Just like you would never go out to the beach for the day without sun block, a bathing suit and a change of clothes, you should never leave your car unprepared. You should keep a road kit in the boot. Many of the small repairs you may have to do are dirty and troublesome. It pays to plan ahead.  

A tyre change kit should include equipment that should be in your car: the owner's manual, a tyre iron, a jack and crank and you should also a pair of sturdy gloves, a piece of canvas or other sturdy material, a small carpet or tarpaulin, a can of lubricant [like WD-40], a plastic container with lid and an emery board. Make sure you do have these items in the boot at all times.

If you have ever heard the pop and felt the thump-thump of a flat tyre, you know that means you will have to pull over to the verge, well out of the way of traffic, to change it. Hopefully, there will be traffic and you will be able to find someone to help. But in the worst case scenario, there is no traffic or mobile phone reception and you will have to do this yourself.

First, take out the gloves and put them on. No need to ruin a perfectly good manicure! Now, put the carpet on the edge of the boot so you don't ruin the paint. Place the material over the edge of the tyre nearest you. Pull the tyre out. Lean it against the vehicle. Next, take the carpet and place it next to the flat. You don't have to ruin your outfit because you have to repair a tyre.

Then place the jack, crank and tyre iron near the lift point of your vehicle. If you don't know where that point is, you'll have to look it up in your owner's manual. Now take the container, and place it on the edge of the carpet. You will need it to put the nuts in so they don't roll and get lost.

Now, you have to loosen the lug nuts. They are the large nuts holding the tyre to the wheel hub. Then, using the tyre iron, push counter-clockwise, but don't remove them completely. You will probably have to use all your strength to do this. You may even have to stomp on the iron. If they still won't budge, spray them with the lubricant and try again.

Once you know where to place the jack, do so. Secure the jack by screwing it up until it pushes lightly on the frame. You may have to try more than once, if the ground under the car is loose or uneven. When you know that the jack is solid, continue cranking until the tyre has completely cleared the ground. Now completely remove the lugs nuts and place them in the container.

Pull the flat off and put it to the side, or if you are feeling strong, place it right into the boot. Next, roll the replacement tyre to the wheel hub and line up the holes to the bolts and lift the tyre up and push it onto the bolts. Then finger tighten the lug nuts onto the bolts. Finally, use the tyre iron to snug the bolts down.

You're almost there. All you have to do is lower the jack and pull it out from under the car. Check the lugs nuts and tighten more if you can. Finally, stow the tools and return the carpet to the boot. Pull off the gloves and check your manicure. Use the emery board for any necessary repairs.

Now you are back on your way. As soon as you can stop at your favourite service centre and have the original tyre repaired and replaced.

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