I work at major car dealership – drivers always miss key skill which saves them thousands
AN employee at a major car dealership has revealed a key skill that drivers tend to miss but which could save them thousands.
The expert, who works at Johnsons Cars in Solihull, West Midlands, took to YouTube to explain how some simple car maintenance jobs can be done at home for a fraction of the price.
In the clip he said: “Punctures can strike at any time and knowing how to change a flat tyre is a skill everyone should possess.
“It could save you time and money.
“Following our step-by-step instructions, it can be easier than you think”.
All you need to do is find a “flat, stable and safe” area to park your car and you can get to work on switching out the tyre.
First, you should loosen the nuts on the flat tyre using a standard socket set.
The expert advised doing so with a straight back and evenly distributed body weight to avoid injuring yourself through strain.
After that, you just need to jack the car up to take the weight off the tyre you wish to change.
Basic jacks can be found online for as little as £12.50, while slightly higher-end models can be had for around £30.
Make sure to place the jack on the recommended lift point, which can be found in your owner’s manual.
Once that’s done, remove the wheel nuts, making sure to remove the top one last.
This will allow you to pop the wheel off, though be careful as it is likely to be heavier than you think.
Simply place the spare tyre on the exposed hub and make sure it is aligned properly before replacing the nuts.
Lower the car off the jack, tighten up the nuts and check the tyre pressure against the recommendations in your owner’s manual.
Watch out for any restrictions on spare wheels, which are often limited to certain speeds that are displayed on the wheel base.
Pop the old tyre in your boot and get it replaced or repaired as soon as you can.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to go direct to our expert, as Johnsons announced this week that it would close its Solihull branch due to limitations on capacity.
It comes after another motors expert shared her top tips for driving in the rain.
Meanwhile, a major car brand is reportedly considering scrapping one of its most iconic models, which has been rolling off production lines since 1975.