in your phone or in a diary that you keep in your car.
Changing the flat
- First, move your vehicle to the side to avoid creating a traffic jam on the road. Also, park it on level ground and engage hand brakes and reverse gear. Next, turn on your emergency lights to let the other drivers know about your idle vehicle.
- Next, follow your vehicle instructions on removing the spare from the trunk. This should be easy.
- The next step involves loosening the wheel nuts of the flat tire before jacking up the car. Remember to only loosen them slightly.
- Next, position the jack on the location specified underneath the car and raises the car.
- Now after jacking up the car, completely remove the nuts and remove the flat tire.
- Now place the spare tire and tighten the nuts but not completely.
- Now bring your car down, remove the jack, and tighten the nuts all the way.
Now you are ready to hit the road again; however, spare tires have a speed limit, which you need to take care of. You should also visit a mechanic to get your flat tire fixed.
When to call emergency flat tire roadside assistance
You should call in emergency flat tire roadside assistance when:
- You don’t have a spare tire or necessary tools
- You are stuck in a difficult situation such as a storm, on a busy highway, or at night
- When you don’t have time to fix it yourself or when you want to avoid the hassles
If you are looking for emergency flat roadside assistance, get in touch with us today