How to Change a Tire-Yes, This is Occasionally Relevant!

     This seem to be a weird topic to most people, but it was the only thing I could think of, and it might be helpful (especially to the girls that havent done this already with their dads) :)

     First of all, you need to get the tire off the ground.  Have you ever tried pulling an object out from under a bunch of metal that weighs upwards of 2000 pounds?  Good luck with that!  To help with this small problem, the jack was invented.  These are now so small that they fit easily into small spaces in the car. 

     First of all, get out your owners manual!  These will tell you where to place the jack in order to raise the car.  Look under the "changing a tire" section.  This is usually a special rod/peice attached to the axle, or a reinforced steel plate, depending on whether it is the front or the back of the car.  Be VERY careful when you raise the car, and DO NOT lie under the car while doing so!  Having a several ton car sitting on top of your body generally causes discomfort, and nobody wants that.   
     When you get the tire in the air, it is time to take it off!  Get the tire iron out of your car (generally found in the same place as the jack, look in your owners manual for location).

    First of all, take off the hubcap.  This is a shiny peice of plastic covering the wheel.  It usually just pulls off.  Next, take off the lug nuts with the tire iron (this is hard-use your muscles!!).  DO NOT lose them!  They are  sorta important.  After this, take the tire off.  The tire generally weighs about 25-50 pounds and could be called the dirtiest object on earth.  Hopefully you arent wearing your best dress or tuxedo when you have a blowout. :)
     Get out the spare tire.  This is sometimes under the floor in the back of the car, but is often attached to the underside of the car.  Read your owners manual for how to get your spare tire out/down from the car.
     The hard part is putting the tire back on.  Balance the tire until the holes in the rim fit over the bolts for the lug nuts (it really does make sense if you think about it).  Now it is time to put on the lug nuts.  DO NOT just start putting them on!  To get the right torque on the wheel, they go on in a specific order.  Most cars (all that I know of) have 5 or six lug nuts.  Start with the top one, and then tighten the nut on the opposite side(see image).  Continue to the one opposite the one you just tightened, and then repeat the process.  When you have put on all the lug nuts (VERY tightly- you dont want that wheel coming off anytime soon!), tighten the first one again just to be sure.

 
   Just to recap-all of these instruction's can be found in the operator's manual of your car.  If yours is not in your glove compartment, put it there.  If you dont have one, get one from the car company.  There is all kinds of emergency information in there, not just how to change a tire!   If you absolutely dont get this at all, call the police. They can help!  They are just so pleased to ruin their fancy uniforms to help a citizen in need. :)

     Final safety tip I decided needed to be included:  DO NOT attempt to change the tire while driving.  This can be extrememly dangerous!!