Flat Tire – what should we know about it?

A flat tire is one of the most evident issues that your car might encounter. It usually happens all of a sudden, and you have no other choice but to react quickly, and fix it, in order to continue driving.

According to statistics, in the United States, one tire puncture occurs every seven seconds, which results in roughly 220 million flat tires each year. About 42.2 percent of drivers are confident they can change a flat tire, while more than 20 percent have no idea how to handle this task.

The most common reasons for getting a flat tire

You might think that the only things that might puncture tires on a roadway are sharp items or litter. However, a flat tire can really be caused by a variety of factors. These are a few of the most typical reasons:

• Overinflated tires: An overinflated tire runs the danger of developing internal damage and maybe leaking. Using a tire gauge can help you make sure that you are only ever adding the maximum amount of PSI to your tires – and no more.
  
• Road debris: If you are driving over something that isn’t visible to you from the driver’s seat, like shattered glass, abandoned nails, or construction debris, you can puncture or have a slow leak.
  
• Valve damage: A flat tire may result from the easy damage that your tires’ valves sustain. When you are installing or re-inflating your tires, be cautious to handle them carefully.

• Temperature: Extreme heat or cold may both be detrimental to tires. The tire may slightly compress in cold conditions, leading to leaks. Conversely, hot weather causes the rubber to expand, which might result in leaks or bursts.
  
• Vandalism: A deliberate cut or puncture is probably going to leave a flat.
  
• Old tires: When it comes to tires, older, worn tires are more prone to give out than tires that are relatively fresh. In order to determine when to change your tires, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on their wear and overall condition.
  

• Potholes and Rough Roads: One certain method to get a flat tire is to hit a pothole at sixty miles per hour. During the day, large potholes are often easy to avoid, but after dark, everything is up in the air. The best course of action when driving on a rough road is to slow down, look ahead, and steer clear of all the obstacles and potholes.

How to repair a flat tire

Here is a quick step-by-step guide for tire repair or replacement.

Firstly, in order for you to operate the jack securely, your car must be on level, firm ground. When changing a tire on dirt, having a small wooden board in the trunk might assist in providing a stable, level platform.

Activate your warning lights. Place the vehicle in gear (manual transmission) or park (automatic transmission). Set the parking brake after that. Take out the owner’s handbook and go over how to change a tire. Remove the necessary tools, jack, and spare tire. Everything ought to be in the cargo compartment or trunk. It may be necessary to lower the tire because it is kept beneath various SUVs, trucks, and minivans.

When changing a tire, create a more comfortable kneeling area with a floor mat. If there is a wheel cover, take it off. You can find out from the owner’s handbook if it just unscrews or whether there are plastic nuts that need to be removed.

Before you start jacking up the automobile, loosen but do not remove the lug nuts with the tire iron by rotating it counterclockwise. Certain automobiles with alloy wheels feature a locking lug nut that has to be removed using a certain keyed lug socket. Usually, the socket may be found in the glove compartment or alongside the spare tire.

Raise the vehicle with jacks. The owner’s handbook will specify exactly where on the vehicle’s body to place the jack. If you do not follow the directions exactly, you run the danger of damaging the automobile or hurting yourself or other people.

Once the flat tire is a few inches off the ground, raise the side of the vehicle and remove the lug nuts. To ensure that you have adequate room to position the fully inflated tire, double-check your clearance. Keep the extra tire handy and be prepared to replace it. Put the spare tire in place. 

To ensure that the spare tire is secure, loosen the lug nuts in a cross pattern, alternating across like you’re drawing a star instead of sequentially around the circle. Iterate the sequence while fastening the wheel to prevent it from swaying. Take the jack out from beneath the automobile by lowering it. Firmly tighten the lug nuts. Once again, repeat this in a cross pattern. Place the tools, jack, and flat tire inside the vehicle.

Gather up your triangles of protection. Once you’ve traveled a few kilometers, tighten the lug nuts one more time. Donuts, or compact spares, are just intended to get you to a service station. They shouldn’t be operated faster than 50 mph and have a very short service life.

If you install one, get a suitable replacement tire the same day or the next at your neighborhood tire store. For information on combining a fresh replacement tire with old tires, consult your owner’s handbook. To maintain balanced performance, you might need to purchase two or four replacement tires.)

And if you happen to be in Sacramento, California, looking for a trusted tire repair place near me, you can rely on Smog Mart to service your car, and any of its repair needs.