By.

Dvonte Muhammad, Karri May, Xavier Malveaux

Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................... iv Introduction .................................................................................................. v Observations ................................................................................................. 3 Tools ............................................................................................................ 5 Changing the Tire .......................................................................................... 7 Disposal of a Used Tire ................................................................................. 13 Troubleshooting ........................................................................................... 15 Glossary ..................................................................................................... 17

Introduction

Introduction
Have you ever been stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire? Do you want to be able to change a tire without having to ask for help? Fortunately, changing a tire is a pretty simple task, provided you're prepared and willing to exert a little effort. This manual will provide the necessary steps that you will need to take in order to change your tire.

Chapter 1

Observations
First you must determine which tires need replacing. You can determine this by either looking to see which tire appears flat or by checking your tire pressure. The tires should have a good amount of pressure in each one, but the amount all depends on the size of the tire and sometimes the weather outside.

Tread/Traction
Tread on a tire is used to divert water from underneath the tire preventing it from hydroplaning. When tread wear bars become uneven, it is time to replace your tires. You can use a penny or a tread depth indicator to check the tread of a tire. Make note of any irregular tread patterns.

Damage
When looking for damage on your tire, check for any objects stuck in the tire, slashes of the tire, or issues with the tread on the tire. These are the many reasons that your tire can be flat or be completely damaged to the extent that you must replace it. Damage to a tire is a very serious factor in the safety of driving a vehicle. If you drive a car with a damaged tire, you are putting yourself and others in danger on the road. Be sure to drive safely and avoid running over objects in the road.

Chapter 2

Tools
Jack
In order to properly change a tire, you will need a jack in order to raise and hold the car up. There are many kinds of jacks that you can purchase from your local automobile parts store for a range of prices. Ask a professional in the store which one would be necessary to purchase for your car.

Spare Tire
A spare tire is needed whenever you are changing a tire. However, a spare tire may be flat or damaged as well. Always make sure your spare tire is taken care of and aired up properly. The spare tire is usually located in the trunk or rear area of ones car.

Sockets and Wrenches

The car should already have a lug wrench sized for the lug nuts on the vehicle. Some refer to it as a tire iron. While it is not the easiest means for removing lug nuts, it can get the job done. Larger, more common lug wrenches, known as fourways, are shaped like an X and have different sized lug sockets at each end. Four ways can provide better leverage, due to their larger size. Best of all is the professional air gun, a drill-like device that uses an impact socket and pneumatic power to spin the lug nuts on and off in a matter of seconds.

Torque Wrench
In order to prevent the lug nuts from screwing back off the wheel studs while driving, it is best to do the final lug nut reinstallation with a torque wrench. This wrench allows the user to determine a pre-set amount of torque to be applied to the lug nuts. If the lug nuts are torqued below the specifications, they can come loose and cause the wheel to part ways with the vehicle unexpectedly. If the lug nuts are over-torqued, the brake rotor can sustain damage from warping due to the amount of excessive strain placed on it by the over-torqued nuts.

Chapter 3

Changing the Tire

1.

Find level ground to park your car, restricting it from rolling. Stay clear of soft ground or hills.

2. Put your vehicle into park. Apply the parking brake as well. If you have a standard transmission put the car into first.

3. Place a heavy object in front of the front tires, and behind the back tires. A heavy stone would work fine.

4. Take out the spare tire and the jack. Place the jack under the frame near the tire that you are going to change. Ensure that the jack is in contact with the metal portion of your car's frame.

5. Raise the jack until it is perpendicular to the ground. The jack should be supporting the car, not lifting it.

6. Remove the hub cap and loosen the nuts by turning counterclockwise. Don't take them all the way off and just break the resistance. Having the wheel on the ground means that you're turning the nuts instead of the wheel.

Chapter 3

7. Pump or crank the jack to lift the tire off the ground. You need to lift it high enough to remove the flat tire and replace it with a spare.

8. Remove the nuts the rest of the way. Turn them counter clockwise until they are loose. Repeat with all lug nuts, then remove the nuts completely.

9. Remove the tire. Place the flat tire under the vehicle so in the event of a jack failure the vehicle will fall on the old wheel, hopefully preventing injury. If the jack is placed on a flat, solid base, you shouldn't have any problems.

10.Place the spare tire on the hub. Take care to align the rim of the spare tire with the wheel bolts, then put on the lug nuts.

11.Tighten the nuts by hand until they are all snug. They should turn easily at first.

12.Lower the car without applying full weight on the tire. Tighten the nuts as much as possible.

Chapter 3

11

13.Lower the car to the ground fully and remove the jack. Finish tightening the nuts and replace the hubcap.

14.Put the old tire in your trunk and take it to a mechanic. Get an estimate for the cost of repair. Small punctures can usually be repaired for less than $15. If the tire is not repairable, they can dispose of it properly and sell you a replacement.

Disposal of a Used Tire

Once the new tire is on the car, you need to properly dispose of the tire.

Suggestions 1. Use old tires in the garden. Clean used tires with warm soapy water and
rinse. Place in yard and fill with potting soil. Add your favorite plant or flowers for a decorative accent to increase curb appeal. Cover the tire with topsoil and plant flowers to create a beautiful flower covered mound.

2. Bring used tires to a tire retailer, service station or local recycling facility that
accepts and must then recycle tires. First, confirm that the selected location is currently accepting used tires.

3. Notice when or if a local municipality offers a tire amnesty. The program

allows local citizens to deposit a limited number of used tires at a drop off site for free.

4. Recycle tires and decrease air pollution, water and soil contamination. Sell
used tires for salvage and use to make new tires. If the used tires are threadbare, recycling is a great alternative.

5. Make a tree swing for hours of fun. Choose a tree with a strong branch and
decide on a horizontal or vertical swing. Purchase nylon rope specifically made for weight bearing. Consult with home improvement professional about attaching swing to tree.

Chapter 4

15

Troubleshooting
Tips

Check occasionally to make sure that your spare tire has sufficient air. If your wheels have locking lug nuts, be sure to keep the key-lug where you can easily find it. You will need it to change the tire. Familiarize yourself with this procedure and with the particulars for your car before you get a flat tire, so that you don't have to learn by the side of the road, in the dark or in the rain. Sometimes the wheels will seize to the hub, resulting in great difficulty in removal of the flat tire. If this happens, you will need a sledge hammer and a 2x4 or other piece of wood to remove a seized wheel rim. Rotating your tires will prevent this from happening when you do have to change a tire. When replacing nuts, be sure that the tapered side goes into the wheel. This centers the wheels and locks the nuts in place. When loosening and tightening the nuts, arrange the cross wrench so that you are pressing down (with gravity). This will remove risk of injury to your back and also allow you to use your body weight rather than just your arm strength. Press on the end of the wrench for the best leverage. You can even use your foot, but make sure to keep your balance and steady yourself against the car. Rotating your tires at manufacturer's recommended intervals can prevent a common problem when changing a flat.

Warnings

Be aware of your surroundings. If you're on a busy road, be particularly wary of vehicles driving by that might get too close. There are hundreds of people killed each year while changing a tire on the side of the road; don't do this unless you must. For safety, place an object such as a log, large rock, etc., under the vehicle after jacking, but before removing the tire. Place it so that it will stop the vehicle from dropping in case the jack is dislodged or shifts for some reason while the wheel is removed. Place it near a part of the frame or other supporting part not too far from the wheel.

Most spare tires (the undersized "donut" tires) are not designed for speeds of more than 50 MPH or for long distances. Exceeding this speed can cause problems, including failure of the spare tire. Instead, drive slowly and carefully to a shop and have your tire repaired or replaced.

Glossary

17

Glossary
frame (of the car): the main structure of an automobile chassis jack: a usually portable mechanism or device for exerting pressure or lifting a heavy body a short distance parking brake: hand brake: a brake operated by hand; usually operates by mechanical linkage socket wrench: a wrench usually in the form of a bar and removable socket made to fit a bolt or nut spare tire: a duplicate tire kept in reserve torque wrench: a tool for setting and adjusting the tightness of nuts and bolts to a desired value tread: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail ;the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire