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This is the Conversation Forum for Changing a Flat Tyre in an Emergency << Update Forum: A11824184 - Changing a Car's Flat Tyre - Update of A996924 Nice. What about a pipe? >> Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 28, 2003 by Thought I should change my name back to 'Mina' to avoid confusion   Posting 1 As I said in the PR thread, there is bad advice in this entry. The wheelnuts should be loosened *before* the car is jacked up. The danger of pushing the car off a jack while trying to loosen wheelnuts is a very real one - I've seen it happen. I'd like to see this changed in the entry. A warning was added, but to do it like that is just plain wrong. Wheels also shouldn't be changed on a jack if it is one of those flimsy ones that are supplied with cars these days. Axle stands should be used. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 29, 2003 by Captain Kebab This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 2 Actually, the entry does say, "Before the wheel is once more raised from the ground, the next task is to loosen the wheelnuts", but I agree it could have been a bit clearer. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 30, 2003 by Thought I should change my name back to 'Mina' to avoid confusion This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 3 Hmm yes, but the next bit says "However, remember that the application of too much force can push the car off the jack.", which kind of makes it seem as if the wheelnuts are loosened while it's in the air. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 31, 2003 by Peachy Keen This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 4 This entry defintely suggests that the car should be jacked up before the wheelnuts are removed. Total stupidity. Its very simple - take the wheelnuts off BEFORE you jack it up. Jack it up. Take off tyre. Put on new tyre. Fit wheelnuts by hand. Remove jack. Tighten wheelnuts with the other end of the jack. The edited entry is more dangerous than helpful. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 31, 2003 by U255 This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 5 Hello! Can I ask you to look at the entry now - I've altered it a little to reflect the concerns raised in this 'ere thread. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted Mar 31, 2003 by Thought I should change my name back to 'Mina' to avoid confusion This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 6 Looks much better. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted May 13, 2006 by neongreencat This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 7 Better, but not yet right. The lugnuts should not be removed until the car is safely jacked up with the offending tyre off the ground. The jack should first be placed and then allowed to take some of the weight. The lugnuts should be only loosened enough to free them but NOT removed until all the weight is off the flat tyre. Removing the lugnuts before fully jacking could allow the wheel to come loose and jam or cause injury if the jack should fail. When the tyre is off the ground the lugnuts are removed, the spare gently replaced on the hub, and the lugs replaced. The wheel and hub must be secure and lined up properly before the weight is put back on the spare. The center of the rim where it mates to the hub is the most important since that is where the force is delivered from bumps and the rotational balance is set. The lugnuts should be tightened as far as possible off the ground, then fully tightened when the tyre contacts the ground. Placing a block on the opposite wheel is also a very good idea. A brick, rock or log will work in a pinch. The handbrake on is good, but why have the gearbox in neutral? It is probably best to have the car in park or a gear. This is especially true when changing a rear tyre on a front wheel drive car since the handbrake only locks the rear wheels. There are alot of good ideas here, but the details need more work. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted May 13, 2006 by Thought I should change my name back to 'Mina' to avoid confusion This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 8 This definitely needs an update. I'll see if I can get it into the Update forum soon to get rid of the unsafe advice in it. Your comments will be welcome there if I do get a chance to update it. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: <sigh> Posted May 17, 2006 by Thought I should change my name back to 'Mina' to avoid confusion This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 9 F149889?thread=3004595 Conversation list Most of the content on h2g2 is created by h2g2's Researchers, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced. In the event that you consider anything on this page to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please click on the relevant button to alert our Moderation Team. Conversation list

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