A flat tire can be one of the most stressful driving problems, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. While regular Volvo service at Fields Volvo Cars Northfield can limit your risk, everyone gets a flat tire eventually, so make sure to be prepared. Here are some tips for when you get a flat tire.
Be Prepared
No matter what car you drive or how carefully you drive it, eventually, you will get a flat tire. Know in advance whether your Volvo vehicle comes with a spare tire or not, and if it doesn’t, buy and store one. Make sure you have a jack, a lug wrench, wheel wedges, and if needed, a lug nut key. Changing a tire can be difficult, especially if it happens at night, and can require a great deal of upper body strength. If you’re not comfortable trying it yourself, make sure you have a roadside assistance plan like ours ready to assist you.
What To Do
If your tire has gone flat while driving, pull carefully to the side of the road and turn on your hazard lights. Soft ground can make it more difficult to get your vehicle off the ground, so make sure you’re on a stable surface. Place wheel wedges behind the wheels you’re not accessing, loosen the lug nuts on the flat tire and place your jack under a metal part of the frame near the wheel.
Crank the jack to lift your car off the ground, make sure everything is safely in place, and remove the lug nuts. Remove the flat and set it aside; attach the spare tire in its place, reapply the lug nuts, lower the vehicle, and tighten them snugly in this order: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 2, 4, and repeat. Remove all your tools and stow them away, including the flat tire.
Come Service Your Car at Fields Volvo Cars Northfield
If you’re not comfortable changing your tire, contact our roadside assistance team and we’ll take it from there. No matter what causes your flat, have it repaired or replaced at our service center immediately. Visit Fields Volvo Cars Northfield and have our service team perform a check-up on your tires before you get a flat!