Is it that time of the year again when you need new tires? To find out, here is a quick method I have known about for years. Get a penny and place it between the tire treads. If you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln´s head, I recommend you get new tires.
This is just the beginning of another harsh winter and who knows what mother nature will surprise us with this season. Having a tire blow out while you drive can be scary and dangerous. The best thing to do is to stay calm in the situation. Don’t slam on your brakes or do any sharp turns. Let the car slow down and come to a stop. Turn your hazard lightson and make sure you pull off to the shoulder. Depending on your location you should try to reach a tow truck (find tow trucks [ link to towing]), but if you can’t reach one, it is good to always be prepared and know how to change a tire.
Here are some quick steps to follow:
Step 1: Make sure you turn off your vehicle and put it in park, or first gear for a manual.
Step 2: Grab the spare tire, jack and lug wrench. Trucks usually have them behind the seat or under the hood with the spare under the bed. Cars have them in the trunk underneath the carpet.
Step 3: If your vehicle has a hubcap or wheel cover, you can remove it with the flat end of the lug wrench or a screw driver.
Step 4: Make sure you loosen the lug nuts before jacking up your vehicle. If you try to loosen them while your car is jacked up, the tire will spin making it hard to remove the lug nuts. To remove the lug nuts turn them left or counter clockwise. Always remember righty tighty, lefty loosy.
Step 5: Now, where to place the jack to jack up the vehicle? The jack has instructions on where jacking points are as well as your owners manual. If you can´t find this, just make sure to find a solid portion to jack it up. Slide the jack under the vehicle and begin jacking it up. Always make sure the jack is on a level ground and jack it up enough to remove the wheel of the vehicle. Don’t worry about the vehicle falling off, the weight should keep it on the jack.
Step 6: When the tire is off the ground, you can remove the lug nuts. When they are removed, take off the flat wheel and put it to the side.
Step 7: Get the spare tire and put it on. Put the lug nuts on and tighten them as far in as you can, you will give them a final thightening once the vehicle is off of the jack.
Step 8: Let your vehicle off of the jack. Get the lug wrench and finish tightening the lug nuts.
Step 9: Finally replace your wheel cover or hubcap. Remove the jack from under the vehicle and put the blown tire, lug wrench and jack in your vehicle.
The spare tire, also known as a ¨donut,¨ should not be driven at speeds exceeding 50 mph and that spare should be used only to get you safely to a (taller de reparacion de automoviles) auto repair shop. Keep in mind it is not safe to use the spare for long drives. YaSabe.com can help you find the closest service station.
The next major step is to find a taller de reparacion de automoviles (auto repair shop) that is close to you, speaks your language and is not to expensive. Visit YaSabe.com. We are here to help you find local talleres de reparacion de automoviles (auto repair shops, que hablan español) near you. Don’t delay. I recommend you seek advice from an expert because the penny test can vary depending on what type of vehicle you drive, especially if you drive in harsh weather conditions like rain or snow. YaSabe also provides a human-powered social concierge service for Hispanics called Ayudame, where consumers can ask YaSabe’s experts and others for help in finding the right local business. Ayudame live chat can help you find a pricing or set up an appointment for you with a business near you.
If you don´t have a computer near you don´t worry, you can still ask for help directly from your mobile device. YaSabe Android Mobile application provides phone-numbers, directions and other information about the businesses nearby. You can download the YaSabe Android application for free from the Android Marketplace. You can also download the free iPhone app from the App Store and from iTunes. This application lets users search in Spanish or English by name, product, service, or category for any of the 15,000,000 local businesses in the US. YaSabe’s goal is to help US Hispanics find and connect with cultural relevant products, services, and business – locally. We aim to have the best information about local businesses and to have a personalized touch to help direct you when you are stuck.
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