Men who cannot change a tire

[rusnak]

I get blowouts in the 1-ton so often, I just now thought about it.

No place to put a spare without it getting plowed through the dirt. Our back 40 has a sea of nails, so I just call to have my spare brought out with the floor jack. I carry truck flares, and enough tools to overhaul the motor.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by wildthing

I'm all for changing oil myself but the disposal hassle kills it for me. I'd rather pay someone to dispose of it properly.

In Sacramento you leave the used oil in a jug and the filter in a zip lock bag on curb on recycling week and the garbage man takes it away for you.

I bet you pay more for trash pickup in The City too.

Last time I got a flat, I bet 5 people stopped to ask if I needed any help. Last guy asked if I wanted a beer. That was in Texas though

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

Another approach to get yourself back on the road if the tire isn't completely destroyed is Fix-A-Flat.

I would use that in a heartbeat if the situation allowed it... especially on the side of an interstate.

And at night? Remember what happened to Ennis Cosby? I'm sure his dad would've gladly paid for a destroyed rim if Ennis had driven to a safe area and called AAA. And IIRC, he was on an exit ramp.

But in the end, it was just wrong place, wrong time... I think the guy who killed him just happened along.

All that said, if I got a flat on an interstate, I would probably limp along on the wheel with the flashers going until I could get out of harm's way. It's just stupid to change a tire out there in a shooting gallery... I hear about cars and trucks plowing through and killing the tire changer and the occupants of the vehicle frequently enough that I know I don't want any part of it.

My Bullitt Mustang came with no spare. Just a 12V. tire pump and a can of goo. The official Ford excuse was that the Bullitt 18" rim and tire wouldn't fit in the trunk area designed for a 17" wheel & spare.

One other thing they fail to mention is that the fix a flat goo will ruin a tire pressure sensor as well as make a mess inside the wheel that is a big hassle to clean.

My Mustang now carries a spare, a jack, & lug wrench. From a wrecked-em yard for $100. 17" donut spare. If mounted on the rear it would mess up the limited slip. I figure it's no big deal to take off two wheels if I have to. But like I said, only if I was stopped in a safe place to do so.

[Baz]

Not only do I carry a spare tire, jack, and tools, etc....and know how to change a flat tire....I also carry a 12v tire inflator and plug repair kit....and have used it to repair a flat tire on my Silverado before....



I also carry an aerosol can of tire-inflator and emergency flashers, neither of which take up much room and are additional tools to help with such emergencies.

[wdfifteen]

I don't think my brother can change a tire.
mrs WD can back a trailer and she can tell a grab hook from a slip hook. She's can also quilt and crochet. But she can't change a tire.

[look 171]

Tell you the truth, last time I had a flat was in my MR2 way back in the early 90s during my college years. I was too proud to call AAA. Now, I am on the phone with AAA in a heart beat. I think that was my only flat tire ever. When I first meet my wife way back in college, she would change her own oil, and rotate her own tires and spend hours helping with my lil' 4WD. Now, AAA is on her speed dial. Almost can't get here to check her oil. I don't think she done that in years.

I don't ever remember anyone showing or teaching me how to change a tire? Somehow, I just knew.

[Bill Douglas]

I was driving around with GF and saw two ladies changing a tire. I said to GF "Sorry, won't be a minute, I'll help them out." The two ladies said "No thanks, we're having quite a good time." and were laughing and seemed to be getting on fine with the job.

[DanielDudley]

I help lots of people change tires, and I will also pull them out of snow banks and ditches.

I never think about if they are real men or women, but the last ''old'' guy I helped was probably younger than I am. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack though, so I was quite happy to step in. I ran out of gas a while back, and a guy drove me to the gas station and back, so I guess it all works out somehow.

I have triple A if I need towing. I always have gloves in my cars, and I will have a flat changed and I will be gone way before the AAA will show up.

My wife couldn't change a tire if her life depended on it. Maybe 10 years ago, she went out to get the mail, and broke her leg in the driveway during the morning commute. It was during the morning commute, it was winter, and it was an ice storm. Hundreds of cars drove by her, and she was right by the road, but they all drove by her for maybe 30 minutes until some rough looking men in a rusty old van pulled over and picked her up and carried her into the house. Now I don't know who the real men in this story would be, but I am reminded of another story about a certain Samaritan.
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“Go and do likewise.”

[shadowjack1]

Originally Posted by Baz

Not only do I carry a spare tire, jack, and tools, etc....and know how to change a flat tire....I also carry a 12v tire inflator and plug repair kit....and have used it to repair a flat tire on my Silverado before....



I also carry an aerosol can of tire-inflator and emergency flashers, neither of which take up much room and are additional tools to help with such emergencies.

This is what I have in all my cars.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Gogar

"Knowing how to do stuff"

is generally out of favor, although the tire example is a little extreme.

I was surprised and saddened as a 40-something bachelor when I discovered that many/most women find the "check writer" man more attractive than the "DIY" man.

My most recent ex told me that my level of self reliance made her feel bad about herself.

[kach22i]

I can fix any size tire.

Preparedness: Things You Should Have In Your Car | AllSwagga.com

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Changing a wheel/tire isn't a specific skill. If you have 2 hands and can read an owners manual, you can change it.

.

The flaw in your logic is that you already know the procedure since someone showed you when you didn't know how. Then you knew that it was possible to do it. There is no more "unknown" to deal with.

Why don't you change the cracked glass on your phone? Or upgrade the hard drive in your PC?

Why don't you delivery a baby?

Why don't you rebuild your gearbox in your driveway?

Why don't you build an extension to your house by yourself?

None of those are a specific skill either. If you have 2 hands and can watch a video, or read a manual, you can do them.

Obviously, the answer is a little more nuanced.

[stomachmonkey]

Early in my relationship with my wife I was at her house. Her father was trying to do some simple home repair. I offered to help and asked where his tools were.

I go out to the garage and there is a workbench with pegboard that contained exactly one slotted screwdriver, one phillips, pliers, a hammer, a hacksaw.

I sighed, drove home and got some tools.

As far as tires, on my SUV's I call roadside if I'm out on the road. The bottle jack that is supplied maxes out about 2 inches short of the tires leaving the ground. The only way to change them is with a floor jack and I can't be bothered to lug one around for the rare occasion I need it.

I do carry a tire plug kit in each car.

On Monday I went to help a friend with brakes on his volvo. Get there and he says I have a low front tire which I already suspected because the steering was off.

Took a look and yup, there's the nail. Grabbed the plug kit, yanked the nail, plugged the leak and used the portable compressor to air back up.

Actually took less time than putting on the spare.

[stomachmonkey]

No

Originally Posted by kach22i

I can fix any size tire.

Preparedness: Things You Should Have In Your Car | AllSwagga.com

Yes

[javadog]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

The flaw in your logic is that you already know the procedure since someone showed you when you didn't know how. Then you knew that it was possible to do it. There is no more "unknown" to deal with. I THINK YOU SHOULD READ HIS POST AGAIN.

Why don't you change the cracked glass on your phone? DID THAT. Or upgrade the hard drive in your PC? NO NEED TO DO THAT, IT'S ONLY HALF FULL.

Why don't you delivery a baby? NOBODY I KNOW IS PREGNANT.

Why don't you rebuild your gearbox in your driveway? IT'S NOT BROKEN.

Why don't you build an extension to your house by yourself? DONE THAT MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT.

None of those are a specific skill either. If you have 2 hands and can watch a video, or read a manual, you can do them.

Obviously, the answer is a little more nuanced.

There are guys like me that do whatever they get interested in and there are guys that never do much of anything. Based on all of the questions you've asked on this forum, would I be correct in assuming that you fall into the latter category?

JR

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by GG Allin

No need to know how to change a tire in his case. It probably has no spare.

LOL that's true. It's a seven series hybrid so it probably has everything EXCEPT a spare.

But he owns his own company and makes cubic dollars, he's probably laughing at the rest of us who can change a tire

[Gretch]

stock tires on most beemers these days are run flats.

sugarwood is trying too hard to find excuses for "failure to launch". see diatribe on 911 oil change........

(oil pan, 2 wrenches, oem jack, filter and oil, done.)

that is ok........ and thanks for the excuse............ n' shyte..........

Some people (females, even) view a new task as an interesting intellectual challenge and make time in their day to enjoy such form of entertainment.

There is almost NOTHING you cannot find information about on the internet, as well as simple easy to understand instructions for how to repair.

wax switch gone on the wash machine?????????? 5 minutes of goog search, a $39 repair kit with instructions, few basic tools and a half hour of time.

BINGO, saver a $450 repair man bill.

No big deal. so guys use their brain power to memorize base ball statistics............. different strokes......

[drcoastline]

I know a few who can't. That being said I have taken the spares out of my DD vehicles. I now carry a few cans of fix a flat in each as well as a few plugs. If I can't get myself underway with those fixes I call AAA.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

My brother in law sat on the side of the road for over 2 hours waiting for AAA to come change his flat tire .

I'd be right there with him - My E46 M3 doesn't have a spare.

OTOH, I don't know how to change a diaper, and I couldn't care less.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

That being said I have taken the spares out of my DD vehicles.

Why in hell would you do that?

JR