1998 Chevrolet Cavalier Owner's Manual - Page 245

If a Tire Goes Flat It's unusual for a tire to "blow out" while you're driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. goes If air to out of a tire, it's much more likely leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a "blowout," here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do: Changing a Flat Tire If a tire goes avoid further tire and wheel damage flat, by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard w--+q- '?ashers. I If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your footoff the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to can slip off the jack androll overyou or other a stop wellout of the trafficlane. people. You and they could be badly injured. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a Find a level placeto change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving: skid and may require same correction you'd use in a the skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the 1. Set the parking brakefirmly. accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by 2. Put anautomatic transaxle shift lever in It steering the way you want the vehicle to go. may be PARK (P),or shift a manual transaxle to very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R). -brake to a stop well off the road if possible. 3. n r n off the engine. If a tire goesflat, the next part shows how use your to To be even more certain thevehicle won't move, jacking equipment to change flat tire safely. a of you can putblocks at the front and rear the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That would bethe tire the otherside of the on vehicle, at the opposite end. 5-23