With the pandemic still in place, one of the safest options to entertain is going on a road trip with your family or friends. Here in British Columbia, we are lucky to be surrounded by beautiful forests, lakes, oceans, and mountains to explore. However, you can’t fully enjoy your trip with your favorite people to your favorite places without ensuring that you are fully prepared to handle emergency situations. Here is a life-saving guide on how to fix a tire while you’re on the road.

First of all, you should double check that you have everything you need to deal with emergency situations on the road before you go. It is recommended that you always keep a plug kit in your trunk. A plug kit can be found in every auto repair shop and many department stores like Canadian Tire. Tire plugs are used temporarily for the tread part of the tire so that you don’t have to change the tire, and they can effectively block punctures that are up tp 1/4 in diameter.

Materials needed:

• Air compressor/pump

• Floor jack

• Jack stands (optional)

• Lug wrench

• Needle nose pliers

• Screwdriver (optional)

• Tire plug kit

Step 1: chock the tires at the opposite end of the vehicle before you lift it.

You must have a solid, flat ground under which to operate the floor jack and use the parking brake to keep your vehicle steady while you are using it.

Step 2: unscrew the bolts or lugs.

Use a screwdriver to remove part of the wheel or hubcap that covers the lug nuts or bolts. Loosen the lug nuts or bolts fixing the wheel to the axle before lifting the vehicle. Once they are loosened, they can be easily removed once the vehicle is raised.

Step 3: lift the vehicle.

Use the floor jack to life the vehicle, ensuring that you place it underneath the a solid spot under the chassis. Take your time and, if the jack tilts or the base begins to come off the ground, stop immediately, rearrange the jack, and start over.

Step 4: remove the lug nuts or bolts and the tire.

Store these small objects in a safe space.

Step 5: remove the flat tire.

Take the tire off the axle, find the puncture, and set it aside to be fixed.

Step 6: find the object and remove it.

Locate the culprit causing the puncture and use the needle nose pliers to remove it.

Step 7: clean the puncture.

Use the rasp tool from the plug kit to place inside the puncture, drawing it back and forth many times and from all sides, until the hole is clean and ready for the plug.

Step 8: plug the puncture hole.

The plug kit comes with a long cord covered in a sticky substance like tar, and it might come with adhesive and a threading tool.

Use the threading tool and thread the cord into the eye of the tool to about half way. If the plug kit comes with adhesive, apply it before you thread the cord.

Force the threading tool into the puncture hole with the cord attached to it. Force it straight down without twisting it until it is about 2/3 of the way in with some length of the thread still poking from the hole. Force the threading tool straight back out to set the plug. Let any adhesive dry for a few minutes before continuing.

Step 9: remove the threading tool and cut the plug.

Remove the threading tool after the plug is set, and cut the excess plug until it is about flush with the tire tread. Use more adhesive to cover the plug before you reflate the tire.

Step 10: reflate the tire.

Do not go beyond the pressure specifications and check the tire pressure with a pressure gauge many times to ensure that the tire pressure is proper.

Step 11: Remount the tire on the vehicle.

Set the wheel on the axle, and begin to refit the lug nuts until they are hand tight.

Do not tighten them fully. Lower the vehicle a little for some of the vehicle’s weight to rest on the tire.

Step 12: Tighten the lug nuts fully.

Tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench or tire iron by tightening one and then the next one directly across from it.

Step 13: Lower the vehicle completely and remove the floor jack.

Check the tightness of each lug nut to make sure that they are secure. Take your car to an auto repair shop as soon as you can to get it repaired.

Don’t forget to contact Maxxam Insurance for your auto insurance needs!