Little-known risks when changing car tires yourself

A tire blowout while driving is a situation that any driver can encounter, due to many reasons such as poor tire care, harsh weather or rolling over sharp objects on the road. The signs are that the car is swaying, the steering wheel is off, and it is leaning towards the damaged tire. More dangerous is losing control with unpredictable consequences.

Many drivers may know how to change a spare tire, or have read about it. But in reality, there are risks when changing tires that few people expect. Here are two cases to pay attention to:

Let the car run or stop arbitrarily

Many drivers will try to drive a little further before stopping to change a tire. On the other hand, some drivers will recklessly stop in the middle of the road. Both of these actions are dangerous for the driver and other vehicles. Driving on a flat tire can cause the brakes to lock.

The wheel nut is hot and the thread is loose.

The wheel bolts are still hot and can easily strip the threads if removed immediately.

When moving, the rim is often hot due to friction, if you use a strong impact tool right after stopping the car, it can cause the screw to loosen or even break. The experience of many drivers is to wait about 5-10 minutes for the rim to cool down before removing it. In addition, you can prepare a bottle of anti-rust solution to spray directly on the screw, making it easier to remove.

This solution is commonly used by auto repair shops and has no adverse effects on metals.

Let the tire press against the screw causing it to break.

A Kia Forte had to have two broken bolts replaced.

When the tire is lifted up, the half-removed rim tube will cause the tire to move, slide out and press against the bolt body, causing the screw to break. Drivers should note to hold the tire firmly before removing each screw.