You’re driving along in your van happily going about your business, when all of a sudden, something doesn’t feel right. You get out to discover you’ve got a flat tyre.
Don’t panic, it’s not the end of the world. But it’s also not going to fix itself, so roll up your sleeves and get stuck in!
As with most things in motoring, preparation is key. With that in mind, ensure you have the basic kit already in the vehicle to get back up and running.
To get the job done quickly and most importantly, safely and correctly, you’ll need a flat-headed screwdriver, a jack complete with winding handle, the right sized socket spanner, some rubber wheel chocks, a reflective triangle and, of course, a spare tyre that’s in good condition. There’s no point putting on a new wheel, only to discover it too has a puncture.
You may also wish to have some oil-based lubricant handy like WD40, as well as a luminous high-vis jacket, a torch in case it’s dark, some gloves to stop your hands getting filthy and a roll of old carpet to kneel on.
Now that you’re fully prepared, here’s your step-by-step guide to changing a flat or damaged tyre…
Pull in safely
If your flat happens while you’re driving, put on the hazard lights and slow down to about five MPH. Pull in at the first convenient, safe place, away from heavy traffic. If this isn’t possible, at least go somewhere the vehicle is clearly visible.
For the record, never attempt to change a tyre on the hard shoulder of a motorway, it’s just too dangerous. Call your breakdown company. Also, if you are carrying a particularly heavy load then your jack might prove ineffective – in which case you should also call your breakdown company. The same goes for if your load in unstable.
Secure the van
Now you’ve pulled over, make sure the van is parked on the flat. Don’t try to change a tyre on uneven ground. Put the hand brake on firmly and put the van into first gear – or park if it’s an automatic. Place a rubber wheel chock in front and behind the wheel diagonal to the one you’re changing – for example, if the flat is front passenger side, place chocks around the rear driver-side wheel.
Now get your reflective triangle and put it about 20 metres behind the van. Where this goes depends on what road you’re on, really. For example, if you’re on a winding lane, put it in a place that will warn approaching drivers you’re there and parked up. Popping the bonnet up is also a good tip to let other drivers know you’re repairing something too.
Unpack your equipment and get started
Check the spare tyre is inflated properly and that you have everything you need. With all your tools out in front of you and the van securely in place, take off the hubcaps with the screwdriver (if your van has them) and then loosen the wheel nuts, turning ANTI-CLOCKWISE. Do this while the van is on the floor, as the weight will help you.
Don’t take the nuts off at this point, just loosen them so they’re finger tight. If they’re too stiff to move, spray some lubricant on each nut and try again. If you’ve got locking wheel nuts, you’ll need to find the key for them too.
Position the jack
You need to find the jacking point on the van. This will be made clear in the user manual and is something you really want to get right. If you put the jack head in the wrong place, it might go through the floor of your van when you start raising it up. Lift the van high enough so a fully inflated tyre can go in its place. It’s important you never, ever go under any vehicle that’s only raised up by a jack.
Change the tyre
Now remove the wheel nuts completely, and put them in safe place so they don’t roll away. Remove the flat tyre and put it down flat. Put the new tyre in place, and put the wheel nuts back on, just tight enough so the new wheel won’t come off.
Secure the wheel
Lower the vehicle and only remove the jack when the van is firmly on the ground. Now tighten the wheel nuts using the socket spanner, turning CLOCKWISE. Tighten in a diagonal fashion – for example, if you’ve tightened the nut at the 10 o’clock position, tighten the one at 4 o’clock next, and so on until they’re all as tight as you can get them with your hand.
Finish up
Pop the hubcap back on and put all the equipment away. There are no marks awarded for speed, so take your time and don’t rush! You’ll also need to get the old tyre mended as soon as possible.
If, when investigating the flat tyre, you discover something more serious is wrong with your van, you’ll probably need professional help. For peace of mind, be sure your van insurance policy is up to date.