Newer vehicles will carry puncture repair kits instead of spare tyres. The repair kits contain the sealant for the hole and a compressor to air it. If your vehicle has such a kit, read through the manual to learn how to use it should the need arise. If the vehicle has a spare tyre it is a good idea to practice chaning it so if an emergency flat tyre happens you will know what to do. By learning how to change a spare in good conditions, you will be able to change it with ease under worse conditions. Your vehicle should have all the tools needed to either repair a flat tyre or change a spare. If it does not you need to either buy a spare, jack and tyre changing tools, or a repair kit complete with compressor. If a flat occurs while enroute, try to pull off to a point of safety if possible. Make sure the vehicle is on even ground. If you cannot do so safely, call for help.
The first thing to do if you have a flat tyre is to read the owner’s manual for instructions on using the jack. Examine the spare tyre for proper inflation and threading. You will need a wheel-nut wench, a wheel chock, and if possible gloves, something to lay on the ground for kneeling and reflective clothing. Turn off the vehicle and turn on the hazard lights. Make sure the emergency brake is in place and the gear is in park and working diagonally, chock the replacement road wheel. Place the jack to lift the vehicle as per the instructions in the owner’s manual. Just lift high enough until the vehicle is its springs. Work on the damaged tyre, by turning counter clockwise with the wheel-nut adapter.
Lift the car high enough that the flat tyre is free of the ground. Go ahead and remove the wheel nuts making sure to have both hands free to pull the wheel away. Place the spare on the wheel and in reverse screw the nuts back into place by hand. Carefully inspect the spare to make sure it is on correct. Once all are in place, tighten the wheel nuts, and then lower the jack. Place the damaged tyre in the trunk along with the tyre changing tools. If the spare has a limited amount of kilometres to drive, plan to take the vehicle to the tyre shop for replacement of both the tyre and the spare.
