A couple of days ago I got a flat tire for the first time in many years.
Here's what I found and the lessons I took away:
I was traveling on a six lane highway when I noticed a loud flapping noise.
At first I thought it was not my car, but possibly a loud muffler from a
vehicle in the next lane. Then I heard a clunk {whatever had punctured my
tire had become detached} and then silence.
I didn't detect any handling problem but decided I'd better pull over and check. I found the left rear was completely flat. I did not have any major problem changing to the spare, but I was very happy that my flat happened on a clear sunny day. It would have been much more difficult had it been a dark, stormy night.
There are two recommendations that I would make:
The first is to expect that a flat might not cause a noticeable change in the Prius' handling characteristics. Granted, I was on a straight highway and did not attempt any major maneuvers.
The second advice is to take a dry run for tire changing before you need it. It is much easier to determine which tools you will need and where to find them when you have good daylight. I also found that the jacking points were not obvious. There were no diagrams or aids near the jack or spare. I actually got out the owners manual to be sure I had positioned the jack properly.
-Al
I was traveling on a six lane highway when I noticed a loud flapping noise.
I didn't detect any handling problem but decided I'd better pull over and check. I found the left rear was completely flat. I did not have any major problem changing to the spare, but I was very happy that my flat happened on a clear sunny day. It would have been much more difficult had it been a dark, stormy night.
There are two recommendations that I would make:
The first is to expect that a flat might not cause a noticeable change in the Prius' handling characteristics. Granted, I was on a straight highway and did not attempt any major maneuvers.
The second advice is to take a dry run for tire changing before you need it. It is much easier to determine which tools you will need and where to find them when you have good daylight. I also found that the jacking points were not obvious. There were no diagrams or aids near the jack or spare. I actually got out the owners manual to be sure I had positioned the jack properly.
-Al