No one expects to get stranded in the parking lot, on the highway, or even worse, in the middle of nowhere, but it happens. If your tire ever does go flat on you, make sure you have the tools to repair it so you can drive home or to a repair shop.

Step 1: Pull Over Safely

Hopefully, you’ll notice your tire is flat in a parking lot or your driveway. If not, you’ll want to pull over to the side of the road, preferably one that’s straight and flat so oncoming cars can see you. Put on your hazards and activate the parking brake so your car doesn’t roll as you make repairs.

Step 2: Get the Tools You Need

Look in your trunk for a spare tire. If you don’t have one, or if you check the air pressure and the spare is too deflated to use, you’ll need to inflate and seal your punctured tire for the time being. Here are all the items you’ll need:

• Owner’s manual
• Portable air compressor or inflator
• Car jack
• Jack stand (optional)
• Lug wrench
• Pliers
• Wheel wedges, wood blocks or bricks
• Tire pressure gauge (optional)
• Soapy water (optional)
• Tire plug kit OR liquid tire sealant OR aerosol tire sealant

Step 3: Remove the Tire

If you’re very close to home or a repair shop, you may be able to use your portable air compressor to fill the tire just enough to make it to your next destination. However, this is unsafe for a large leak or if you need to drive a long distance. Most of the time, you’ll want to seal the tire on the spot. First, remove the hubcap from your flat tire. Then take the lug wrench and start loosening the lug nuts in a star pattern, but don’t loosen them all the way just yet. Next, place the wheel wedges, wood blocks or bricks in front of the front wheels, if repairing a back tire, or behind the back wheels, if repairing a front tire. Use your owner’s manual to figure out where to place your car jack. This will be somewhere on the frame near the deflated tire. If you have one, use a jack stand for extra support to stabilize your car. Crank or pump the car jack until you have enough space to safely remove the tire. Loosen the lug nuts all the way. Slip the tire off the car and place it on the ground. IMPORTANT NOTE: Never jack the car up before loosening the lug nuts. The force you generate knocking them loose could easily knock the car off the jack and cause serious injury to you or your vehicle.

Step 4: Check for Air Leaks

You’ll need to identify the source of the leak to fix your tire. Search for a protruding screw or nail. If you can’t see an obvious hole, douse or spray the tire with soapy water. Any air leak will cause the soap to bubble up around the hole. Don’t neglect the walls of the tires, including the juncture between the rim and tire as well as the valve stem. A small hole in the tread of the tire is the easiest to repair. Punctures anywhere else in the tire or those that are particularly large require you to either put on a spare or call roadside assistance.

Step 5: Plug the Leaks

Use a tire plug kit if you have one before attempting to use a canned sealant. Oftentimes, aerosol or liquid sealants damage the inside of the tire and void the warranty. They will make things a lot more difficult at the repair shop as well. Before removing the object that pierced your tire, prepare your tire plugs, as you don’t want to let the remaining air seep out. Most tire plug kits will include:

• Several long tire plugs
• A plugger
• A reamer
• Rubber cement or some other adhesive

Take one of the plugs and thread it through the plugger, just like you would with a sewing needle and thread. Don’t be afraid to flatten the plug to get it to fit in the opening. Work it through until half of the plug is sticking out on either side. If the kit came with rubber cement, apply it to the plug. Remove the object from the tire with pliers. Quickly insert the pointed end of the reamer into the hole. Push it up and down and twist it to make the hole smoother. This ensures the plug will bind well. Apply rubber cement to the reamer as you do this if you have it on hand. Finally, take your plugger and push it down into the hole. You may need to use some force for this step. Leave a little bit of the plug sticking out, and pull up on the plugger handle. The plugger should come free, and the plug will be left behind. Once it’s no longer tacky to the touch, cut the excess plug off with the pliers. Pour soapy water over the area to make sure no more air is leaking out. Use the air compressor to inflate the tire and check that you have the right tire pressure. If you only have a liquid or aerosol sealant on hand and you have a long way to drive, use that to close the hole in the tire. Follow the instructions on the back of the package. Most products require you to attach the can to the valve stem with a nozzle and squeeze the product directly into the tire.

Step 6: Replace the Tire

After confirming the hole is completely plugged, put your fixed tire back on the car. Hand tighten the lug nuts, then remove the jack stand and lower the car jack. Once the car is resting on the ground, use the lug wrench to completely tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern. Replace the hubcap and put all your repair items back in the trunk.

Step 7: Get the Tire Professionally Patched or Replaced

While some people have luck driving on a sealed tire long-term, it’s safer to bring it into a repair shop within a few days for patching or replacement. Some places will repair it for free, as long as the tire is not unusable because liquid or aerosol sealant was applied.

Get Your Tire Replaced at Toyota of Seattle

If you want to replace your plugged tire, or if your tire was damaged beyond repair, the friendly service technicians at Toyota of Seattle can help. We can replace your Toyota’s tires with the model’s original tires at a competitive price. You can even enjoy free Wi-Fi and complimentary tea and coffee while you wait. Call us at (206) 382-8812 to schedule your service today!