During winter, there are a lot of driving risks, including blown-out tires. You should be aware of what type of tires you have on your vehicle. This way, if you're ever faced with a situation where your tires go flat and whatnot, you'll know what to do.
Some companies like Germany's BMW equips their vehicles with run-flat tires or tires that can work even when flat so that you can drive towards a repair facility or gas station to get your tires changed.
The Benefits of Run-Flat Tires
Run-flat tires provide their customers with various benefits, like the following:
- Avoid ending up on a busy highway or changing a tire in the dark.
- Your handling and steering will remain normal even after your tire goes flat.
- Vehicle weight is reduced if you opt to put your spare tire and repair tools elsewhere.
- These ties are more stable after your tire blows out because it can support your vehicle without air pressure.
- The ability to drive on a flat tire for up to 50 miles per hour and around 50 miles (so you can drive for about an hour).
How to Change Tires
- You Need the Following: You'll need a garage/floor/car jack to lift the car when you remove the tires. You'll also need a lug wrench, wheel wedges, and your spare tire. You might also require the vehicle manual to look up some info. It takes about 15 to 30 minutes to change your tire. From there, find a safe location to change your tire and turn on your hazard lights for good measure.
- Removing the Tire: Apply the hand brake and wheel wedges to keep the car from rolling out of the way. The wheel wedges should go from behind or in front of the tires depending on car placement and which tire is being changed. Loosen the lug nuts with your lug wrench and place the car jack under your car in order to raise it up. After raising the vehicle, then you should remove the loosened lug nuts altogether and remove the tire itself.
- Replacing the Tire: Once the deflated tire has been removed, you should mount the spare tire, hand-tighten the lug nuts to fasten the new tire temporarily and then lower the vehicle by decompressing the pressure on your car jack but don't do so all the way yet. Afterwards, use your lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts properly before lowering the vehicle completely to the pavement. Replace the hub cap as well.
- Finish Up: Stow away all your equipment from the lug wrench to the jack and flat tire. Check the pressure in the spare tire. It should be 60 PSI or 420 kPa. Drive to the service station in case your tire requires more pressure. Also, take your flat tire to a vulcanizing shop, your dealership, or a technician to determine if you should replace the flat or fix it for future use.