Not all punctures can be fixed using a repair kit, and some can’t be fixed at all, so it’s important to identify whether the puncture you find is repairable. A puncture caused by an object that entered and exited the tire can be more complicated to find once you do, be sure to mark it with chalk or other identifier so you don’t lose track of it. Alternatively, cover the tire in soapy water and look for tell-tale bubbling.

If there is still some air left in the tire, you can also listen for the sound of air escaping and use it to guide you to the puncture site.

Common culprits are nails, screws, or broken glass. You then raise the car with a jack, finish removing the nuts, and pull the tire off the vehicle.įirst check the entire circumference of the tread for sharp objects that remained embedded in the tire. But to give a condensed version, you first use the lug wrench to slightly loosen the nuts holding the wheel onto the vehicle. Your operator’s manual should have detailed instructions on how to do this step and where to find the necessary tools (a jack and a lug wrench, which are standard equipment in all vehicles). Care should be taken when using the tire tools to pry the tire on the rim so that you do not damage the bead.Here are eight steps for fixing flats. Use the tire tools to aid in installing the final few inches over the rim. Press in on the front side of the tire to start placing the front side inside the rim. Use the two tire tools to pry the rest of the back side of the tire over the rim. Place the new tire over the rim at a 45-degree angle and push as much of back side of the tire over the facing rim lip. If necessary, use the tire tools to aid in starting the inside bead off of the rim and then pulling the tire completely off of the rim. Pull on the inside tire bead off of the rim with your hands. Continue all the way around until the outside tire bead is off of the rim. Slide the second tire tool around the perimeter of the tire bead and rim while the tire tool is still between the rim and tire. Lift the tire bead over the rim by pushing down on the tire tool handle or screwdriver handle.Place a hydraulic bottle jack or floor jack under the mower and raise the mower up until the flat tire is off the ground.

How to clean fix a flat out of a tire