Car Repair - How to Change a Flat Tire

Introduction:

There are two different ways that you can use to approach changing the tires on your car. One way is to take your car to a professional automotive repair shop and spend a great amount of money for their services. Another way is to learn how to do it yourself by following these quick easy to do steps that I am about to show you right now.

Steps:

Step one -- All vehicles today should be well equipped with a personal car jack and a personal tire iron hidden some where in the car. Reading your car manual usually located in the glove box should show you where to locate these items.

Step two -- After you have found your personal car jack and tire iron you are now ready to do this next step. There is usually a specific spot under your car where your personal car jack is suppose to go. You should make sure that you find the spot where your flat tire is located.

Step three -- Always loosen the lug nuts on the tire you are about to change first before you start jacking up your car. You would turn your tire iron counter clockwise just enough to loosen the lug nuts so that the lug nuts would come off easier when you jack the car up.

Step four -- You can now start jacking your car up just enough to where the tire is about one inch off of the ground.

Step five -- Start taking off every lug nut that you started to loosen earlier. You can also remove the flat tire from the car and put on your spare tire all with in this same step.

Step six -- Put all your lug nuts back on and turn your tire iron clock wise just enough to make sure your tire is on tightly. Start jacking your car back down until all of the weight of car is on the tire and not your jack.

Step seven -- Grab your personal tire iron again and with all your might start to fully tighten each one of the lug nuts on your tire.

Conclusion:

All these steps should help and teach you how to change your own flat tire. I hope these steps i have shared with all of you would give you a better vision on how to do it yourself.

I would always hate it when my tire would blow out or my car would break down in the middle of no where. Then i would have to sit and wait there for about two to three hours until a tow truck would show up just because i never learned how to fix it myself. Does this sound like you or someone you know that could use a little help. I have a website at http://www.kelkala.blogspot.com/ that will teach you many different secrets on how you can troubleshoot your own car. You will also learn how to fix and repair it yourself at http://www.kelkala.blogspot.com/ so that you can save money and time.

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Rims And Tires

The term “rim” is used interchangeably with “wheel”. The rim is the edge of the wheel that the tire is fitted upon. The ring of the wheel is the rim, and the center of the wheel is attached to the rim. The rim and center together make up the wheel. Wheels are circular disks or rings on which automobile tires are mounted. The tires on a vehicle are the only things touching the road surface.

Tire technology is at an all-time high and the quality of rims keeps getting better. Great tires can do wonders even for an average car. Just because a tire fits on a particular rim does not mean it is compatible. Tire sidewall strength, the rim lip and tire bead type (the seal between tire and rim) and load ratings are a few factors that affect compatibility.

Plus sizing, or increasing the size of the rim and tire, is the best way to improve both the performance and appearance of a vehicle. . By using a larger diameter wheel with a lower diameter tire, it's possible to maintain the overall diameter of the tire.

Rims almost always survive the lifetime of a car. One the other hand, tires are subjected to friction occurring from constant contact with the road. This causes the tread on the outer perimeter of the tire to eventually wear away. When the tire tread becomes too shallow, the tire wears out and must be replaced. Front tires, especially on front wheel drive vehicles, have a tendency to wear out more quickly than rear tires. Routine maintenance should be done periodically to even out tire wear. This includes tire rotation (exchanging the front and rear tires with each other).

It is not enough if a car merely has a powerful engine, transmission and suspension. A good rim and tire are paramount to a vehicle’s performance. Automobile companies focus a lot of attention to the tire and the rim while designing and manufacturing their models.

Rims provides detailed information on Rims, Car Rims, Chrome Rims, Rims And Tires and more. Rims is affiliated with Car Spoilers.

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Changing a Flat Tire

It's 7am on a cold, winter morning and as you walk out to your car to get ready for work, you immediately notice that your front, right tire is completely flat. You let out a big sigh and put down your coffee. It's going to be one of those days...

One of the worst things that can happen to the average driver is waking up and discovering that a vehicle has a flat tire or ending up on the side of the road with a flat tire. The reason this situation is so horrible for many drivers is that quite a few people have no idea how to change their own tire. Once a person has learned how to handle changing a tire on their own having a flat tire becomes nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Before you get ready to tackle changing a flat tire, make sure that you have all of the proper equipment. Many vehicles come with the necessary materials but it is always better to be safe so that you do not end up being very sorry. Most of these items are in the trunk of the average vehicle underneath a mat. If you are unsure of where the material needed to change a tire is located read your vehicles owner manual.

The things that you need to change a flat tire are a car jack for raising the vehicle, a tire iron, and a spare tire. When you have these items and you are sure the car on level ground use the tire iron to loosen the lug nuts which are attaching the tire to the car. Once the lug nuts are loosened (do not remove them) it is time to use the car jack to raise the car. The car only needs to be jacked up enough to raise the tire two inches from the ground and once the tire is off of the ground it is safe to completely remove the lug nuts and the flat tire. It is then safe to place the spare tire on the vehicle and replace the lug nuts. Make sure the lug nuts are on securely before lowering your vehicle and then use the tire iron to make sure that the lug nuts are completely secure.

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Are Car Tire Sizes Greek To You? Here's Some Help

Nobody wants to learn the language of tires, except mechanics. That's what we pay them to do, get their fingers greasy and fix our cars. When I say we, I mean, your average person. But, could it be that there is something that anybody can learn that would really help them out when they're looking for tires? Maybe there is a bit of knowledge that can be gleaned from something we look at all the time. I know I learned something.

Normal people, it seems, or at least people like me, just look at the label on the side of the tires already on their cars when they need new tires. I always did so anyway. Then you can compare this name with other tires in the price range and make your choice. It seems simple. But is it wise? If you really know nothing about tires, don't understand what the label on the side of your existing tires says, then you would never know, would you? I didn't. In fact, a whole array of available choices in tires is out there, and it's up to you to pick the right one.

If you look at an average tire label, it will read something like this "P175/50R 14 80Z". This little series of letters packs quite a lot of information, if you know what you need to do to unpack it. But if you're clueless, like I was, then it is useless to you. If you are without a clue with regards to understanding tire sizes, then the information that follows will help you.

On any tire label, the first letter tells what sort of vehicle should be using the tire. In our label above, the tire is intended for a passenger car. It breaks down as follows. P is for passenger cars, LT is for light trucks, and T is used to designate your spare, or temporary, tire. The number that immediately follows the first letter is the width of the tire in millimeters. 175, then, means that our example tire is 175 millimeters wide.

After the first number in the label comes a slash and then a second number. This second number tells us the ratio of the height and the width. Our tire has a height which is 50% of the width. It is a general rule of thumb that tires with a lower ratio of height to width are performance tires.

The letter following the ratio of height to width tells us the type of the tire. In our example, the R stands for radial.

Following the type indicator comes the number telling you how much a tire can carry, its load index. In our tire, it is 80. Consulting the Maximum Load-Carrying Capacity chart for this number, as it is indicated on your tire, will tell you exactly how much four tires of the same capacity can safely carry.

The last sign on the label tells you how fast the tire is rated for. Our example tire has a rating of Z, which means that it is rated for speeds of over 150 mph. It's quite a speedster! The other ratings are S, for up to 112 mph, H, for up to 130, and V, for up to 150 mph. It is imperative that your follow these guidelines and not go faster than your tires are rated, because as you increase your speed, you increase friction. Friction heats up your tires, and as you tires get over heated, their treads can come unglued from their belts, which is never a good position to find yourself in. Speed ratings let you know exactly how fast you can go and not risk your life.

These signs are the most basic things that you need to know about what tires will fit on your car. And see, even you, a normal person, could pick them up. So put them to use!

There are other things to consider when you are choosing tires, such as mileage and weather conditions. Don't hesitate to ask your dealer about anything in particular you need of your tires, or come across a label sign you don't understand. They will inform you of what you can get or teach you the new term.

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Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as car wheels at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com

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How to Properly Check Tire Pressure and Condition for Safety

Tire pressure and condition is one of the most overlooked safety aspects on our cars. Most people just assume their tires are fine and that they will be safe because they look okay - the tires are not flat. Rarely do we ever see someone get out a tire pressure gauge and check their tire pressure or place their hands on the tire and feel for roundness and irregularities. What most people don't know is that proper tire pressure will improve your gas mileage, make your brakes and suspension system last longer, and it will improve your gas mileage. According to AAA, it is ideal to have your tires pressure and condition checked for safety every time you fill up your gas tank and prior to any long drives or vacations.

Before checking your tire pressure you should check your tires condition. Your tires are what holds you to the road and if there are any irregular wear patterns, bubbles and cracks, etc your safety can be greatly compromised. Look over all your tires. Place the palm of your hand on the tire and feel it is it round? This may sound obvious, but you can quickly find early signs of cupping (which can indicate bad struts), irregular wear (could be improperly balanced wheels), cracks, and deep wear that would make your tires unsafe.

Take out a penny and make sure Lincolns head is buried in the tread. If it isn't that means you need to replace your tires. Every time I go to the local grocery store half of the cars I see have bald or nearly bald tires and tires in bad condition. This can cause hydroplaning and very unsafe conditions if the roads were wet from a recent rain. If you notice anything irregular take your car to a service station. Have your tire condition checked and have your tires replaced as necessary as your safety may be compromised by worn tires or another tire condition (Walmart's service stations will check your tires for free).

To properly check your tires pressure you must use a tire pressure gauge. Going by look or feel isn't good enough. Just because the tire doesn't look flat doesn't mean you didn't over or under inflate it. Your car or trucks owners manual will tell you the recommended tire pressure for your tires. Check all four tires and your spare. You wouldn't believe the number of people that assume their spare is fine and haven't checked it in 3 or more years. Some don't even know if they have a spare or tire changing tools. Some people don't even know where to look for their spare tire or how to change a tire.

Most tire pressure gauges have an indicator that will be pushed out by the amount of pressure in your tire. More expensive ones are digital. Both are rudimentary and easy to use. If you find you are under inflated most gas stations have an air pump. Fill and check again to ensure proper pressure. Always replace the caps when you are done. This keeps the elements out and corrosion can and does cause leaks. If you have too much pressure then let some out by pressing a key or screwdriver into the release valve and then check it again. If your tires have too much pressure it can cause them to prematurely wear in the middle and reduce the actual area of the tire that meets the road and can reduce your safety.

There you have it, how to properly check your tires condition and pressure for safety. By having safe tires you are increasing both your safety and the safety of those around you.

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David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in automotive safety products and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information please visit: MDWholesale.com

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How To Be Sure You Have The Correct Tire Pressure

Are you having a difficult time riding your mountain bike? Maybe the speed seems off or the bike seems harder to control. Well, before you consider getting your bike checked for any physical problems, check the tire pressure associated with it. This is because tire pressure has a huge effect on how well you are able to operate your mountain bike. For instance, if the tire pressure is set a setting that is too high, the bike will not be close enough to the ground to make for the best control. However, if it is set too low, you could encounter problems with your bike's tires as it becomes more apt to gaining pinch flats. Indeed, in order to get the most control out of your mountain bike, you will need to learn how to set it to pressure that is just right for your build and riding style. You will also need to consider the conditions of the trail you plan on riding.

So, how can a person determine the best tire pressure setting? They will need to experiment with a variety of settings, so they should feel comfortable changing it until they find the right tire pressure setting for them. This process will be easiest with a pressure gauge that is reliable. With that in hand, a person may want to start with a higher tire pressure setting that is between 40 and 50 psi. Tubeless mountain bikes should have setting between 30 to 40 psi. Go for the higher tire pressures if you weigh more, whether the mountain bike is in tube form or tubeless form.

If the higher tire pressure doesn't suit your needs, consider dropping it by 5 psi. Doing this should greatly improve your stability. But if this doesn't work, consider dropping by 5 psi again. Keep doing this until you find the tire pressure that offers you the most comfort and riding ability.

What can be done if you're encountering a riding situation in which your bike has a greater chance of encountering pinch flat, (which is when the tires of your mountain bike rolls over an object causing it to compress)? To avoid this situation, consider setting your tire pressure to a lower psi. This should be particularly easy with tubeless mountain bikes, which can operate well at relatively low tire pressures. However, don't think that setting your tire too low you'll offer your tires the most protection against pinch flats. Instead, you'll cause problems with your rims. In fact, when tire pressure is too low, your tire might even roll out from under the rim.

Once you've established a suitable setting for your bike, squeeze it so you can get a good feel for what you will need should you have to set it again. You may even want to make a mental note of how these "feels" are, so you'll be able to quickly ascertain the best tire pressure setting for whatever riding situation you may encounter. All of this would be done without the hassle of using a pump.

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Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about bicycle accessories as well as bicycle tires at http://www.nsearch.com

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How To Choose The Best Discount Tires For Your Money

If you need new tires and you have to go buy new tires there are a couple of options that you have to under stand know about. One of the simplest ways to buy new tires for your car is that you buy the exact same ones you had on your car when you bought it from the dealership, but you might want to upgrade to newer better tires depending on where you live and what you drive in everyday, such as weather conditions. There are so many reasons to up grade to new tires and wheels.

When you go and pick out new discounted tires you should think about the way you drive and handle your car, do you go fast and peel out, do you go off in the woods a lot, or do you drive like most other people? This is what you need to base your new tires and wheels off of. When you go buy tires you want to find a tire store that helps with you with what you're looking for and not tries to make you buy there most expensive tire.

The tread life on a tire depends on how long your tire will ride and last with your automobile. The tread on your tire depends on the way you drive and what kind of driving conditions you drive in everyday. There test that the tire manufacturer does in the process of making the tire before it goes out on the shelf that is based off of very strict government guide lines.

There is a tire that is specific for climates where it rains a lot. This type of tire is called wet weather tires or you can put four season tires on your car. If you live where it snows in the winter time you might want to have another set of winter tires that you can put on when it starts to snow a lot that is so that you don't drive in a unsafe automobile in the snow.

How fast you go is another factor you might want to look at when you're going to buy new tires. Most speed limits in the U.S. don't go over 75 mph. but in South America as well as Europe there some roads that can excel to 100 mph or more but most people don't even think of going that fast. There are little icons on your tire that let you know how fast you can go without damaging the tire and how slow you can go with out damaging or wearing out the tire.

Now another option you going to have to pick from is whether not you want a High profile tile or a Low profile tire. Low Profile tires are very nice looking but do not do well in today's road conditions cause of all the poorly maintained roads we have now days. High profile tiles aren't as good looking but they are more durable and stand up better in today's road. They have a better and smother ride.

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Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about tires as well as discount tires at http://www.vintagewheelsplus.com

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How To Be Sure You Are Choosing The Best Tire For Your Particular Automobile

If you're one of those people like most of the world you probably choose your tire from reading the side label of your existing tire that came on the automobile when you bought it from the dealership. But if you don't know what you're reading on your tire you might be losing and leaving out a whole bunch of new tire options. Also after you compare your budget and what you can afford then you can start picking your tire of choice.

If you go and read a car tire label you might reading this "P135/75R 15 25H". This whole car tire label sentence means a lot and has a lot of information in it . But if you don't know what any of this information means then how are you going to know what kind of tire to buy. But here's a little help that I'm going to give you.

When you go look on your tire label there are 3 main first letters you going to be looking for. The letters are: P is for four door sedan, LT is For Small truck or half ton truck, and T is for extra or temporary tire. Then there are Numbers that follow the letters up above and these numbers indicate how wide the tire is in millimeters. If a tire is smaller they will have smaller numbers and if there bigger they will have bigger numbers.

The other numbers that follow after the numbers above represent the tires aspect ratio. This is the percent of the tires main width such as a tire's height is 75 percent of its width. Non performance tires will have a higher number than performance tires.

The letter that follows the aspect ratio of a tire is the Type of tire it is, such as "P" stands for performance tires and the number following the letter that stands for what type of tire it is, is the diameter of the tires and rim in inches.

The Number that follows the type of tire and the diameter of the tire is the load index number. This number indicates a tires load capacity. If you take this number and look at load capacity chart it will give you how much all four tire can hold and have a load on them.

The Last and final letter on the tire stands for how fast you can go with out damaging the tire. If you go over the speed you shouldn't go over you tire can get very hot and can and will separate from the belts witch means you will be driving on a unsafe tire. These letters and speed ratings tell you how fast you may go with out damaging the tire or being unsafe.

When you go and select new tires for any of you automobiles or any type of thing like that you want to be very careful when you buy them. The main things you want to look for is that if there durable . The other things you might want to look for are tread type, mileage warranty and other things like that. Ask them about any things that you are unfamiliar with.

The last thing is that it is going to be your money you're spending when you go and buy a new set of tire for your automobile that means you want the safest and most depending tire for you money. Many of the tire sizes and ratings on speed are pretty much all the same but make sure to read you owners manual just to be careful and make sure.

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Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about tires as well as SUV wheels at http://vintagewheelsplus.com

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