Advice From Your Chevy Dealer: How To Change a Flat Tire

A flat tire can be caused by sharp objects on the surface, low tire pressure, or an old, worn tire. The result is the same, as you’ll be stuck waiting for help. As your Chevy dealer, we’d like to tell you the fast and safe way to change your tire so you can be on the road again ASAP.

You Need Space

If your tire goes flat, you’ll feel it immediately as your Chevy will become less responsive. If this happens, it’s important to look around for a safe place to pull over so you can fix it. If you have a choice of locations, select an area that’s as flat as possible and away from other moving vehicles. This allows you to focus on changing the tire and not worry about a potential accident.

Apply The Brake

After you switch off the engine, ensure the handbrake is activated so your car can’t move. You can also place rocks or other heavy objects behind each of the wheels for additional safety.

Get The Tools

You need three items to change a tire: a lug wrench, a jack, and a spare tire. All these items are usually kept in the trunk under the carpet, but they may be stored in other places, depending on your model. Your car manual will show you exactly where they’re located.

Loosen The Lug Nuts

Use the lug wrench to loosen, but not remove, each lug nut on the flat. These lug nuts are very securely tightened, so you must use force. Once the nuts have been loosened, it’s time to lift your car.

Jack Your Car

Jacking points are flat reinforced sections on the underside of your Chevy. They’re designed as safe lifting points for applying a jack, and their location is clearly shown in your car manual. Once you position the jack, lift your car enough that the flat just touches the ground.

Replace The Tire

Unscrew the loose lug nuts, lift the flat off the wheel hub, and put it to one side. When you lift the spare onto the wheel hub, rotate it so the holes in the hub align with the holes in the tire. Screw the lug nuts into the spar and tighten them as securely as possible by hand.

Lower Your Car

Lower your car until all the tires are on the ground, then remove the jack. Use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts as securely as possible. The tire is now changed, and all that’s left to do is to pack the tools and the flat away and drive off.

Once you’ve replaced the tire, head over to us at Walker Chevrolet in Nitro, WV, and we’ll replace your tire.

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