Dealing with a flat tire can be quite troublesome and aggravating, especially when you’re in a hurry or on your way to work. If you find yourself stranded on the side of the road with a flat, here are some tips from your Volkswagen dealer on what to do next.
Tips From Your Volkswagen Dealer: What to Do If Your VW Gets a Flat Tire
Pull Over Safely
If you have a flat, it’s essential to reduce your speed immediately and quickly search for a flat area where you can safely pull over and park your vehicle away from the traffic. Turn on your hazard lights so other road users can see your car.
Place Reflective Warning Triangles
Take extra precautions by placing a reflective warning triangle at a distance of ten feet directly behind your car. For enhanced visibility, position an additional triangle behind the right-hand side and another about 100 feet away, aligned with the middle of your vehicle’s bumper.
Prevent Your Car From Rolling
To avoid any chances of your car from moving, make sure to put your vehicle in park or shift it into reverse (if you drive a manual). After that, remove the spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and wheel wedges from the trunk. Place the wheel wedges in front of and behind the tires to keep your car securely in place and prevent it from rolling off the jack.
Loosen the Lug Nuts and Jack Up Your Car
Start by loosening the nuts counterclockwise to change the flat, but don’t remove them altogether. Next, locate the jacking point near the tire that needs to be changed and use a jack to lift your car just enough to remove the wheel.
Now, you can loosen the nuts, take them off, and remove the flat. Put the flat under your car to prevent damage if it rolls off the jack.
Mount the Spare Tire
To replace the flat with the spare, position the spare tire in front of the wheel well, align the rim with the bolts, and carefully insert the tire until the bolts stick through the rim. Then, attach the nuts to the bolts and tighten them manually with your fingers in a clockwise direction as much as possible.
Lower Your Car
Lower your vehicle using the jack until the spare tire touches the ground. Then, use the wrench to tighten the nuts. Completely lower your car, remove the jack, and give the nuts a final tightening with the wrench.
Remember, only drive with your spare tire for up to 50 miles before replacing it. If your vehicle needs a set of quality tires, stop at Tom Bush Volkswagen today for a wide selection of major brand tires to ensure your safety behind the wheel.
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