Flat tire? Yeah, that'll ruin your morning for sure. Let's face it-no one wants to end up with a flat tire on the side of the highway, but life happens sometimes. To make this unpleasant task a little bit easier, you'll want to prepare yourself for the worst situation. Here are 7 things you should never, ever do when changing a tire.
7 Things You Should Never Do When Changing a Tire
1. Ignore your tire pressure.
When your tire pressure light flashes on, don't ignore it. Keep your tires properly inflated and you'll significantly reduce your chances of having a flat.
2. Not maintain your spare tire.
A spare tire can be a lifesaver when a flat tire occurs, but only if it's ready to roll. Learn now how to remove your spare tire and where to find the jack in your car. If you don't have one, it's time to invest to ensure you're always covered in the event of an accident.
3. Break down in an unsafe location.
While you can't choose where your car breaks down, you can do your best to get to a safe location away from traffic when you get a flat.Try your best to get as far off the roadway as possible. Ideally, you'll want to find a parking lot or driveway to change a flat tire.
4. Forget to block the tire.
When you begin to jack up a car, its weight and center of gravity tend to shift. You must be aware and cautious of your vehicle at all times. Set the emergency brake and block the tires with rocks or blocks to keep the vehicle from rolling.
5. Raise the car without taking out the spare.
Spare tires are heavy. Don't raise the car without taking out the spare first-it'll make the car lighter to lift on the jack and you won't have to lift the spare out of a jacked up trunk.
6. Leave lug nuts too loose.
Leaving lug nuts too loose could damage the wheel of your car or make your wheels wobble down the street. Learn how to properly tighten the lug nuts by reading your owner's manual.
7. Crawl under the car while it's on a jack.
Take safety precautions while your car is on a jack-and never, ever crawl under the car in this position. It's not the time to check the car's undercarriage. Often, car's placed on a jack can fall off if not placed just right.
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Whether you need to make a regular maintenance appointments, schedule a repair service, or want to discuss installing a security system, contact us. Call Suburb Service today at (206) 705-8695 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment with us. Show your Subaru some love.