1. Drive off the road to a firm, flat surface. Don't drive far with a flat; try to keep it to a few slow yards.
2. Set the parking brake and put the transmission in park if it's an automatic. With a manual transmission, put it in first gear or reverse.
3. Turn on the emergency flashers and raise the hood to warn other drivers your car is disabled.
4. Get out the spare tire, jack, and lug wrench.
5. Remove the flat tire's wheel cover, then loosen each lug nut by turning the wrench about one turn while the tire is still on the ground. On most cars, lug nuts are removed by turning them in a counterclockwise direction. If there are "lefthand" or clockwise threads, there usually is an "L" marked on the stud's end.
6. Place the jack under the reinforced section of the car's body. Some cars have special slots; check the owner's manual for proper location.
7. Jack up the car until the flat tire is several inches off the ground.
8. Remove the lug nuts; remove the wheel.
9. Lift the spare onto the axle hub.
10. Replace lug nuts and tighten each lightly.
11. Lower the car to the ground and remove the jack.
12. Firmly tighten each lug nut. Begin by tightening one, then the one diagonally opposite, until all are tight.
13. The mini-tires supplied with most cars as spares are meant only for limited use. Have the flat repaired and reinstalled as soon as possible, or get a new tire. When you do, see that the lug nuts are tightened to specifications with a torque wrench.

Washing Your Car
Today's cars are so complicated, so computer-controlled, that for most motorists the only do-it-yourself maintenance left-other than changing a tire-is washing the car.

Of course, not all motorists who want a clean car care to do their own washing. If you'd rather go to a commercial car wash, find one offering a "touchless" wash. This means the heavy brush-type machines aren't used.

Fortunately, expertise gained years ago while washing your father's DeSoto is among the few automotive skills that technology hasn't made obsolete. You still can wash your car with the best of them. Go for it. Here are a few suggestions that may help:

• Clean the interior first, using a vacuum. If the Electrolux won't reach, find a gas station or car wash with a coin-operated machine. Materials used on car interiors vary widely, so check your owner's manual for the correct cleaning agents.
• On the exterior, use a car wash solution. Don't use dish washing detergent or-worse-laundry soap. These may damage the car's finish.
• Use a wash mitt or soft bristle car wash brush.
• Be gentle: Never spray a pressure nozzle directly at the car; use a heavy mist spray for rinsing.
• If your car's small, you can wash it all at once, then rinse. But wash large cars a section at a time so the wash solution will not dry onto the paint before you get around to rinsing.
• Dry the car with a chamois or soft, 100 percent cotton towel.
• Don't neglect to wash the wheels and tires. Road dirt and brake dust can ruin the wheel cover or wheel finish over time.