by Such troubles sometimes happen even to cautious and prudent drivers. Especially in winter and early spring, when nights are long, and roads abound with sharp-edged potholes. In such conditions, even the most durable tires are at serious risk of punctures and cuts, so it’s worth being always ready to replace a tire on your own in the harshest conditions. 
Being experts not only in tire manufacturing but also in quality tire services, specialists from Nokian Tyres and Vianor tire centers share their tips and recommendations. 
First and foremost, to replace a tire, a spare tire is needed, so it’s worth forgoing toroidal gas balloons, and ideally, any temporary spares.
It’s also highly advisable that the tire types on the standard wheels and the spare match: summer tires for summer and winter tires for winter. This way, you can avoid potential handling problems caused by different levels of grip between the tires. Typically, these issues develop suddenly and can lead to consequences far more serious than a simple tire change. Therefore, when setting out to buy a new set of winter or summer tires, you should budget for five units. 
It’s a good idea to conduct a little self-preparation: find and remember the location of the platforms designed by the manufacturer as a jack support.
These platforms are more rigid and stronger than the metal of the car’s body panels and it’s important to understand that placing the jack in a place that’s not meant for it carries a serious risk of damage to the car’s underbody and rocker panels. The location of the platforms can be found in the car’s manual, or you can ask the tire center specialists about it during a routine tire change. 
In addition to a spare tire, a wrench, and a functioning jack, it’s helpful to always carry a few items that make the tire replacement process easier. A powerful flashlight is invaluable at night, work gloves made of dense fabric will protect your hands from skin damage from asphalt contact. A hand or foot pump will help in case the spare needs a refill—it was most likely last inflated during a routine tire change.
A couple of extra wheel bolts might come in handy if one of the standard ones gets lost in the dark, and a vest or raincoat with reflective strips will make you visible to other road users—tire changes generally occur right on the roadside, and roadsides in Ukraine are most often unlit. 
It’s necessary to remember that the procedure of changing a tire with a jack is dangerous and certain rules should be followed during the process. The car should be placed on the handbrake before using the jack, and after lifting, ensure it is securely fixed and won’t slip down. Under no circumstances should you attempt to adjust the jack with the car resting on it. 
Nokian Tyres aims to make summer and winter tires as reliable and durable as possible.
To reduce the risk of cuts, the sidewalls of some models, particularly those intended for SUVs and crossovers, are reinforced with aramid fibers. Aramid, better known as Kevlar, is also used in the aerospace industry, in the production of bulletproof vests, and in strength is no less than steel. In the Nokian Tyres summer tire lineup, aramid fibers are present in the sidewalls of models like the Nokian Hakka Black 2 SUV and Nokian Hakka Blue 2 SUV. Additionally, at Vianor tire centers our clients can count on expert consultations. Vianor specialists will show you the jack support platforms and provide recommendations for safe tire replacement in the field.
