How to Fix a Flat Tire

Fixing a flat tire is the last thing you want to do on a rainy night or when on your way to an important event. It takes time, and you can get very messy in the process. You can fix your flat quickly and effectively with the right materials and tools on hand. Follow these steps to fix your flat tire long enough to reach a service center, and have a replacement tire installled.

Step 1: Move Your Vehicle to the Side of the Road

Signal and slowly pull your vehicle off the road onto the shoulder, or into a driveway if there is one nearby.

Step 2: Set Up Safety Flares

Place 1 safety flare 100 feet behind your vehicle and 1 about 50 feet in front. Turn on the switches to illuminate them. Do this any time you have a tire blowout on the driver's side of the vehicle, even in daylight.

Step 3: Find and Remove the Valve Cap from the Flat Tire

Find the valve cap, twist it off carefully and set it inside the car on the seat. You will need to be able to find it to put it back on when you are finished.

Step 4: Attach the Can of Tire Sealant to the Valve Stem

Attach the feed hose from the can of Fix a Flat (TM) to the spray nozzle at the top. Screw the feed hose onto the valve stem of the tire. If you have done this correctly, you will hear it hissing as it fills the tire with aerosol gas.

Step 5: Detach the Can of Tire Sealant

When the hissing noise stops, the sealant has filled the tire. Remove the feed hose from the valve stem, and place the hose and empty can on the floor in the back seat.

Step 6: Replace the Valve Cap

Find the valve cap on the seat of the car and put it back on the valve stem.

Step 7: Pick Up the Flares and Shut Them Off

Carefully pick up the flares and shut them off, and put them in the back seat.

Step 8: Drive Away Promptly

Drive the car back onto the road and continue on your way promptly. The tire needs to turn to distribute the aerosol gas and sealant evenly over the inner surface of the tire.

Step 9: Go to a Vehicle Service Center

Take your vehicle to the nearest service center to arrange for a new tire. Tell the mechanics that you have used an aerosol tire sealant on the damaged tire, and show them the can so they know what you did. Many tire service centers will not repair tires sealed with a tire sealant both for your safety and that of their mechanics. Order a correct-sized tire and have it replaced while you wait.

As with temporary spare tires, a tire repaired with tire sealant should be driven at low speed and for not more than 50 miles to prevent damage to the car and injury to yourself.