A flat tire change from Centennial Towing in Centennial, CO means a driver comes to you and swaps the flat for your spare, so you never have to jack a car on a shoulder or in a lot. If the spare is flat too, or the sidewall is torn open, the job becomes a tow. Call 24 hours, 7 days a week.
The wheel coming off is rarely the hard part of a flat. What goes wrong first is everything around it: a spare that has lost its air, a locking lug nut with no key in the car, or lug nuts torqued down by a shop's impact gun.
Two minutes of checking before you call tells the dispatcher whether a driver can finish this on the spot.
What stops a spare swap from working?
Four things account for most failed swaps. Each can be checked before you dial.
- The spare is soft. Spares sit untouched for years, and a flat spare helps nobody.
- The car has a locking lug nut and the key is missing from the glovebox or trunk tray.
- The spare is a compact temporary one, which limits speed and distance and is meant to get you to a tire shop, not home on a long trip.
- The flat has shredded the sidewall or bent the wheel, so even a good spare may not sit right.
Can the tire be repaired, or do I need a new one?
A nail or screw in the tread can often be repaired by a tire shop. A cut or bulge in the sidewall cannot, and a tire driven on while flat is usually finished even if it looks intact. Ask the shop to inspect the inside of the tire before agreeing to a patch.
I don't have a spare. Can you still help?
Without a usable spare, changing the wheel is not the answer, so the car will most likely need a tow to a tire shop. Tell the dispatcher on the call so the right truck comes the first time.
Where is the locking lug nut key?
Look in the glovebox, the center console, and the trunk tool tray or spare-tire well. If it is gone, say so when you call, since removing a locked nut without the key takes extra tools and time.
How far can I drive on a temporary spare?
Check the number printed on the spare's sidewall or in the owner's manual, because it varies by make. Treat it as a ride to the tire shop only, and keep your speed down.