Do you know how to change a tire? Take this quiz from How Stuff Works to see if you know the tire changing basics.
#1 – True or False? A basic tire changing kit includes a jack, a tire lever and a spare tire.
Answer – True. A basic tire changing kit typically includes a jack, a tire lever (with a socket on one end and a pry bar on the other) and a spare tire.
#2 – True or False? There are two main varieties of car jacks.
Answer – True. Jacks come in two main varieties — scissor and bottle.
#3 – True or False? A bottle jack is the most common type of car jack.
Answer – False. A scissor jack is the most common type and uses a mechanical scissor mechanism to lift the car.
#4 – Which of the following statements is true?
a. A scissor jack is the most common type and uses a mechanical scissor mechanism to lift the car.
b. A bottle jack is more powerful but less compact and uses hydraulic fluid to lift the car.
c. both of the above
Answer – C. Jacks come in two main varieties — scissor and bottle. A scissor jack is the most common type and uses a mechanical scissor mechanism to lift the car. A bottle jack is more powerful but less compact and uses hydraulic fluid to lift the car.
#5 – True or False? A tire lever is essentially a large hammer.
Answer – False. The tire lever is essentially a large socket wrench with one socket that matches the size of the lug nuts on your wheels. The length of the lever adds mechanical advantage — the longer the handle, the more force you can exert on the nut.
#6 – True or False? A full-size spare tire is safer to use than a temporary spare tire.
Answer – True. Spare tires are either full-size or temporary (often called “donut” or “space saver”) spares. A full-size spare tire offers more advantages as far as safety is concerned, but it’s difficult to store, especially in smaller cars. It also weighs more and is harder to manage onto the wheel hub at ground level. A donut spare tire is easier to store and easier to manage on to the hub. However, it’s generally less safe, usually limiting driving speed to less than 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour) and a range of less than 60 miles (96.6 kilometers).
#7 – True or False? Wheel bolts are much easier to deal with than wheel studs.
Answer – False. Wheel studs stay on the hub and serve as a mounting surface for the spare. Wheel bolts screw into the hub and come off with the tire. With this type of system, putting the tire back on the car means having to manage the tire with a bolt through a rim hole and being able to wrestle the whole thing into position to screw the bolt in. This system is difficult to deal with even in controlled conditions, let alone on the side of a busy road. Wheel studs are a lot easier to deal with as the studs remain attached to the wheel hub and allow you to hang the tire on them and then replace the lug nuts.
#8 – True or False? Most American cars use wheel bolts rather than wheel studs.
Answer – False. Most American cars use wheel studs, while many European cars use wheel bolts instead. Wheel studs stay on the hub and serve as a mounting surface for the spare. Wheel bolts screw into the hub and come off with the tire. With this type of system, putting the tire back on the car means having to manage the tire with a bolt through a rim hole and being able to wrestle the whole thing into position to screw the bolt in. This system is difficult to deal with even in controlled conditions, let alone on the side of a busy road. Wheel studs are a lot easier to deal with as the studs remain attached to the wheel hub and allow you to hang the tire on them and then replace the lug nuts.
#9 – True or False? Knowing how to change a tire can save you time and money.
Answer – True. Knowing how to change a tire can save you money and time. From a car maintenance standpoint, a repair or road service club is only as good and as fast as the next tow truck that happens to pass by, and if you have a meeting or an appointment to get to (flats seem to happen at the worst of times), then having the skills necessary to change a tire can literally make or break your day.
#10 – True or False? When driving on a donut spare tire, driving speed is typically limited to less than 40 miles per hour.
Answer – False. A donut spare is easier to store and easier to manage on to the hub. However, it’s generally less safe, usually limiting driving speed to less than 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour) and a range of less than 60 miles (96.6 kilometers). Good car maintenance means checking the air pressure in the spare tire on a regular basis too. It only takes a couple of minutes but may save you hours of aggravation someday.
So how did you do? If you have any questions about changing your tire give Mike’s Auto Repair a call!
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