Ifa Tire Goes Hat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out”
while you’re driving, especially if
you
maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a “blowout:’ here are a few tips
about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire
fails, the flat tire will
create a drag that pulls
the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel
firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, then gently brake to a stop well
out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require
the same correction you’d use in a skid.
In any rear blowout, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get
the
vehicle under control by steering the
way you want the vehicle to go.
It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road if possible.
If your tire goes flat, the next section
shows how
to use your jacking
equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Air Inflator
Your vehicle may have an air inflator for
use
in bringing tires up to the proper
pressure.
To learn about it, see the Index
under Air Inflator System.
Inflating something too much
can make it explode, and
you
or others could be injured. Be sure
to read the inflator instructions and
inflate any object only to
its
recommended pressure.
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The following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is in the
storage compartment at the rear of the
vehicle. 1. Open the jack storage compartment
by sliding the latch down and
removing the compartment cover.
L
2. Remove the jack and jacking tools by
loosening the wing
nut and retainer
bar.
3. Separate the plastic pouch from the
jack and remove the jacking tools
(folding wrench and shaft) from the
pouch.
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17. Lay the flat tire near the rear of the
vehicle with the valve stem down.
Slide the cable retainer through the
center
of the wheel and raise the flat
tire until you hear the hoist
mechanism click twice. This means
the wheel is firmly stored against
the underside of the vehicle.
When storing the spare tire, be certain
to turn the spare so the valve stem is
near the rear
of the vehicle. This will
help you to check and maintain tire
pressure in the spare.
Push against the tire to be certain it is
stored firmly.
18. Replace all jacking tools as they
were stored in the jack storage
compartment and replace the
compartment cover.
Be sure to also store the nylon nut caps.
When you replace the compact spare
with a full-size tire, replace the nylon
nut caps over the wheel nuts. Tighten
them “hand tight” using the folding
wrench (see step
7).
Storing a jack, a tire or other
- equipment in the passenger
compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
~dlision, loose equipment could
>trike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
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