It may not be as hard as you think
In the unfortunate event you get stuck with a flat tire, there are a number of choices to easily remedy such a minor problem.
The first and easiest choice is to pick up a phone and call 1-800-AAA-HELP. If you are an AAA member, they will send somebody out to change the tire.
Within Boulder city limits, you can also call Discount Tire at 303-440-6811. The only disadvantage is waiting for someone to arrive, which could take hours.
The second, more difficult and yet time-efficient choice, is to get down and dirty to change the tire yourself.
Here is an idiot-proof guide on how to change a tire:
Step 1:
Pull over to the side of the road and turn off your car. Make sure you are on level ground, then either turn your hazard lights on, or put up flashers to alert other drivers on the road. To prevent the car from rolling, put your emergency brake on.
Step 2:
Check in the trunk of your car for the three following items: a spare tire, a jack and a lug nut wrench. If you do not have all three of these items, don’t bother trying to fix the tire and call AAA.
Step 3:
Take the lug nut wrench and turn the wrench counterclockwise to slightly loosen the lug nuts (the four little bolts that hold the wheel in place) on the tire.
Step 4:
Use the car jack to lift the car. Place the car jack underneath the frame and next to the tire (your owner’s manual shows the proper place to put it). Insert the handle into the jack and keep turning the handle until the car begins to rise.
Step 5:
Once the wheel is off the ground a few inches, leave the car jack in place and grab the lug nut wrench. Crank the wrench counterclockwise to take all four lug nuts off of the wheel and do not lose them.
Step 6:
Take the flat tire off of the car and grab the spare tire. Place the spare tire onto the wheel studs. While using the lug nut wrench, screw in one lug nut at a time (clockwise) to secure the spare tire in place, but without tightening them completely. After screwing in the first lug nut, screw in the second lug nut across diagonally. Put the other lug nuts on in a diagonal direction as well.
Step 7:
Use the handle to lower the car jack completely. Set the car jack and handle aside.
Step 8:
Tighten the lug nuts as tight as you possibly can on the spare tire.
Step 9:
Place the lug nut wrench, the handle, the flat tire and the car jack in your car. Drive to the nearest place to get a new tire. Do not drive too far (more than 50 miles) on a spare tire because it is not made for heavy use.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Sarah Stern at sarah.stern@colorado.edu
