Flat tire repair FAQ (Hayward, California)

Step by step guide on how to change a tire

​Every driver should know how to replace a tire. Unfortunately, there’s always the chance you’ll forget to charge your phone, get out of range, or leave it at home if you depend on it to save you in a roadside emergency. A cell phone is no substitute for knowing how to change a flat tire, and flat tires can happen anywhere. Thankfully, changing a tire is simple! To be ready in case you get a flat, follow the following suggestions.

If you are in Hayward or surrounding areas then our towing service is always ready to help you.

Park at a safe location:

 
Stay away from abruptly brake or turn when you realize you have a flat tire. Slowly reduce speed and look for a straight stretch of road with a wide shoulder while you’re driving. It would be a fantastic spot to park in an empty lot. Since it will keep your automobile from rolling, the leveled ground is ideal. In addition, since oncoming traffic is more likely to see you, straight stretches of road are preferable to curves.

Use hazard lights and apply parking brakes:

 
Your hazard lights will help you avoiding an accident by keeping other drivers aware of your situation. The parking brakes minimizes the chance of your vehicle rolling over.

Use Wheel wedges:

 
The wheel wedges further secure your vehicle from rolling. You may use bricks or stones as wheel wedges. You put them in front or back of the tire depending on front or rear flat tire. ​So, the tire may not roll freely.

Check for needed tools:

 
You need these tools.
  • Flashlight
  • Gloves
  • Mat for kneeling
  • Rain poncho
  • Tire gauge
  • Your vehicle’s owner’s manual

Loosen the lug nuts:

 
​Pry off your vehicle’s wheel cover (sometimes called a hubcap). Next, loosen the lug nut by turning the wrench counterclockwise while secured to it. Repeat the steps above for each lug nut, ensuring that it is loose enough to rotate by hand.

Lift your vehicle:

 
Underneath the metal part of your car’s frame, put the jack. Do not position the jack near plastic molding, as this may cause damage. Studying your owner’s manual is the best strategy for learning proper jack placement. Use the jack to lift the tire you’re changing off the ground once it has been appropriately positioned. At all times, make sure the jack is kept perpendicular to the ground.

​If you are not confident of doing this by yourself then call a towing service.

Remove tire after taking out lug nuts:

 
​Loosen the lug nuts by turning them clockwise until they’re all loose. Next, remove them completely. You’ll need all of the lug nuts to secure the replacement tire, so keep them in a safe place. Finally, grasp your tire firmly and pull it toward your body.

Mount the spare tire on log bolt:

 
Place the spare on the wheelbase with the lug nut posts lined up through the holes in it. As far as possible, push the spare onto the wheelbase.

Tighten the log nuts:

 
Tighten the log nuts by hand first. Make sure to keep the tire even. Do not tighten all the way.

Lower the vehicle slowly using jack:

 
Start lowering your vehicle using the jack and keep dropping it until the tire barely touches the ground. Now you can tighten the lug nuts further. Make sure you tighten the alternate nuts in increments to keep the tire even. It is not bad idea to use your body weight on the lug wrench.

Lower the vehicle completely

 
Now lower the vehicle completely and remove the jack, Tighten the lug nuts further.