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Post by AussieMeg on May 24, 2017 8:03:40 GMT
Edited: How funny. I had just dropped DS at school this morning and was on my way to work. DD rang me to say that she also had a flat tyre! She had left home to go to uni and was about 10 houses down our street. I wasn't far from home so I turned around and went to "help" her. And by help I mean take photos and video of her LOL!  She had rung her boyfriend to come and help her and he arrived not long after I got there.  So now I know how to do it having watched my daughter (with help from her boyfriend) change a tyre.  OP: I just left work and I have a flat tyre. I am ashamed to admit that I don't know how to change it myself.  I've had to call the RACV (roadside assistance) to come and do it for me. They'll be here in 20-40 minutes. Funnily enough, I had only just renewed my RACV membership this month after letting it lapse a couple of years ago. The only reason I rejoined was because a colleague had a flat tyre recently and I thought "Knowing my luck that will happen to me and I'll be stranded" so I rejoined. Talk about good timing! Anyway, I am going to get DSO to teach me how to do it because it's far too embarrassing having to call someone out to do it for me - I'm 49 years old for goodness sake! |
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Post by justkat on May 24, 2017 8:12:36 GMT
I know how. My dad insisted us kids would only be allowed to drive if we first knew basic car maintenance (is this the correct word?) oil change, change a tire, pump gas etc etc
Now, to be honest, I've never actually changed a tire.lol It's needed done twice, first time a NAVY officer drove by and changed it for me. :-) The other time I called AAA. I did try and you'd need super human strength to remove those nut thingies.
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Post by AussieMeg on May 24, 2017 8:31:06 GMT
 I didn't have to wait too long luckily! |
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Post by pjaye on May 24, 2017 8:32:43 GMT
I don't...but I don't have a car, so not an essential skill for me.
Did you have a jack in the car?
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on May 24, 2017 8:58:34 GMT
I know how in theory, but I haven't always had the physical strength needed to loosen the lug nuts. I do, however, have AAA.  |
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Post by monklady123 on May 24, 2017 9:05:14 GMT
I just left work and I have a flat tyre. I am ashamed to admit that I don't know how to change it myself. I've had to call the RACV (roadside assistance) to come and do it for me. They'll be here in 20-40 minutes. Funnily enough, I had only just renewed my RACV membership this month after letting it lapse a couple of years ago. The only reason I rejoined was because a colleague had a flat tyre recently and I thought "Knowing my luck that will happen to me and I'll be stranded" so I rejoined. Talk about good timing! Anyway, I am going to get DSO to teach me how to do it because it's far too embarrassing having to call someone out to do it for me - I'm 49 years old for goodness sake! Not me. I know it's one of those things we "should" know how to do. But I figure that's what we're paying AAA for. (American Automobile Association, our version of your RACV) We pay AAA for peace of mind so I'm willing to let them do everything. Mostly we've used them for dead batteries, although there have been other occasions. |
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AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,057 
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Post by AllieC on May 24, 2017 9:06:33 GMT
I've never learnt because I'd alrady had 3 knee surgeries before getting my licence and I can't kneel. Add that to now having 10 knee jobs with bone grafts and a wrist reconstruction and it just isn't physically possible. Roadside assist is there for a reason  |
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Post by chrissyc72 on May 24, 2017 9:26:24 GMT
I'm sure I could figure it out however, they put those lug nuts on so tight you sometimes need a machine to get them off! It looks like a drill but it removes the lug nuts. Don't have one of those!
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Post by Delta Dawn on May 24, 2017 10:15:20 GMT
I would call BCAA or my son to rescue me. I pump my own gas but tires I leave up to professionals.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on May 24, 2017 10:28:50 GMT
When I got my license at 16, my dad taught me. I think I only had to do it once and that was when I was 22. I know the basic procedure for how to do it, but I doubt I could actually get it done by myself.
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joelise
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,649
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Post by joelise on May 24, 2017 10:33:18 GMT
I have changed tires on my little old mini when I was in my twenties so I do know how. But my 53 year old knees and back would probably struggle today!
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Post by Patter on May 24, 2017 10:33:27 GMT
Will be 52 in two weeks, and I have never changed one or needed to. I also don't know how to change a tire and have never been taught. I had "run flats" on a previous car which was wonderful. On my current car, I would have to call AAA or someone to help. My girls learned in 8th grade in a homeschool co-op but they have never had to change one, and not sure they would remember how. LOL! I have AAA for all of us partially for that reason.
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anniebygaslight
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Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on May 24, 2017 10:36:47 GMT
Too much like hard work. I call the RAC.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on May 24, 2017 10:40:09 GMT
My dad insisted us kids would only be allowed to drive if we first knew basic car maintenance (is this the correct word?) oil change, change a tire, pump gas etc etc When I got my license at 16, my dad taught me. I had to learn as well before being allowed to drive. I have helped change a tire twice, but have never done one solo. My last flat tire was changed courtesy of AAA. |
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lesley
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Post by lesley on May 24, 2017 10:43:01 GMT
I know in theory how to replace a tyre, but I don't have the strength in my hands to do it. My current car doesn't have a spare tyre anyway, just a pump and a spray that will seal the tyre for x number of miles.
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joelise
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,649
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Post by joelise on May 24, 2017 10:46:10 GMT
I know in theory how to replace a tyre, but I don't have the strength in my hands to do it. My current car doesn't have a spare tyre anyway, just a pump and a spray that will seal the tyre for x number of miles. I'm ashamed to say I've got no idea what sort of tyres are on my current car! My last car had run flats or whatever they are called! Off to find out.... |
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Post by melanell on May 24, 2017 10:50:15 GMT
I figure that I pay AAA for a reason. I mean, yeah, as mentioned above, I know the steps. But actually having to do that on the side of a road somewhere, no thank you. |
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Dalai Mama
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on May 24, 2017 10:55:08 GMT
I switch out my snow tires twice a year so, yes.
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Post by miominmio on May 24, 2017 10:57:45 GMT
I can change one, but since I have back problems, I prefer not to.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Kerri W on May 24, 2017 11:31:50 GMT
My dad taught me before I got my license and I did have to do it myself once many years ago, but the situation would have to be pretty dire for me not to call AAA.
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Post by gar on May 24, 2017 11:38:10 GMT
I do in theory but I have run flat tyres now 🙂
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on May 24, 2017 11:39:46 GMT
I know how in theory, but I haven't always had the physical strength needed to loosen the lug nuts. I do, however, have AAA. This is me! No wrist strength whatsoever. In my days as a rally navigator I picked up quite a bit of knowledge about car maintenance from our pit crew but most of it was theoretical. I picked up enough to embarrass an old BF who tried to assist a tool-less stranger in a parking lot by pointing out that he was offering the stranger a spark-plug spanner to change the wheel  OP- I commend your attitude. We are never too old to learn and you are still a spring chicken! |
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Post by Minty118 on May 24, 2017 11:50:35 GMT
I do, but then my dad is a mechanic who was on several race teams, so I know how to do quite a bit on cars. When I was a kid, if I wanted to spend time with him, it was out in the garage.
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Post by gryroagain on May 24, 2017 11:55:58 GMT
I havent done it since I was 20?21? And not sure I have the strength now. Having roadside assistance is pretty much the same thing, IMO  |
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AmeliaBloomer
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on May 24, 2017 12:10:43 GMT
Like others, my father made me demonstrate tire-changing fitness before I got my license. I've done it (I even once pulled over and did it when I saw a colleague with a flat), but now I call roadside assistance. They're MUCH faster than me.
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Deleted
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May 12, 2024 15:02:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2017 12:11:47 GMT
I'm another whose dad insisted we know basic car maintenance when learning to drive, and I have changed a tire before. I could and did do it on my first couple of cars years and years ago. However, the last time I got a flat about two years or so ago (big piece of metal rod in the tire) I got the car off the road to a safe place, got the spare and jack out and ready, but there was no way I was getting those lug nuts off despite being pretty darn strong. It makes a difference when and where it might happen, too. In the dark? In the rain? On a very busy highway? -- conditions I drive in frequently, nope, I'm calling for assistance. Tell the truth, I'm calling for help on a rural country road in the sunshine, too, because I've paid for it and I want to.  |
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Post by brina on May 24, 2017 12:34:19 GMT
While I have helped with the process I have never done it myself. Recently dh and I had a flat and could not get the lug nuts off the tire. When we called for roadside assistance we were told they are getting more and more calls for this and it is not due to ignorance. When tires are put on in a shop these days the nuts are tightened with a pneumatic wrench. They are nearly impossible to loosen by hand.
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scrappert
Prolific Pea
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Post by scrappert on May 24, 2017 12:37:34 GMT
I know how in theory, but I haven't always had the physical strength needed to loosen the lug nuts. I do, however, have AAA.  If I absolutely needed to, I could. But AAA is my go to! |
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Post by Linda on May 24, 2017 12:42:39 GMT
I know HOW to and I have done it in the past. Not physically capable of doing it any more between arthritis, knee surgeries (can't kneel), and a bad back.
My older two both know how though - DH taught DS and DD learnt in Girl Scouts
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Post by AussieMeg on May 24, 2017 12:44:18 GMT
I don't...but I don't have a car, so not an essential skill for me. Did you have a jack in the car? I have no idea! I'm going to have a proper look tomorrow when it's not dark. |
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She had rung her boyfriend to come and help her and he arrived not long after I got there. 
