A flat tire on the road is troublesome and frustrating, but fortunately there are a number of steps you can take to help minimize the risk of that situation arising. Eventually, however, nearly every driver will experience the dreaded flat, so it's best to be prepared in order to deal with the situation. Here are a few tips to help you prevent and deal with flat tires: - It pays to keep a routine maintenance schedule for your tires and check their condition frequently. Check the condition of the treads (figure A) frequently to make certain that they are not wearing unevenly. Wear to the inner or outer edges of the treads may indicate the need for a wheel balance and/or alignment. Check for nails or other sharp objects that may have become embedded in the tread surface ( figure B). Also check the condition of the sidewalls to make sure there are no gashes or cuts in the rubber.
- If you suspect a slow leak in a particular spot from an embedded nail or small puncture, for instance, spread a little soapy water over the area (figure C). If there is an air leak, air bubbles will form in the sudsy water, indicating the exact spot where air is escaping. In many cases embedded nails can be removed and the tire can be patched.
- Note whether your tire has tread-wear indicators (figure D). Once these raised rubber bumps in the grooves of the tread begin to wear, it's an indication that it's time to replace your tires.
- Keep your tires properly inflated. Purchase a tire gauge and check the pressure in all of your tires, including the spare, frequently. Check your owner's manual or door decal for the proper inflation specifications for your vehicle. Overinflation typically causes the center portion of the tread to begin wearing out before the outer edges (figure E). Tires worn in this way are particularly dangerous when driven in the rain since the slick center portion has lost much of its traction. Conversely, underinflation causes both outer edges to wear prematurely (figure F). Tires in this condition will compromise handling, particularly with respect to cornering and steering through curves. All tires will undergo wear with usage, but maintaining proper inflation will at least ensure even, controlled wear and will help reduce the risk of a flat tire at an inopportune time.
- Be prepared in the event that you do have a flat tire. Make certain that your vehicle is equipped with an inflated spare, a functional jack, a lug-wrench/pry-bar and other tools that you may need in a roadside emergency. You may want to take the extra precaution of upgrading your emergency kit to include other safety items such as flares, bright orange cones, reflective clothing, wheel chocks, flashlight, etc. (figure G). There are emergency tire-repair kits that use a pressurized sealant and compressed air to fill a punctured tire and seal it from the inside. These are best reserved for true emergencies only, as the chemicals used in these kits will damage the interior of the tire. They may, however, get you out of an emergency situation and allow you to get to a service station where you can have the tire replaced or repaired.
- If you do a lot of highway traveling, you might even consider carrying a battery-powered air compressor (figure H). These are battery-operated or plug into the cigarette lighter and allow you to pump up a tire with a slow leak, at least allowing you to drive to a service area where you can get some assistance.
- Finally, if you're not adventurous or mechanically inclined, perhaps you might consider investing in an auto club and always traveling with a cell phone. Even for the staunch do-it-yourselfer, sometimes there are advantages to letting someone else do it.
RESOURCES :
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
Tires, Suspension and Handling
ISBN: 1560918314
Author: John C. Dixon
(Society of Automotive Engineers
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