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asked by
Claire V
on December 15, 2015
How do I properly store a flat tire in the trunk?
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YourMechanic
If you’ve had a flat, the first step is to get off the road and install the spare tire. However, you also need to make sure to store the flat tire properly in the trunk. Here’s what you should do:
Remove the wheel cover or center cap from the wheel.
Turn it face down.
Place it in the wheel well where the spare tire was.
Flip the spacer cone over and insert the bolt from the back.
Screw the bolt through the center of the tire into the threaded hole in the trunk.
Put the jack, lug wrench and other tools back in the case.
Put the case inside the flat tire.
Put the wheel cover or center cap somewhere safe in the trunk.
Replace the trunk floor cover.
Close the trunk.
Tip
After installing the spare tire, your Low Tire Pressure light will come on, and then go off after a few miles. The TPMS light will then come on and stay lit until you have the original wheel put back on.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details
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Statistically, there’s a good chance you’ll have to deal with a flat tire at least once in your life. Good news if you belong to a roadside assistance service! But if you travel a lot, live in a remote area, or occasionally forget to take your cell phone or charger with you, you just might have to change a tire yourself at some point down the road.
Here’s how to get the job done right in nine steps.
Step 1 – Make sure you have a spare tire and all the tools you need to install it.
It’s best to do this right away, especially if you’re driving a used car. Consult your car manufacturer’s website or driver’s manual to find out where the spare, jack and lug wrench (or wheel brace) are located, or take a quick peek under the floor of the trunk where they’re usually stored. This is a good time to verify if your car comes equipped with run-flat tires. If it does, you won’t have to perform a tire change since this technology allows you to drive with a flat at reduced speeds and for limited distances until you can make it to a garage. Run-flats vary, so it’s a good idea to check with the tire manufacturer or your car dealership to determine the maximum distance and speed allowed. Another essential piece of equipment is a headlamp or other source of light (keep in mind that using your cell phone as a flashlight drains the battery quickly).
Step 2 – Pull over in an area that’s hard, flat, and free of traffic
Avoid trying to change a tire on the shoulder of a highway unless it’s wide enough and designed for that purpose. The ideal place for installing a spare is a parking lot with an asphalt or concrete surface, level ground and no traffic. If your car is an automatic, put it in “Park” and apply the parking brake. If it’s a standard transmission, put it in first gear and apply the parking brake. It’s important that your car not move at all during the tire change, so place a heavy object in front of and behind all four tires to stabilize them.
Step 3 – Take out your spare tire and tools, and get started
Before removing the hubcap with the help of a flat screwdriver or similar tool, make sure all the items you need – spare, jack and lug wrench – are within easy reach.
Step 4 – Loosen the tire’s lug nuts WITHOUT REMOVING THEM
Use the wrench to loosen the lug nuts so that you can remove them by hand once you’ve jacked up your car.
Put the wrench firmly in place and turn counterclockwise (i.e., from the left toward the bottom). For maximum efficiency and to avoid using unnecessary force, place the arm of the wrench in the 10 o’clock position, push down using the weight of your body, and then begin again once the arm has reached the 6 o’clock position. It can take quite a lot of force to break your lug nuts free, so there’s no advantage in trying to turn the wrench around fully in one shot. Remember: loosen them, but don’t remove them yet!
Step 5: Installing the jack
If your car is a recent model, it can sometimes be tricky to figure out where to position the jack. If you don't place it in the right spot under the frame, it will crack the molded plastic along the bottom of the car when you start lifting. Consult your owner’s manual to find the right spot. It’s helpful to know that on many cars there’s a small mark located just behind the front wheel or just in front of the rear wheel (in both cases, closer to the middle of the car) that tells you where to position the jack.
Lift the car approximately 15 centimeters (six inches) off the ground. If you notice the jack leaning forward, lower the car right away and reposition the jack. It’s better to try a few times rather than risk getting hurt if the jack gives way under the weight of the vehicle.
Step 6 – Remove the lug nuts and take off the tire
Remove the lug nuts and make sure to keep them together. A good place to store them is the hubcap or your pocket. Remove the flat tire and lay it under the car. This way if the jack gives out, your car will have a shorter distance to fall! Rust or dust can sometimes make it tricky to get the tire off the car, so you may have to work a little to pry it off.
Step 7 – Install the spare tire and replace the lug nuts (without tightening them)
Position the spare tire so that you can put the lug nuts in place and turn them by hand, but don’t use the wrench yet to tighten them!
Step 8 – Lower your car and tighten the lug nuts
Lower the jack until the spare tire touches the ground.
Once your car is back on the ground, use the wrench to tighten the lug nuts. It’s important they be tightened securely, so you may need to use your body weight again for additional force.
Step 9 – Pack up your things and be on your way!
Gather up your things, including the flat tire, and drive away carefully. Spare tires are often smaller than standard tires and aren’t suitable for high speeds. Check your owner’s manual to determine the maximum allowable speed, or don’t exceed 80 km per hour. If you’re driving on the highway or country roads where the speed limit is 90, turn on your hazard lights to make sure you’re readily visible to other cars.
That’s it. Now you know how to put on a spare tire in an emergency. Drive safe!
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Komsomolskaya Pravda
AvtoAvtonovostiAvtozhizn
Kirill BREVDO
December 8, 2016 0:30
No one is safe from a tire puncturePhoto: Victor GUSEINOV
You can drive a car all your life, but never know the trouble with a tire puncture. And yet, in most cases, motorists sooner or later have to deal with this scourge. In the last century, everything was more or less clear: a spare tire was in every car. In case of trouble, the algorithm was always the same: flat tire - opened the trunk - took out the spare tire - put it in place. How about now?
The development of the road network has led to the fact that there are more good roads, and the likelihood of damage to the wheels has significantly decreased.
In this regard, many automakers have decided that it is not at all necessary to carry a full-fledged spare tire with them - they say, it is wiser to leave more space for luggage in the trunk. And then such a phenomenon as a dokatka appeared - that is, a spare wheel of a reduced size (and often a simplified design), which really helps save space, and, as a rule, weighs less.
THE SIZE WAS NOT OUT
There are three types of documents. The best option is when the diameter of the spare wheel matches the main ones, while the spare wheel itself may be narrower. The main plus is that its installation does not greatly affect the behavior of the car: even if the dokatka stands instead of the front wheel on the front drive, the car will still drive as it should.
If the wheel is damaged, the main thing is to reach the tire shop. Photo: Anton Vergun/TASS
Worse, if the diameter of the spare wheel is smaller than the nominal one. It is advisable not to put such a “spare part” on the drive axle or instead of the front wheel: in the first case, the load on the differential will increase, and in the second, the controllability of the car will change.
In addition, on modern cars, there is a high probability of a malfunction in the electronics due to the fact that a small stowage rotates at a higher speed - and this is felt by restless sensors that give an alarm signal to the on-board system: they say, something went wrong. In general, if you pierced the front wheel on a front-wheel drive car, then it makes sense to first put the spare wheel back instead of a healthy “leg” - and, in turn, rearrange it forward. Of course, such manipulations cannot be performed on a car with different-wide wheels - when the rear ones are wider than the front ones.
The third type of dokatka, as a rule, corresponds in diameter to the native “shoe”. However, such a wheel is curious, first of all, in the way of storage - and, as a result of this, in the features of the application. The fact is that the spare tire lies in the trunk in a deflated state (again, in order to save space), and before installing it on the car, it should be inflated using a compressor that is included with the car.
But the question is: how then to shove it back? Does it deflate properly? It turns out that yes: if you unscrew the valve and release the air, the tire “shrinks” in such a way that the spare tire can be pushed back into its place.
HEAVY LOAD
When installing a dokatka, the question inevitably arises: what to do with a punctured wheel? It is clear, after all, that it will not fit in a niche for a “crutch”, because it is obviously larger. Therefore, you will have to look for a place for him in the trunk. And if the hold is packed to the top, and the cabin is full of passengers? The problem…
With a full-size spare tire, there are no such problems: you can always put a wheel removed from the car in its place. And yet, the prospect of unloading the trunk on a long journey is unlikely to please anyone. However, not every car has a spare tire in the cargo compartment - in some cars it hangs under the bottom in the rear of the body. However, another problem arises here: after driving on our roads, the wheel will most likely be covered with a thick layer of dirt.
And yet, in a sense, this is a lesser evil: it is unlikely that anyone will be able to change it in the field and not get dirty.
Another thing is that sometimes it is not so easy to get a wheel out from under a car. And all the same, for this you will have to gain access to the cargo compartment - as, for example, in the Peugeot 206: in order to lower the wheel to the ground, you must unscrew the bolt under the trunk flooring.
If you don't want to bother with changing a wheel, the easiest way is to call a mobile tire service. Photo: Anton Vergun/TASS
But this is a modest Pyzh with small wheels. What if it's an SUV? Here, let's say, Range Rover Sport with a full-size spare tire, which weighs about thirty kilograms. Not every man can cope with the replacement of such a wheel - here you can tear your back! At the same time, it is important to remember other nuances. For example, the same "Range" with air suspension should be lowered to the lower position with a specially trained key and fixed at this height by holding the key down for more than two seconds.
The British generally tried to complicate the process of changing the wheel as much as possible - they probably counted on the fact that the owners of such expensive cars themselves would hardly be able to get their hands dirty. And if you still have to do this, then it is better to study the instruction manual in advance. Otherwise, how do you know that the winch for lowering the reserve should not work without load, otherwise it will break and require replacement - and this is at least five thousand for the part itself!
Things are even more fun in the latest generation Range Rover, where the heavy spare tire does not hang under the bottom, but rests quietly in the trunk. I don't even want to think about how to get it out of there. Putting it on is another story altogether. The jack and the wheel wrench are - where would you think? - under the spare wheel. And God forbid, the SUV is equipped with automatically moving steps (such an option on a prestigious car is in the order of things) - in order to jack up the car, they will have to be dismantled.
What's it like?
EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT
Since we are talking about full-size spares, it should be said that some automakers consider it necessary to equip cars with not just anything, but a full-fledged replacement for standard shoes - that is, the correct size and on the same cast wheel, like the rest of the wheels. Commendable! Similar generosity is practiced by Toyota, Hyundai and some other brands. And, of course, the Range Rover!
It is curious that on the same car models the spare wheel can be deployed in different places. For example, for Renault Duster and Kaptur with all-wheel drive, the spare wheel lies in a niche on the floor of the trunk, while for front-wheel drive modifications it hangs outside - under the bottom.
In some cars, the spare tire can be found in the most unexpected placesPhoto: Kirill BREVDO diameter than other wheels.
PIE WITH NOTHING
A special category - cars without a spare wheel at all. In this case, the manufacturer, for every fireman, puts a repair kit with sealant in the trunk, which allows you to quickly repair a puncture and reach the tire fitting.
It is clear that in the case of a side cut, this option looks obviously losing. An alternative is RunFlat tires with reinforced sidewalls, which, again, allow you not to engage in repairs in an open field, to bow to the tire masters - or immediately to the store for a new tire.
And - yes: in any case, a dokatka or “runflat” is nothing more than a temporary measure that does not imply the operation of the car in normal mode: the speed of movement should not exceed 80 km / h.
In general - neither a nail nor a wand for you!
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Getting a flat tire is one of the many automotive problems that can strike without warning at any time of the day or night. Even if you are sure that you have nothing to fear in the event of a puncture, since you have a spare tire, damage to the wheel will interrupt your movement on the road anyway and cause a lot of trouble.
The worst thing is that if you have a spare tire, you will not be able to use it change to damaged wheel if you don't know how to do it. In this case, you will have to call a help desk or a tow truck, which will cost a considerable amount. Maybe it's better to learn how to change wheels on a car?
By learning how to change wheels, you will not only save time, but also significantly reduce your assistance costs. Our online publication offers you a guide with which you will learn that changing a self-damaged tire to a spare one is really not difficult.
But before we tell you how, here are some precautions you should take when changing wheels.
- Keep the spare tire in good condition . If you puncture a tire and your spare tire is not fit for installation, then this will bring unnecessary problems. Therefore, remember the spare wheel must be in good condition. When checking tire pressures, be sure to check the spare tire pressure as well.
- Remember that you must do this at least once a month. In addition, when checking the condition of the wheels on the car, do not deprive your attention of the spare wheel, which also should not have cracks and other damage that may occur due to temperature changes or tire age.
- Never change a tire on the freeway. Remember that changing a wheel on the highway, you risk being in a serious accident. After all, it is not uncommon when many inexperienced and aggressive drivers overtake cars on the right, which often leads to accidents as a result. Believe me, you will not have time to escape. Therefore, we advise you to call for emergency assistance in case of damage to the wheel.
- Also, if you have a punctured tire and you have the opportunity to remove the car from the freeway, then drive the car to a safe distance from the road and only in this case change the wheel . If this is not possible, then, having called for help, do not stay in the car, but move away from it at a safe distance from it.
- Use Tire Puncture Repair Kit. Many auto shops and tire shops sell special kits for the quick repair of tire punctures.
- Be sure to get them even if you have spare wheel . Remember that there are times when, having punctured a wheel, you are not able to jack up the car in order to install a spare tire.
- Please note that many modern cars in recent years have ceased to be equipped with spare wheels. As a rule, instead of them, the manufacturer completes the car with special repair kits that can repair wheel damage.
- These repair kits will not repair many types of damage to tires. So don't count on them too much. Still, the "spare wheel" is a more reliable way to avoid problems on the road. Therefore, even if the manufacturer has not equipped the car with a spare wheel, we recommend that you purchase the wheel yourself. And of course, remember that a pump or an electric compressor must be in the trunk of a car.
- Be careful when jacking up the machine . Replacing a wheel is associated with raising the car with a jack, which is inserted into a special groove or "platform". If you are not careful or attentive, you risk that the car will either fall off the jack or move to the side.
Have you given up on the idea of learning how to change a wheel yourself? No. Then let's get to the most important part.
Before changing a tire, make sure your car will not fall off the jack. To do this, make sure that the car is on a flat piece of land or asphalt. Also note that under the wheels of the car there should not be uneven surfaces, bumps or stones that can interfere with the process of jacking up the vehicle.
Including you must make sure that the surface under the machine is hard enough.
After all, by lifting one side of the car, its weight is redistributed to other wheels and in the case of a soft surface, the car can shift and fall off the jack. For example, be vigilant when changing a wheel on sand or when there is mud under the car. In order to understand whether the car can move on the jack, you need to slightly raise the car and shake it, watching the car and other wheels.
Along with the spare wheel, you must also carry a wheel wrench with which you can remove the wheel bolts . If you use secret bolts to protect the wheels from theft, then also do not forget to put a special key (secret) in the car so that you do not end up on the road in a hopeless situation when no one will help you except the tow truck.
If for some reason you do not know if you have a wheel wrench to change wheels (for example, you just bought a car), then it is probably located next to the spare tire in the trunk, or in the glove compartment or in the side pockets of the doors .
wheel change . Including the manual on the car will tell you exactly where the special socket for the jack is located and how you can get the spare tire out of the car.
The most dangerous thing that can happen when changing a wheel is if the vehicle moves or starts to roll . To make sure this doesn't happen, you first need to apply the car's handbrake, locking the rear wheels.
Next, if your car is equipped with a manual transmission, you need to turn off the engine, put the gearbox in first or reverse gear. If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission, then set the box to "P" - parking.
Many people think that putting the car on the "handbrake" is enough to start jacking up the car to change the wheel. But it's not. The fact is that the handbrake blocks only the rear wheels, while setting the gearbox to speed will also block the front drive wheels (if your car is front-wheel drive).
Having done all of the above, you must manually block the other wheels by placing something heavy under them to prevent the wheel from moving. Of course, you can put something heavy not under each wheel. It will be enough to put under the tire, which is diametrically opposed to the wheel being replaced.
That is, if you change the left front wheel, then you must definitely place something heavy under the right rear wheel to prevent the wheel from moving. It is advisable that you find bricks or stones and put them in front of the wheel and behind it, thereby blocking it from both sides.
Attention! This is a very important point . Be sure to loosen the wheel bolts before jacking up the vehicle. That is, by raising the car with a jack, you should effortlessly complete the process of unscrewing the bolts. In order to unscrew the nut or wheel bolt, remove the wheel wrench, install it on the wheel fastener.
It is likely that you will need to position the key so that you can place a foot or two on it to turn the key under the weight of your body. Once the nut or bolt has begun to move, you can manually loosen it further.
The most important thing is not to over-tighten the wheel bolts, as your task is only to loosen them first. The main thing is that the wheels are still attached to the car and cannot fly off when the car is raised.
The jack is usually located in the trunk, either next to or under the spare tire, or in the special box . Also, in some cases, the jack may be located inside the cabin. Including there are also car models where the jack is under the hood.
In addition to loosening the wheel bolts, you must remove the spare wheel before jacking up the vehicle. The fact is that when the car is on the jack you should not rock the car in order to prevent it from falling.
Most modern cars have the spare wheel in the boot. As a rule, the trunk floor rises and a fixed spare wheel is located under it. In many cars, the spare wheel is fixed. How to remove the spare wheel from the car should be detailed in the manual for the car.
Find the correct location for the jack . Remember that in every car there are special places on the body for this. As a rule, such places are located under the front or rear windows (behind the front and rear wheel arches). If you are in doubt and do not know where exactly to install the jack, check out the manual for the car, which explains everything in detail.
Following the instructions in the manual, after placing the jack, slowly raise the car . In some jack models, this may require the same wrench that you used to unscrew the wheel bolts.
While lifting the machine slowly, check the position of the jack under the machine. If you see that the jack has begun to move, then lower the car and try to rearrange it in a better position.
Now it is time to remove the wheel from the hub . Using a wheelbrace, loosen the wheel bolts/nuts, but not all the way. Then slide the wheel off the hub. Be careful. Remember that the wheel weighs a lot and if you do not remove it carefully, you can injure your back from gravity. Next, remove the wheel bolts and remove the wheel completely from the car.
The wheel is usually secured with four or five wheel bolts . Some models of cars have guides on the hub, through which you can easily hang the wheel on them first, and only then insert the wheel bolts.
True, many modern cars do not have such guides and therefore it will not be very easy to fix the spare wheel.
You have to lean the wheel against the hub and rotate it so that the hole on the rim aligns with the hole on the hub.
Aligning the holes on the rim, insert the wheel bolts and tighten them by hand . Do not use a wheel wrench.
Remember to tighten the wheel bolts only after the machine is on all four wheels on the ground or pavement.
After lowering the machine from the jack, proceed to tighten the wheel nuts/bolts . Manually first, as much as possible. Further with the help of a balloon key. For optimum bolt tightening, with the wheel wrench on the wheel bolt, use your foot and your body weight to spin the wheel as securely as possible. As a rule, this step of tightening the bolts must be done several times.
Put the damaged wheel back in the car, also removing the jack and the wheelbrace in place .
Be sure to remove any bricks or rocks from under the wheels you have placed to prevent the wheels from spinning while the car is on the jack. Your vehicle is now ready to continue on your way down the road.
Please note that if the spare wheel is supplied from the factory, it is usually not designed for full use on the vehicle. Therefore, if you have installed a factory spare tire, do not accelerate above 60-70 km / h. In order to find out if it is possible to accelerate faster on the spare wheel, pay attention to the labels that are applied to the spare tire.
These are usually labeled by the manufacturer. If you did not find such warnings, then refer again to the manual for the car, which, for sure, has recommendations at what speed you are allowed to travel on the spare tire.
If, after changing a wheel while driving, you hear a repetitive knock, stop and use a wheelbrace to make sure the nuts or bolts on the wheel you have installed are tight enough (as far as possible).
