| Don't ever say it won't happen to you. | | | | Flares and reflectors - you have to be safe. |
| Statistics show that the average person will | | | | If you have a flat in a hard to see area you |
| have 5 flat tires in their lifetime. That | | | | want to warn other drivers of your |
| means you will have a flat and it is best to | | | | predicament so you don't have a worse |
| be prepared for it.I've seen people stuck on | | | | predicament. Also, pack a flashlight and |
| the side of the road with no spare, no jack | | | | extra batteries for night use - all the tools |
| or lug wrench and no cell phone. What if you | | | | in the world won't help if you can't see |
| get stranded down a far out, little traveled | | | | (regularly change the batteries once a |
| country raod at night? You will be stranded | | | | year).Now, for safety, when a flat occurs you |
| for a long time. That is something we want | | | | need to pull safely off the road. If on a |
| to avoid. So here's a checklist of what to | | | | busy interstate drive slowly until you are in |
| have with you at all times in your car:1) | | | | a safe and relatively flat spot. Put your |
| spare tire - this may sound mundane, but many | | | | car in park and put on the emergency |
| people out their are driving on their spare | | | | brake.Place reflectors or flares so as to |
| and take a big risk.2) jack and lug wrench - | | | | give adequate warning to other drivers. This |
| many people never check to see if these items | | | | spacing will be different depending on |
| are in their car. Its a fact that half of | | | | whether you are in hilly curves or on a |
| the used cars purchased in the U.S. do not | | | | straightaway.Place the jack under the car on |
| have all the tools necessary for a proper | | | | the jack mount area This is a area specially |
| tire change. Also make sure you have a lug | | | | designed for your jack and is covered in the |
| wrench that fits your car. This may sound | | | | owners manual.Loosen all of the nuts and then |
| stupid, but when I worked at a car dealership | | | | crank the jack until the tire is several |
| if the car didn't have a lug wrench and the | | | | inches off the ground. Remove the nuts and |
| customer wanted one, they just took one out | | | | wheel. Place the spare on and tighten each |
| of any car and put it in (never looking to | | | | lug finger tight to make the whel flush.Lower |
| see if it would fit the lugs on the car in | | | | the jack so the wheel can't turn and tighten |
| question). If you have wheel covers you may | | | | all nuts with the lug wrench. Then |
| need a large screwdriver to pop off the wheel | | | | completely lower the jack and remove. Drive |
| cover (some lug wrenches have this as one of | | | | to your nearest auto service station and have |
| their ends).3) lock adapter - many people get | | | | your flat replaced or repaired and |
| the chrome, alloy wheels and have a lug lock | | | | reinstalled. This is essential as many |
| installed so they can't easily be stolen. | | | | spares are not full spares and aren't as |
| Just, never lose the lock adapter or you | | | | safe.David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell |
| won't be able to change that tire without | | | | University and specializes in automotive |
| having the car towed to a car dealership | | | | safety products and information. He holds |
| where they'll have to cut off and replace the | | | | numerous patents and awards for his patented |
| lug spindle (a very costly experience).4) | | | | headlight cleaner and restorer. |