Welcome fellow car lovers to this week's instalment of The Motor Range Express.

In all we do, we strive to provide insightful articles to help you understand this confusing industry. Which, therefore, brings us to this article!

Have you ever been caught out by the side of the road with a flat tyre? Did you know that changing the tyre yourself can save you time and money? Continue reading to find out how.

Please remember if you have a bad back or are pregnant, to call a professional in this situation, it is always better to be safe than sorry!

If you have any questions about this article, please tweet us @MotorRange using the hashtag #MRFlatTyre.

What is needed?

If the flat occurs while driving, pull into a safe area away from traffic. The surface should be flat and level. Put an automatic transmission into park. Vehicles having a manual transmission should be put it into reverse. Set the parking brake.

Most cars are equipped with the essentials needed for changing a tyre. Check used cars to be sure they have a spare tyre, jack, and lug nut wrench. Other useful items include a wheel chocks set, a large plastic trash bag to keep clothes and hands clean, and a pair of gloves.

Replacing the flat tyre

Wheels diagonally opposite of the flat tyre should be chocked. If a plastic wheel cover hides the bolts, pry it off. Sometimes bolts go through the cover of the wheel. Before jacking up a car loosen the bolts. It may be necessary to yank hard. Use the owner’s manual for reference in operating the jack and locating the proper jacking points. Improper placement of a car-jack can damage the car or create a dangerous situation. Crank the jack only as high as necessary to lift the tyre off the ground. Keep your body away from a place where the car could crush you if it fell off the jack.

Remove the bolts of the lug nuts. Pull off the wheel. Full-size spares may require raising the car slightly. Roll the spare into the proper position. A compact spare can be lifted into place without lifting the car. Attach the spare by using a diagonal pattern to tighten the bolts of the lug nuts. After lowering the car once again tighten the bolts to assure the spare has been squarely set on the vehicle.

Place the flat tyre in the trash bag to avoid getting your clothes dirty. The flat tyre will fit into the tyre well of most cars. Tear a hole in the bag in order to tighten it in place.

Spare tyres can cause a car to respond differently than it does with four regular tyres. The owner’s manual will recommend the speed limit to observe when spare tyres are in use. After twenty miles of driving, re-tighten the lug nut bolts. Replace the spare tyre as soon as possible.

It is important to keep referring to your owners manual as this will include specifics for your car.

If you have any questions about this article, please tweet us @MotorRange using the hashtag #MRFlatTyre.

Until next time…

Save, choose and change.