If you’re unsure whether your wheels are steel or alloy, grab a magnet and test it out. If the magnet sticks, it’s steel. If not, you have aluminum alloy wheels. If you have alloy wheels, it’s best to at least consult a professional before moving forward.
Lug nuts (also called lug bolts) are the fasteners that secure each wheel to the car. Most wheels have 4, 5, or 6 lug nuts, depending on the type of car they’re designed for.
Park your car on a hard, completely flat surface before jacking it up, and set up bricks or cinder blocks in front of each wheel at the opposite end of the car from where you’re lifting. If you have a flat tire, remember to leave enough space for a fully inflated tire so you can reattach it with ease. Many cars have a designated jack point on each side of the car behind the front wheels and in front of the back wheels. Check your owner’s manual to find the jack point for the wheel you need to fix!
With your car jacked up, it’s easier to remove the tire safely. That’s why you wait to finish unscrewing the lug nuts until after the jack is in place.
If your tire isn’t flat, it’s a good idea to consult your local mechanic and get their opinion about the state of your tire before continuing with the fix.
Before you get to work on the tire, you could ensure you locate all the bends by rolling it. If the tire changes direction suddenly or hops at certain points, that’s where the bend is.
If the bend is particularly deep or large, you might have to heat it for longer than 2 minutes. Double-check that the welding torch is turned off before you put it down to fix the bent rim.
The most effective piece of wood should curve like your wheel. If you can’t find that, then any small wood block can still be good protection.
If the rim won’t even out while using the wood block, it’s okay to remove the wood and hammer the rim directly. Hitting the rim too hard directly can cause it to crack, so keep the force of your blows steady and don’t apply extra pressure even if the fix takes some extra time.
When you’re done mounting the tire, inflate it with an air compressor. Ensure both tire beads are past the rim’s lip before attaching the compressor to the tire’s valve stem. Use the pressure gauge once again while inflating the tire to ensure it reaches its proper PSI (pound-force per square inch).
If you do find a leak, bring the tire to a professional so they can examine (and possibly fix) it.
Tighten the right and left lug nuts after you screw each one into place. Afterward, lower the car jack until your car is flat on the ground and remove the jack entirely. Tighten every lug nut on the wheel once more, and your car is ready to be driven!
