2000 BUICK LESABRE flat tire

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5-19
If a Tire Goes Flat
It's unusual for a tire to ªblow outº 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 ªblowout,º 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, and 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 a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.

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5-20
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
CAUTION:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or other
people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won't move,
you can put blocks at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle, at the opposite end.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.

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5-22 Removing Wheel Covers and
Wheel Nut Caps
1. If your vehicle has an aluminum wheel with a center
cover that hides the wheel nuts, remove the center cover
by using the flat end of the wheel wrench to pry it off.
If your vehicle has a wheel cover, remove it by using
the flat end of the wheel wrench.
Pry along the edge of the wheel cover until it
comes off.
2. If your vehicle has this
aluminum wheel, you
may have plastic wheel
nut caps. Use the wheel
nut wrench to remove
the wheel nut caps and
to loosen the wheel nuts.
3. When reinstalling the decorative nut caps, tighten the
caps snugly with the wheel wrench, then continue
one
-quarter rotation to secure plastic caps.
NOTE: When replacing the wheel cover, carefully line
up the tire valve stem and the notch in the wheel cover.

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5-23 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Use the wheel wrench to loosen the wheel nuts, but
don't remove them yet.
2. The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the wheel
wrench to the bolt to create a jack handle.
3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower
the jack head until it fits under the vehicle.

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5-24
4. Put the jack into a notch in the frame which is located
near each wheel well. The front notch is eight inches
(20 cm) back from the front wheel well. The rear notch
is three inches (8 cm) forward from the rear wheel
well. The notches are accessible through openings in
the plastic trim at the bottom of the vehicle.
5. Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits
firmly on the ridge in the vehicle's frame nearest the
flat tire. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the compact
spare tire near you.
CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even make
the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and
vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into
the proper location before raising the vehicle.

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5-25
6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise in the jack. Raise the vehicle far enough
so there's enough room for the spare tire to fit.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
8. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become
loose after a time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from the places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you
can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.

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5-28 Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
After you've put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you'll need to store the flat tire in your trunk.
Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment in
the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised until the
screw end is flush with the edge of the jack.
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full
-size tire as soon as you
can. See ªCompact Spare Tireº later in the Index.
See the storing instructions label to replace your
compact spare into your trunk properly.

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5-29
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your spare
tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to
perform well at speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h) for
distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can finish
your trip and have your full
-size tire repaired or replaced
where you want. You must calibrate the Check Tire
Pressure System after installing or removing the compact
spare. See ªCheck Tire Pressure Systemº in the Index.
Of course, it's best to replace your spare with a full
-size
tire as soon as you can. Your spare will last longer and be
in good shape in case you need it again.