How To Inflate or Change A Flat Tire

Changing or semi-fixing a flat tire is not too hard if you have the right tools.

As long as your tire did not suffer from a blow-out, you may be able to perform a quick fix before taking it to the tire repair shop.

There are several ways to easily inflate the tire, one is to use one of those portable air compressors that plug into your car's cigarette lighter. You just plug it in, attach it's tube to the tire's valve stem and turn it on. They are not very expensive and available at any car care store or most department stores with automotive sections. Another method is to use a can or two of tire inflator/sealant, follow instructions on the can and you are on your way.

Using one of the above methods, you can probably make it to a tire shop, if your leak is a slow one.

If the tire had a blow-out, or the hole in it is too large to be sealed by a can of sealant, you will need to change tires and put on your spare. It is a good idea to check the spare a couple of times a month to make sure it is full of air.

The first thing to do is to park the car in a safe place, away from dangerous traffic. Engage the parking brake. Chock the wheels (place rocks or blocks in front and behind the vehicle's good tires to keep the vehicle from moving while you are working on it).

Remove the spare tire from it's storage area (some cars have special tools just for doing this and the car's manual should have instructions on how to accomplish this task). Also, retrieve the jack and lug wrench.

Place the jack in a stable area under the vehicle; using a 2x6 or equivalent piece of wood under the jack will help steady it in soft or sandy soil. Before jacking the vehicle up, remove the hub cap, use the lug wrench and loosen the lugs on the tire, not too much, just enough to break them free.

Next, using the jack, start raising the vehicle. Once it is high enough off the ground to accommodate the fully inflated spare, remove the lugs and the damaged tire. Place spare on vehicle and tighten lugs. Lower vehicle and remove the jack. Tighten the lugs again, alternating between each one to make sure the tire goes on evenly; do one at the top and then one at the bottom, until all are tight.

Put everything away and you're done, just get to a tire shop as soon as possible.

Personally, I carry two or three tire inflator/sealant cans with me at all times and also a portable battery jump-starter, which has the capability of inflating my tires with a built in air compressor, jumping my battery and providing some light to the project at the same time. I prefer this stand alone piece of equipment, as it does not need power from my vehicle to be usable and therefore no cigarette lighter fuzes blown out!

This is general, basic, how-to information and your vehicle may have special needs that are not addressed here, so it is suggested you always refer to your owner's manual prior to starting any repairs or maintenance on your vehicle.


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