10 tips for achieving flat tire wizardry

Some among you may think it odd that flat tires should turn up as a topic. You'll discover over time that I'll write about nearly any subject as long as what I provide is useful to my readers, and simple to do.

Flat tires tend to pop up at the most inconvenient time and place, in the most unpleasant weather. But, isn't that how Mr. Murphy works? Fear not, unless the tools have been lost or misplaced (see rules of the tools), every current auto has a jack and a lug wrench and some manner of spare, typically a "donut" these days.

Tip 1. Make sure you are as far out of the flow of traffic as possible. If someone is with you, have them play spotter for you. Grab all the gear from the rear of the vehicle (trunk isn't universally applicable anymore). Now you are ready to begin.

Tip 2. Make certain the parking brake is set.

Tip 3. Place the jack under the nearest lift point on the car's frame. Not sure where it is? Check the owner's manual. If the manual is not available, look for an indented place right under the door nearest to the flat.

Tip 4. Make sure your jack's base is flat on as solid a surface as you can find. Never ever, not once, place the jack so that it is on a two-level surface. ​

The reason? These jacks are often unstable when raised to the proper height. See below.

Tip 5. Raise the jack to the point that it is solidly in position, but don't start lifting the vehicle!

Tip 6. Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts with the tire still on the ground. The wheel won't spin while you attempt to remove the nuts. Put the nuts somewhere safe; ie, where they won't get kicked and scattered. Vehicles come with spare tires but not spare lug nuts.

Tip 7. Raise the jack to the point you can remove the flat. The jack likely will seem perilously unstable the higher you go. And, it is to a point. Put the spare on the car. You may need to raise the car more for it to fit.

Tip 8. Push the spare over the studs and thread the lug nuts back on until the tire is up against the hub.

Tip 9. Lower the jack until the tire rests on the ground enough to not spin when you tighten the nuts. Tighten the nuts.

Bonus tip: Tighten the nuts in a criss-cross pattern. This technique tends to provide the best results, giving uniform tightening at all nut positions.

Tip 10. Lower the car all the way back, stow your gear properly and hit the road!