At Bobby Rahal Honda of State College, we know that there's more to owning a car than just knowing how to drive. There are many factors as a car owner that you should be aware of, such as knowing how to change a tire.

It's impossible to know when you will have a flat tire. Most of us have access to the internet, or even a friend or relative, to learn how to do new things. But what if you have no phone with you during this unexpected time, or your phone's battery is dead? What if you are driving to a seclusive Pennsylvania State Park and no one is in sight to help you change your flat tire? Surely you have got to do something, you just can't sit and wait for rescue! Luckily, changing a tire can easily be done by following a few simple steps. Anybody can do it! Read on to learn how to change a tire safely.

Step 1: Have your tools ready. Usually, the things that you need for changing a flat tire come with your car and are usually located in the trunk. The necessary tools are the jack, lug wrench, spare tire that is fully inflated, and the owner's manual of the car. Other items that you might need to have are working flashlights, a slab of wood to secure the jack, and wheel wedges. A poncho or gloves may also come in handy if you're stuck in Mechanicsburg during a storm.

Step 2: Stop at a safe location. Never switch lanes or abruptly stop the moment that you feel you have a flat tire. Instead, reduce your speed and scan the surroundings for the perfect spot to stop. Ideally, a parking lot with a level ground is the perfect place to change a flat tire. Use caution if you need to make a stop on curved roads or on an inclined place. Oncoming traffic may not see you stopped at the shoulder of the road or the vehicle may slip downward of on an inclined area. Furthermore, to avoid any accidents, change the tire where there is less traffic and the road is wide to ensure yours and other Phillipsburg or Tyrone drivers' safety.

Step 3: Turn on your flashers. You cannot help that there may be inattentive drivers on the State College roads, which is why you should turn on your hazard lights to catch their attention. Signal that you're pulling off the road and turn the flashers on the moment that you reach the road shoulder or pull off area.

Step 4: Apply the parking brakes and the wheel wedges. These will stop your car from rolling, especially during the process of changing your tire or if you are on an incline. If you don't have any wedges handy, stones or logs can be great alternatives, but are not completely necessary.

Step 5: Place the jack under your car and raise it. The jack should be placed beneath the car's frame. You can refer to your car manual for the exact placement of the jack. Initially, the jack should be raised until it is able to support the car but not yet lift it off the ground.

Step 6: Remove the wheel cover and loosen the nuts. You simply have to remove them by turning counter-clockwise, but be mindful that the wheel is not turning as well.

Step 7: Lift the Tire. Now you can use the handle to crank the jack up until the tire is lifted off the ground, about 6 inches. It is important to make sure that the car is stable while it is being raised, and don't lift it too high off the ground.

Step 8: Unscrew the nuts and remove the tire. Make sure to remove the tire evenly, to ensure no damage is done to the tire or the vehicle.

Step 9: Mount the Spare Tire on the Hub. Make sure that you align the rim with the wheel boots. It is also important to make sure you are aligning the tire evenly when putting the spare on.

Step 10: Tighten the nuts. To ensure that the spare tire is mounted evenly, screw all the nuts on loosely, and then go back and tighten them all. This is to be sure that the spare tire isn't crooked on the car, which could cause another issue.

Step 11: Lower the car and replace hubcap. Do not apply the full weight of the car onto the tire not until the lug nuts are tightened completely, then you can release the jack and slowly lower the car to the ground and replace the hubcap.

Step 12: Stow all equipment used. Do not forget to put the flat tire and the rest of the equipment into the trunk before heading to a mechanic. Be careful when driving your vehicle with the spare tire. It is not designed for long-lasting wear, so take it to a garage or mechanic as soon as possible!

If you follow these few steps, you can easily change the tire on your car. You don't need to be a mechanic or have super strength - just the right tools!

Here at Bobby Rahal Honda, we know that proper car care and maintenance are important to drivers from Mt. Union to Penn State and all over Pennsylvania. If you have questions about changing your car's tire give us a call at 814-259-8208. If you found this article helpful, make sure to share it!