Randallstown Tow Truck
(443) 565-4887
Tire Change in Randallstown MD
Sooner or later, everyone experiences a flat or punctured tire. Anyone who's tried to drive even a few blocks in this situation knows that timely repairs are essential. Our team at Randallstown Tow Truck can help you with your tire change, getting you quickly back on the go. Call us now if you're having an issue with your tires and want the peace of mind that comes with knowing a professional has replaced your tire the right way.
What's Involved In Changing a Tire?
When our team provides a tire change, we typically follow a process like the one below:
- Preparation: Before changing a tire, we'll make sure the vehicle is in a safe location out of the way of traffic, with hazard lights activated to ensure visibility. Just as important is that we find a stable and flat surface, which will enable a smoother process for replacing the tire. We'll make sure we have all of our tools available, including the spare tire, a jack, a lug wrench, and a wheel wedge if necessary. If you have an owner's manual for the vehicle, we may reference that document to confirm any details specific to the make and model.
- Securing the Vehicle: To keep the vehicle in place, we'll activate the parking brake. To further prevent rolling, we'll also put wheel wedges opposite the damaged tire.
- Loosening the Damaged Tire: We're then ready to remove the flat tire. A lug wrench will loosen the lug nuts in preparation for replacement, but the final removal may not occur just yet.
- Raise the Vehicle: Now that the tire has been loosened, we can raise the vehicle using a jack. Our experts know how to position the jack according to your car's specifications, but your owner's manual may provide additional guidance as well. We'll raise the vehicle several inches off of the ground so that we can execute the tire replacement process.
- Replace the Tire: The loose lug nuts on the damaged tire can now be removed, followed by the damaged tire, which should be laid flat on the ground to avoid rolling away. We then take the spare tire, align it with the wheel bolts, and slide it back on. Finally, the lug nuts are tightened onto the bolts by hand, with a pattern that resembles the tracing of a star to ensure even tightening.
- Lowering the Vehicle: Using the jack, we'll slowly lower the vehicle until the new, spare tire is barely touching the ground, and we'll finish tightening the lug nuts using a wrench to increase pressure, again using the star pattern. We can then finally remove the jack and place your defective tire in the storage space where your spare was previously found.
Checking and Testing Your Replacement Tire
Spare tires are essential for successfully dealing with a flat tire, but that doesn't mean they are always of the same high quality and performance standard. Once a spare tire has been applied, it's recommended to check the tire pressure to ensure proper inflation. If you keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle, this is the time to use it. If not, any local service station will have the tools needed to perform this quick inspection.
While driving with your spare tire, try to avoid high speeds and long distances. Your spare can be the difference between being stuck for hours or needing a tow, and getting quickly back on the road, but you should make plans to replace the spare tire with a high-quality, full-service regular tire, particularly if your spare tire is lighter and smaller than your other tires.
Have questions about tire replacement? Call us today and let us provide you with the assistance you need.