Puncture! Changing a wheel with a flat tyre (2019 Ford Focus)

Puncture! A ‘real time’ demonstration of changing a wheel with a flat tyre on our 2019 Ford Focus training car. Intended for novice / L-drivers who have never seen a wheel being changed before - for awareness only.
With modern cars becoming ever more reliable, Flat Batteries & Flat Tyres remain the two most common causes of break down.
Reading your own car’s manual on Jump Starting and Tyre Changing procedures, and familiarising yourself with your car’s boost starting connection points and jacking point locations, spare wheel, jack & tools BEFORE you become stranded is therefore good practice.
* * This tragic case on the A34 highlights the importance of the advice we give on calling a professional recovery service rather than attempting a wheel change at the roadside or hard shoulder of any major road. The case also highlights the very real dangers of illegal phone use at the wheel, and the human & legal consequences of doing so:
www.bbc.co.uk/... * *
This video runs in ‘real time’ to give you a good idea of how long a wheel change takes. It is intended for illustration/entertainment only and should not be relied upon. Refer to your own car’s manual for car specific procedure and safety warnings, and seek help from a competent person if attempting these techniques for the first time.
During this video we discuss:
1. Identifying a flat tyre from the car walk-round checks and modern tyre pressuring monitoring system.
2. We discuss recovery options from break-down services (AA, RAC, Green Flag, Local Garage) to dedicated mobile / road side tyre fitting services.
3. We also mention tyre inflation aerosols and their limitation to sealing small punctures, not larger gashes.
4. We then look at fitting a narrow width temporary spare tyre following the procedure described in the Ford Focus hand book.
5. We then inspect the tyre to identify the cause of it’s deflation.
* As we described in the video, the location of the screw which had punctured this tyre was marginal in terms of where it is acceptable to perform a puncture repair; in this case the Tyre Experts deemed repairing it acceptable. This guide explains puncture locations in more detail: www.kwik-fit.c...
Some cars are fitted with ‘Run Flat’ tyres which have ridged side walls enabling your to drive up to 50 miles at reduced speed on a completely deflated tyre.
Alternatively, self-sealing ‘Puncture Prevention Fluids’ can be put into tyres which seal punctures as they occur. Helpful if you are a particularly vulnerable road user or travel high puncture risk routes, but important to follow manufactures instructions regarding the limitations of these products. Nissan’s demonstration video of the Continental Sealant & Inflator Kit: • How to use the tyre pu...
This video gives a far more extensive discussion on tyres generally, and from time-code 21 minutes shows a new tyre being fitted to a wheel by a professional Tyre Fitter: • Mr Rusty’s New Shoes -...
This video shows recovery of a flat battery using a modern Lithium Ion road side emergency Boost pack, and also an over-night recovery recharge using a modern ‘Smart’ Battery Charger: • Boost Starting & Trick...
Weekly F.L.O.W.E.R. maintenance video: • FLOWER weekly car main...
This Haynes Manuals video of a 2014 - 2018 Focus gives a 2.5 minute summary of what we covered in real time: • How to Change a wheel ...
The RAC’s 3 minute summary video of the wheel change process which our video shows in ‘real time’: • How to change a tyre A really useful quick refresher if you have already familiarised yourself with the procedure for your own car.
The RAC’s generic 10 step guide to changing a wheel: www.rac.co.uk/...
The AA’s generic guide to changing a wheel: www.theaa.com/... (*Note that the AA recommend NOT using your feet to apply more pressure to stiff wheel nuts/bolts if you cannot release them with hand/arm strength).
Project FARM’s independent testing of Puncture Sealant products including ‘Tyre Slime’: • Is Tire Slime the Best...
‘Thru the valve’ options which doesn’t require the removal of the valve core, will be easier & safer to use on a dark rainy road side as these videos explain in detail:
Sealant & Inflator Kits review and summary:
• Video
Slime & Continental Sealant Inflator unboxing comparison:
• Video
0 - 60 psi Slime v Continental Sealant Inflator comparison in ‘real time’:
• Video