There's nothing more inconvenient than a flat or punctured tyre - and then having to wait hours for road assistance to come and fix it for you.

That's why we've teamed up with car repairs comparison website WhoCanFixMyCar.com to bring you the first in a series of how-to tips to keep you well equipped on the road this season.

WhoCanFixMyCar.com work with thousands of garages nationwide to bring you competitive prices on car servicing and repairs but, this time round, some of their most experienced mechanics are sharing their top tips with you.

First up, what to do in the event of a dreaded puncture: a simple step-by-step guide to changing a wheel.

What you'll need

  • Extendable bar (usually stored in the boot with the spare wheel)

  • Car jack (usually stored in the boot with the spare wheel)

  • Wheel chocks

  • Locking wheel key (on some vehicles)

A large garage or wide driveway are ideal places to change a car tyre. But if you get a flat out on the open road, park somewhere safe, away from traffic - even if this means driving for a short distance on the flattened tyre.

Once your car’s in position:

  • Turn your hazard lights on

  • Take any hubcap or cover off

  • Loosen all wheel nuts on the affected wheel

Your step-by-step guide

  1. Place the wheel chocks on the same side as the puncture - so if the front-right tyre is punctured, put the chocks on the back-right.

  2. Find the jacking point under the doors (look in your car’s handbook if unsure). Make sure the jack is straight with the body of the car and the ground.

  3. Jack the car up until you’ve got enough room to fit a new tyre in.

  4. Remove the loose wheel nuts, lift off the wheel, put on the new wheel and do-up the wheel nuts.

  5. To finish, carefully lower the jack, tighten all wheel nuts using the extendable bar and you’re nearly done - just make sure to check the pressure on the newly-fitted tyre before you get back on the road.

The Do's and Don'ts

Do

  • Put the car in gear

  • Make sure the handbrake’s on

  • Ensure the jack is positioned precisely under the jacking point.

Don’t

  • Jack the car up on an incline

  • Put your head under the car

  • Attempt to change the wheel if you think you’ll be too close to passing traffic.

If you run into any difficulty, make sure to contact a local mechanic - WhoCanFixMyCar.com have thousands nationwide.