A Guide to the Do’s and Don’ts of Handling Flat Tires

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It’s no fun when you hear the big ‘plop’ and the smell of rubber as you run your car.  You just know that a flat tire is a big inconvenience especially when you’re running late in the office. There are some principles you needed to know before you reach out into your toolbox and ‘do away with what works’.

The Overview

Not all flat tires are the same. And what that means is that there are different kinds of flat tires with different mechanics to use to repair them.

Puncture flats are the most common causes of flat tires. This occurs when a sharp object like a rock, nail, or shards of metal penetrates through the tires hence causing the hole. With punctures, the air wouldn’t escape so easily thus lets you run a couple of miles more before it completely goes flat. Luckily, this type of flat tire can be easily repaired.  Consulting a tire technician will help also gauge whether you needed a different set of tires for the terrains you usually thread on. This way, you don‘t have to succumb to frequent visits for repairs.

Blowouts happen when there are large holes and cause air to no immediately go out of the tire.  Majority of blowouts happen because the tube is weak to hold the tires (such as the case with worn out tires). Most of these tires are beyond repair and will require you to purchase a new one. If you’re looking for quality tyre repair Perth professionals, you can usually search for them online.

What You Can Do

There are safety precautions as to how to proceed with changing tires. You will need the following basic tools like a tire jack, warning triangle for safety precaution , wheel chocks , a spare tire with sufficient air pressure and a tire iron (‘L’ shaped tool).

When your tire goes flat, you need to park somewhere safe where you can change the tires. Your emergency brake should be on. The surface area should be flat and never attempt to change tires under conditions where there are slops or on a muddy surface. To keep the car steady, place a block of wood or rock underneath the other tire to keep the vehicle from slipping.

Take out the spare tire first before changing the flat one using the L-shaped bar. Make sure the lug nuts are loosened completely using the L-shaped tool. Don’t take out the tire yet before placing the jack under the jack point under your vehicle. Once the jack is secured, you can start cranking it up to raise the car.

Once the tire is completely hovering over the ground, you can safely remove the lug nuts and take out the flattened tire with your spare tire. Make sure to place the tire on top of the wheel studs then place the lug nuts back in. Crank your car back down and you’re all set!

Getting Your Tires Fixed Professionally

Some of the best tire services can be found in Perth and they usually have the skills and knowledge as to how to go about with your tire needs. Or ask around from some friends where they get their tire services taken care of for easy reference.

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