6/8
Fix-A-Flat Can Get You Out of a Jam!
If you’re not confident you can change a flat tire, buy two cans of aerosol tire sealer from any auto parts store and keep them in the vehicle. The cans are sold in several sizes for compact, standard and truck-size tires.
Tire sealants work on tread punctures 3/16-in. or less in diameter. They won’t work on sidewall punctures, blowouts or any other catastrophic failures.
You can greatly increase your chances of a successful seal if you can find the puncture site and move the vehicle until the leak faces downward. If you see what cause the puncture — say, a nail — don’t remove it; it will help seal the hole.
If the can is frozen, thaw it with the defroster or floor heater vents until the contents move freely when shaken. Then fill the tire following the directions on the can. If the rim doesn’t lift off the ground after using a second can, the puncture is too large to be sealed and you’ll have to call for help.
Top off the air pressure as soon as possible. If you have a tire inflator on hand, do it now. This is a temporary fix, so get the tire repaired professionally ASAP. Tire sealant must be removed within three days or 100 miles, whichever comes first.
Inform the tire shop you’ve used tire sealant so no one breathes in the propellants. The shop may charge extra for cleaning the sealant from the tire.
Many DIYers think they can permanently repair tire punctures with just a plug. They’re wrong. A tire plug is just half of the repair. The tire’s interior liner must also be patched, and that means a trip to the tire store. Skip the patch and you risk a catastrophic blowout.
8/8
Save Your Back When Loosening Lug Nuts
There’s no way you can loosen the lug nuts once you raise the vehicle — the tire will just spin. Instead, break loose — but don’t remove — the lug nuts while the tire is still on the ground.
To save your back, place the tire iron on each lug nut with the handle in the 9 o’clock position. Place both hands on the tire iron and push down with all your might. If that doesn’t work, use a downward bouncing motion with your weight to break the nut loose.
