Getting a flat can seem like a major hassle. Fortunately, changing a flat isn’t difficult, and you can get back on the road very quickly. As your Chevy dealer, we’d like to tell you the easy steps of how to change a tire like a pro.
Find Somewhere Flat
Safety is always important, and when you are changing a tire, most of your attention is focused on this task. If your tire goes flat while you’re driving, carefully look around for a safe place to pull over. The choice is a flat area as far from other vehicles as possible. If you have to change your tire on the side of the road, make sure that your car is inside the breakdown lane.
Warn Other Drivers
When you pull to a stop, make sure you switch on your hazard lights. You can also lift your hood. These two signs will alert other drivers that you’re stationary, and they will avoid you. It’s also important to make sure you pull up the handbrake.
Get Your Tools
Changing a tire only requires a few items, and they are usually kept in your trunk. You’ll need a lug wrench, a jack, and your spare.
Loosen The Lug Nuts
Use your lug wrench to loosen all the lug nuts until you can twist them by hand. Don’t remove any of the nuts yet.
Jack Your Car
Using a jack is very easy, but it’s important to position it correctly. The underside of your car has several sections that are reinforced and designed as lifting points for the jack. These sections are illustrated in your car manual. Position the jack under the closest section to the flat and lift your car high enough that the flat just touches the ground.
Replace the Tire
Remove all the lug nuts, then take the flat off the wheel hub and place it to the side. Lift the spare onto the wheel hub and rotate it until all the holes line up with the holes in the hub. Screw the lug nuts into the holes and tighten them by hand.
Lower Your Car
Lower your car and use the lug wrench to tighten each of the lug nuts securely.
Put Everything Back
Now your tire has been changed, it’s time to put the flat, lug wrench, and jack back in your car. Once this is done, you’re ready to drive away.
Once you’re back on the road, head over to our service department at Chevrolet Santa Fe. Our Chevy-trained technicians will ensure that the lug nuts are tightened as securely as possible and get you a new tire if you need!
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