From the boys...

Life In Style is delighted to welcome its newly appointed correspondent, Boy Wonder.  Widely considered to be an expert in his field, Boy Wonder joins the Style team as a contributing writer offering his insight on home improvement, practical life skills they don't teach in school, and occasional editorials from the male perspective.  In his inaugural post you will find a simple step-by step layout for How To Change A Tire.  My suggestion is to read it, print it, and stick it in your glove compartment for that inevitable day when you hear ssszzsss...and it's your time to shine.

How to Change a Tire

by Boy Wonder

We live in an era of empowered women who seem to be able to do it all.  But when it comes to cars, most women are as lost as most men are at a cosmetics counter.  The most likely car situation you will face in your lifetime that can be easily overcome without professional assistance is a flat tire.

Changing a flat tire is incredibly easy and a basic that we should all master.

Step 1: Stop Driving and Start Changing

Pull over when you see a safe spot- make sure you have room to maneuver around your car without putting yourself in danger to oncoming traffic. The longer you drive on a flat, the more damage you are doing to the wheel.  (Note: replacing a wheel is not inexpensive.)  Put your car in park with the parking break on and flash your hazard lights.  It’s also a good idea to pop the hood- a signal that you have stopped for repair and may need help.

Hopefully, you will find yourself on a relatively flat area.  If not, you will want to “chock” your wheel to avoid rolling backwards. To chock your car, put a rock or log behind or in front of the wheel that will be on the ground.  If you are facing uphill, put the rock behind the rear tire opposite the flat. If facing downhill put the rock behind the front tire opposite the flat.

Step 2:  Down and Dirty.

Get the spare, tire iron and car jack out of the trunk.  All cars come standard with this equipment.  They are most often hidden in the trunk, but if you are not familiar with their location- you can look it up in your owner’s manual in the glove compartment.

With tools in hand, the first thing you should do is remove the hubcap.  Typically the hubcap snaps on to hide the lug nuts, so use a little elbow grease (read: muscle) to remove it.  When you have the hubcap off, loosen the lug nuts. Lug nuts are what hold the wheel in place.  Use your tire iron to turn the nuts counterclockwise and work in a star pattern across the tire until all the lug nuts are loose and unscrewed slightly.  Do not remove the lug nuts at this point.

Consult your owner’s manual on specific tips to jack the car up.  When you raise the car, you’ll want it high enough to remove the old tire and replace it with the spare.  At this point, go ahead and remove the lug nuts with your tire iron or just unscrew them with you fingers.  When you remove the lug nuts, the tire will be hanging from the threaded studs so be sure to keep the nuts close at hand.

Pull the tire off.  Keep in mind, a tire and wheel are heavy, so be ready for the weight.

Carry or roll the flat tire out of the way.  Lift the spare onto the wheel studs.  Make sure that the air valve on the spare tire is facing outwards and then replace the lug nuts.  Tighten the lug nuts the same way you loosened them, giving each nut a few turns first and then work around in a star pattern.  Do not tighten them consecutively.  You want to work around the wheel in an even pattern until all the nuts are tight and you really can’t move them anymore.

Lower the car back to the ground and tighten the lug nuts one more time. (You may not be able to, but you need to try.) After that, put the hub cap back on.

Congratulations!  You have officially changed a tire. Pack your tire iron, jack and spare back into the trunk 

Helpful hints…

1.  Most people have flat spare tires.  When you check the oil every month, make a note to check the air pressure in your spare at the same time.

2.  Get to know you car.  Read your owner’s manual before something goes wrong.

3.  If changing a tire is just not for you, call Triple A, a friend, or me if you happen to be in

Dallas

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Feature text by Boy Wonder.  aha!

Comments

[Harbor Chick]

Dear Dallas- Great article! As a seasoned, female cross-country driver,might I also suggest that every driver have the following in their car: a tire pressure gauge, jumper cables,a hand towel, a small tarp or sheet of plastic to kneel on in case it's muddy, and a pair of work gloves.Power to the people!

[Ellen]

I think Boy Wonder deserves a cookie.