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. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, it 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. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, only use it 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.
5-79
3. Use the wheel
wrench to loosen
all the wheel nuts. Turn
the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to
loosen the wheel nuts.
Do not remove the
wheel nuts yet.
A. Front Position
B. Rear Position
{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 t the jack lift
head into the proper location before raising the
vehicle.
4. Position the jack under the vehicle as shown.
Jacking Locations (Overall View)
5-87
Front Tire Flat:If the at tire is on a front tire of
the vehicle, you will need to use the jack handle and
only one jack handle extension. Attach the wheel
wrench to the jack handle extension. Attach the jack
handle to the jack (A). Position the jack on the
frame behind the at tire near the front body mount
as shown. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to
raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough room for the
spare tire to clear the ground.Rear Tire Flat:If the at tire is on a rear tire of the
vehicle, you will need to use the jack handle and
both jack handle extensions. Attach the wheel
wrench to the jack handle extensions. Attach the
jack handle to the jack. Use the jacking pad
provided on the rear axle. Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there is enough room
for the spare tire to clear the ground. Front Position
Rear Position
5-88
