If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is 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 at tire creates a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
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 would
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.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-71
3. Loosen the wheel nuts — but do not remove them
— using the lug wrench. For wheels with a wheel
lock key, use the wheel lock key between the
lock nut and lug wrench. The key is supplied in the
front passenger door pocket.
Notice:If your vehicle has wheel locks and an
impact wrench is used to remove the wheel nuts,
the lock nut or wheel lock key could be damaged. Do
not use an impact wrench to remove the wheel
nuts if your vehicle has wheel locks.4. To identify the appropriate jacking location, nd the
triangle (A) about 12 inches (30.5 cm) from the front
tire or (B) about 10.5 inches (27 cm) from the
rear tire.
The triangle is located near each wheel on the
vehicle’s exterior.
Notice:If a jack is used to raise the vehicle without
positioning it correctly, your vehicle could be
damaged. When raising your vehicle on a jack, avoid
contact with the rear axle control arms.
5-77
