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Post by bc2ca on Sept 27, 2017 18:39:21 GMT
The full story is DD had a tire blowout coming home the other night. She called me to come get her and her friends with plans to leave the car until DH could take care of it the next day. I told her she needed to call Roadside Assistance. As soon as I hung up, DH called to let me know he had landed at LAX (still a couple hours away from home) and I told him what happened. He asked if our neighbor was home and hung up to call him. Seconds later the neighbor calls to ask where DD is and heads out to change her tire. We can't believe DD thought it was ok to leave her car, DH can't believe I didn't call the neighbor first and I can't believe neither of them thought to call Roadside Assistance first. So what would happen at your house? ETA She was in a well lit, save area only about a mile & a half from home and with friends, so safety wasn't a concern. If she was on her own I would have walked up for moral support if nothing else while she waited for RA. If she'd been further away and on her own, I would have called a friend to give me a ride to her. Even our strong, Marine neighbor struggled with the lug nuts.
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used2scrap
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,034
Jan 29, 2016 3:02:55 GMT
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Post by used2scrap on Sept 27, 2017 18:44:33 GMT
While I'd want to leave the car until daylight, I'm not sure how many hours you can abandon a vehicle on the side of the road before you get ticketed/towed. So I'd call for assistance or a friend for help.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,661
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Sept 27, 2017 18:45:43 GMT
Depends - how old is your daughter and where was she? If she was in a well-populated, safe area I would have told her to call Roadside Assistance and had them come take care of it. If she was in a not so safe area I would have still called RA, but I would have gone and waited with her. Sometimes RA can take a while to show up.
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craftykitten
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,304
Jun 26, 2014 7:39:32 GMT
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Post by craftykitten on Sept 27, 2017 18:47:13 GMT
If I couldn't change the tyre myself? Roadside assistance. That's what I buy it for!
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
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Post by ginacivey on Sept 27, 2017 18:47:39 GMT
i think it just depends on where you live and who your friends and neighbors are
for me - if i were in a 20 mile radius someone i know would probably drive by and stop
if i were further out i'd call a friend - or a friend of my sons
i have roadside assistance but have never called nor used it
i depend on the kindness of my friends - and in return - i help when i can
gina
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 27, 2017 18:47:52 GMT
ummm... I think I have that coverage on my car insurance, so my first call would be to my BF, but my second call would probably be to the insurance for roadside assistance. It depends on where I was and how long it would take the roadside assistance people to get to me. I see cars left on the shoulder for things like that here (I drive on I-10 to/from work), but I wouldn't want to do it very bad... My car doesn't even HAVE a spare, though, so calling someone to come change it isn't even an option.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Sept 27, 2017 18:48:30 GMT
Since I believe roadside assistance is still free on my vehicle I would call DH to confirm that and let him know what had happened, then call roadside assistance. If it was no longer free to have someone come and I knew my DH could come help me, I would try that next knowing he wouldn't want to pay someone to come change a tire since he could do it himself. If he couldn't come help me for whatever reason, I would have to call someone because I know with my back problems I would never be able to get the lug nuts off the wheel and jack the car up to change it myself.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
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Post by ginacivey on Sept 27, 2017 18:50:15 GMT
was it every an option for her to change the tire?
gina
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,661
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Sept 27, 2017 18:51:24 GMT
ummm... I think I have that coverage on my car insurance, so my first call would be to my BF, but my second call would probably be to the insurance for roadside assistance. It depends on where I was and how long it would take the roadside assistance people to get to me. I see cars left on the shoulder for things like that here (I drive on I-10 to/from work), but I wouldn't want to do it very bad... My car doesn't even HAVE a spare, though, so calling someone to come change it isn't even an option. You'd have to use the towing option of your roadside assistance. Girl, get a spare! Save
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luckyexwife
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,067
Jun 25, 2014 21:21:08 GMT
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Post by luckyexwife on Sept 27, 2017 18:51:58 GMT
If I could get the lug nuts off, I would probably change it myself.
If I wasn't able to get the lug nuts off, or if I was wearing good clothes and didn't want to get them dirty trying to change it :-) ,then it would depend on where I am at, and where my husband is. I can think of four or five friends I would call to help me, if DH wasn't available, just depending on where I am at and what the situation is, and the time of day.
Calling Roadside Assistance, or a tow truck would be my last resort.
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River
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,508
Location: Alabama
Jun 26, 2014 15:26:04 GMT
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Post by River on Sept 27, 2017 18:56:38 GMT
I didn't answer because all three would be likely in our family. We call family/friends for help first, if no one is available we'd call RA. The problem is we live rual and RA can take hours to come. If that's the case, we leave the car and go back as soon as someone can change it.
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:26 GMT
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Post by psiluvu on Sept 27, 2017 18:56:47 GMT
I would have dd call roadside assistance that is why we have it.
I can change a tire but why would I if I can have someone do it for me?
Why would I bother a neighbor when I can have a service do it? I would save the neighbor favour for some other time.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Sept 27, 2017 18:59:36 GMT
If I couldn't change the tyre myself? Roadside assistance. That's what I buy it for! ExACTly! This actually happened to me a couple of weeks ago and that was precisely what I did. It was awesome.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Sept 27, 2017 19:00:51 GMT
I don't have anyplace to put a spare tire even if I did get one... there's no place to put it in my car. (KIA Soul) It doesn't even have a lug wrench- he was going to rotate the tires himself, but couldn't do it because we didn't have the means to even remove the tires.
My boyfriend's Volvo didn't come with a spare, either-- they both came with some sort of a kit to help plug a hole to help you drive, I think, but I thought the guy at the car dealership said most cars aren't coming with spares as standard equipment any more.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
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Post by ginacivey on Sept 27, 2017 19:00:58 GMT
I can change a tire but why would I if I can have someone do it for me? for me - it'd be the wait if i could break the lug nuts i'd do it myself different strokes i guess
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,521
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
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Post by bethany102399 on Sept 27, 2017 19:01:54 GMT
Having literally just had this happen to me:
Call DH and say I blew the tire. Call roadside assistance to come tow the car (in this case the tire literally separated, we knew it was going to have to be replaced and was well beyond a patch job) Call DH back b/c I knew the tire was going to have to be replaced and I wasn't sure if the tow guy could give me a ride to firestone.
Now, this was at 9 am on my way into work off of a reasonably busy highway.
Having been in this situation late at night, I drove on the flat to a well lit area (NOT recommended, or smart but I was in a bad area of town and didn't want to sit in the car and wait for the tow guy to show up). Tow guy came, changed out the tire and I was able to drive home. Tow guy actually offered to patch it for me under the table for cash but I didn't have any cash on me and I ended up doing damage to the wheel when I drove on it which meant it had to go to the mechanic anyways.
We have free Tow/Flat change from USAA, so while I know how to change a tire, I always call roadside assistance.
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Post by sunshinestate on Sept 27, 2017 19:02:20 GMT
AAA
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 27, 2017 19:02:56 GMT
was it every an option for her to change the tire? gina Possibly, but I have never been able to loosen the lug nuts by myself so didn't want her to get part way in and then have to call for assistance. She is stronger than me, but was coming home with a fresh tattoo on her upper arm and I don't think she wanted to cause it to weep or get irritated. ETA I shouldn't have said never been able to loosen the lug nuts. Dad used to make us rotate the tires on his car so we all knew how to change a tire. The last time I needed to change a tire I could not loosen the lug nuts they were on so tight.
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 27, 2017 19:05:40 GMT
I don't have anyplace to put a spare tire even if I did get one... there's no place to put it in my car. (KIA Soul) It doesn't even have a lug wrench- he was going to rotate the tires himself, but couldn't do it because we didn't have the means to even remove the tires. My boyfriend's Volvo didn't come with a spare, either-- they both came with some sort of a kit to help plug a hole to help you drive, I think, but I thought the guy at the car dealership said most cars aren't coming with spares as standard equipment any more. Many new cars do not have a spare tire anymore. Some have a plug kit (which works really well), but DD's tire blew out. Fortunately Toyota still includes the little donut spare in their cars. It was my first question when she called.
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
Posts: 4,661
Jun 25, 2014 19:33:19 GMT
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Post by Rhondito on Sept 27, 2017 19:17:04 GMT
but I thought the guy at the car dealership said most cars aren't coming with spares as standard equipment any more. I learned this when I bought my daughter a car a few years ago. We had to make sure her car came with a spare. It's crazy, isn't it? That made me twitchy just reading it, knowing you'll ruin the rim driving on a flat.
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Post by ktdoesntscrap on Sept 27, 2017 19:21:42 GMT
I'd call AAA that is what I pay for.
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,501
Aug 28, 2015 22:31:17 GMT
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Post by AmandaA on Sept 27, 2017 19:22:50 GMT
My father didn't give me the keys to my first car until I could prove that I could change the tire, check the oil, and other tasks he thought were appropriate for my own safety.
I would never bother a neighbor (or anyone other than my husband honestly) and would call roadside assistance as my second option.
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Peal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,524
Jun 25, 2014 22:45:40 GMT
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Post by Peal on Sept 27, 2017 19:47:52 GMT
We've had two flats this year, one was on a trailer and one on the car. The trailer didn't have the spare with it (borrowed trailer) so we had to jack the (fully loaded) trailer, take the tire to be repaired, then return to the trailer and put on the fixed tire. During this time, at least 5 total strangers offered to help/ lend a spare tire. On the car, we discovered the flat while still at home, so DH made our freshly minted 16 yo son change it. It's a skill to know. He struggled with the lugs, but did manage to get them off. I don't think I could get them off myself. But my cars do all have spares.
So, if it happened to me, in our local area, I would call DH and by the time he got to where ever I was, I would probably have already been offered assistance by at least one passerby. If I couldn't get hold of DH, there are a myriad of adult men I could call who could assist in changing the tire. Roadside assistance would be my last call. I would not leave my car on the side of the road unless there were some pretty extreme extenuating circumstances.
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Post by littlemama on Sept 27, 2017 19:49:25 GMT
I have AAA and tire places put the lugnuts on so tightly that they are virtually impossible to get off, so I would call AAA for Roadside assistance. My DS' flat tire in July required 3 separate calls, but that is a much longer story!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Sept 27, 2017 19:50:01 GMT
AAA for sure. Why in heavens would I call a neighbor when I pay AAA for this exact reason?
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 27, 2017 19:58:05 GMT
AAA for sure. Why in heavens would I call a neighbor when I pay AAA for this exact reason? The neighbor is a friend and faster.
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Post by mrssmith on Sept 27, 2017 20:02:28 GMT
I had a blowout on the Dan Ryan expressway in Chicago when I was 18 or so and my brother was 15. This was back in the day before cell phones! My brother was trying to change it but luckily an IDOT truck came by and fixed it for me. Super scary to have it happen on such a busy road. I'm glad your DD and friends are OK and were close to home!
This is why I have AAA. And a cell phone charger in the car!
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Post by bc2ca on Sept 27, 2017 20:04:22 GMT
My father didn't give me the keys to my first car until I could prove that I could change the tire, check the oil, and other tasks he thought were appropriate for my own safety. I would never bother a neighbor (or anyone other than my husband honestly) and would call roadside assistance as my second option. My dad used to make my three sisters and I rotate the tires regularly so we all knew how to change a tire. I never had a problem with the lug nuts back in the day. As littlemama said, tire places are spinning the lug nuts on so tightly now I can't get them to budge.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
Jun 25, 2014 19:18:36 GMT
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Post by ginacivey on Sept 27, 2017 20:10:58 GMT
AAA for sure. Why in heavens would I call a neighbor when I pay AAA for this exact reason? The neighbor is a friend and faster. as foreign as calling a neighbor is to you - the same it true about roadside assistance for others why would i wait on the side of the road for god knows how long when jim bob will be here in 5 and don't worry - if his cows get out - i'll go help him get them back in gina
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Sept 27, 2017 20:14:57 GMT
I had a flat tire 2 weeks ago - first one in years. If I had been in a safe neighborhood, I would have used the opportunity to teach DD how to change a tire. I was not, however, so I called roadside assistance and waited in the locked car. When the guy got there, he told me that they won't come to that location at night, and if it had happened on the campus I was headed to, none of the local lock/roadside assistance companies will go there at all anymore because there were so many "dine and dash" customers. I'm glad the tire went out on the way to piano lessons just outside of campus rather than a few minutes later or on the way home!
I also learned the next day when I went to get my tire patched that the model year before my car didn't come with a spare because there was no place to put it.
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