Signs & Safety
What light on your dashboard can mean you need to change your tire?
“Check Tire” light
What tool do you need to loosen your car’s lug nuts?
Wrench
What is the very first step in changing a tire?
Place wheel blockers in front of the opposite wheel
What pattern do you use when tightening the lug nuts?
Star pattern
True or false: Changing a regular tire and changing a flat tire are different?
False
What tool is used to lift the car off the ground?
Jack
When should you loosen the lug nuts—before or after raising the car with the jack?
Before raising the car
What should you do after lowering the car back to the ground?
Tighten the lug nuts again in the star pattern
Which safety device should you always activate before changing a tire?
The handbrake (parking brake)
Where are the tools for changing a tire usually located in a car?
In the boot (trunk), under the floor cover
Where should you place the jack before lifting the car?
At the closest point to the tire, aligned with the car’s arrow/marking
What is the last step after putting all your tools away?
Drive slowly around the block, zig-zagging safely to test the tire
Which side of the car should you place the wheel blockers?
On the opposite wheel of the one being changed
What can you do if loosening a lug nut by hand is too hard?
Use body weight (step/jump lightly on the wrench)
Why should you only lift the car “just enough” with the jack?
Because tires are heavy, you only need the flat tire barely off the ground
Why do you tighten lug nuts in a star pattern?
So the tire is evenly tightened and balanced
True or false: It’s okay to crawl halfway under the car while it’s lifted on the jack
False
What is the name of the metal fastener that screws onto the tire?
Lug nut
If the tire is stuck to the car and won’t come off, what trick can you use?
Kick the top of the tire to loosen it
What should you always check in your spare tire before relying on it?
That it’s properly inflated and in good condition