Flat tire? Here’s how to handle it safely.

1. 01Get somewhere safePull well off the road onto flat, firm ground, away from traffic if you can. Hazards on, parking brake on, everyone out on the side away from traffic.
2. 02Spare or kit?Check the trunk floor. Many newer cars have no spare, just a sealant-and-inflator kit. If yours has a kit, follow the label on the can and drive gently to a shop.
3. 03Loosen the lug nuts firstWith the tire still on the ground, turn each lug nut about half a turn counter-clockwise. It’s much harder once the wheel can spin.
4. 04Jack at the right spotUse the jack point your owner’s manual shows, usually a reinforced pinch weld just behind the front wheel or ahead of the rear. Raise until the flat is just off the ground.
5. 05Swap the wheelRemove the nuts and the flat. Put the spare on and hand-tighten the nuts in a star pattern.
6. 06Lower and tightenLower the car, then tighten the nuts firmly in a star pattern. Check the spare’s pressure as soon as you can.

Tap each step as you go.