| Don't ever say it won't happen to you. Statistics | | | | experience).4) Flares and reflectors - you have to be |
| show that the average person will have 5 flat tires in | | | | safe. If you have a flat in a hard to see area you |
| their lifetime. That means you will have a flat and it is | | | | want to warn other drivers of your predicament so |
| best to be prepared for it.I've seen people stuck on | | | | you don't have a worse predicament. Also, pack a |
| the side of the road with no spare, no jack or lug | | | | flashlight and extra batteries for night use - all the |
| wrench and no cell phone. What if you get stranded | | | | tools in the world won't help if you can't see |
| down a far out, little traveled country raod at night? | | | | (regularly change the batteries once a year).Now, for |
| You will be stranded for a long time. That is | | | | safety, when a flat occurs you need to pull safely |
| something we want to avoid. So here's a checklist of | | | | off the road. If on a busy interstate drive slowly until |
| what to have with you at all times in your car:1) | | | | you are in a safe and relatively flat spot. Put your car |
| spare tire - this may sound mundane, but many | | | | in park and put on the emergency brake.Place |
| people out their are driving on their spare and take a | | | | reflectors or flares so as to give adequate warning |
| big risk.2) jack and lug wrench - many people never | | | | to other drivers. This spacing will be different |
| check to see if these items are in their car. Its a fact | | | | depending on whether you are in hilly curves or on a |
| that half of the used cars purchased in the U.S. do | | | | straightaway.Place the jack under the car on the jack |
| not have all the tools necessary for a proper tire | | | | mount area This is a area specially designed for your |
| change. Also make sure you have a lug wrench that | | | | jack and is covered in the owners manual.Loosen all |
| fits your car. This may sound stupid, but when I | | | | of the nuts and then crank the jack until the tire is |
| worked at a car dealership if the car didn't have a lug | | | | several inches off the ground. Remove the nuts and |
| wrench and the customer wanted one, they just | | | | wheel. Place the spare on and tighten each lug finger |
| took one out of any car and put it in (never looking | | | | tight to make the whel flush.Lower the jack so the |
| to see if it would fit the lugs on the car in question). | | | | wheel can't turn and tighten all nuts with the lug |
| If you have wheel covers you may need a large | | | | wrench. Then completely lower the jack and remove. |
| screwdriver to pop off the wheel cover (some lug | | | | Drive to your nearest auto service station and have |
| wrenches have this as one of their ends).3) lock | | | | your flat replaced or repaired and reinstalled. This is |
| adapter - many people get the chrome, alloy wheels | | | | essential as many spares are not full spares and |
| and have a lug lock installed so they can't easily be | | | | aren't as safe.David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell |
| stolen. Just, never lose the lock adapter or you won't | | | | University and specializes in automotive safety |
| be able to change that tire without having the car | | | | products and information. He holds numerous patents |
| towed to a car dealership where they'll have to cut | | | | and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and |
| off and replace the lug spindle (a very costly | | | | restorer. |