How many people know how to change a tire?

[rennigade]

This always makes me super nervous for people doing repairs on the side of the road. One wrong move by another car going 75MPH and you could be a dead or severely injured. I'm glad your wife made it out of there safe!

I know...it was nerve racking for both of us. Luckily it was a section where there was a large pull off area. But even with a ton of room people who are driving and not paying attention are a risk.

[disneysteve]

I don't believe so. Instead of a spare, you get a can of "fix-a-flat", which may or may not suffice to get you back on the road.

There's no spare for weight savings. I have to admit, flat tires seem to be pretty rare. I've been driving for over 30 years and I've never had one.

That's ridiculous. What else are they going to take out to save on weight? Maybe the back seats or how about the air conditioner or heater?

You're very lucky to have never had a flat. I've had plenty over the years. Both of us have. They're pretty common actually.

[rennigade]

Oddly enough, I can't change a flat on the most recent car we purchased, because it doesn't have a spare.

The new tire that was installed is 1.5 years newer than the other 3 tires currently on the car...meaning it has slightly more tread.

When it comes time to change out all the tires again I think im going to keep the one I just replaced as a spare...obviously it will stay on the rim...ill just throw it in the trunk if we plan to go on any kind of long distance trips. The spare tire(donut) is fine for short term but we drive to Florida every year. I couldnt imagine having to go a couple hundred miles on that...not even sure if it would be possible...and considering we drive through the night that would complicate things. And yes...it will take up a lot of room in the trunk...big deal.

A new rim only costs around $70 for my corolla so ill probably just purchase a new one and have the new tire mounted on that. Going forward ill probably do that for any vehicle that I own. May never use it but the couple hundred bucks depending on what vehicle we have is inexpensive to me for the peace of mind.

[phantom]

I know how to change a spare. But, the only time I ever had a flat, I had to get my husband to change the tire for me because I couldn't get my jack to work and then I couldn't get the lug nuts lose. I wouldn't mind calling AAA if I had to do it again and couldn't manage it myself and couldn't find help.

[disneysteve]

I couldn't get the lug nuts lose.

The last time I tried, I also couldn't get the lug nuts off. The other guy who was with me couldn't either. I'm positive neither my wife nor daughter would have a chance. They put them on super tight, which is a good thing I suppose as I certainly don't want them coming loose.

[Jluke]

Our driver-ed instructor taught us to use our foot to initially loosen the lug nuts.

Place the tool on the lug nut and then step down on the tool bar. Gives you more force.

[rennigade]

Our driver-ed instructor taught us to use our foot to initially loosen the lug nuts.

Place the tool on the lug nut and then step down on the tool bar. Gives you more force.

The tool that comes with the spare tire is trash. I used to have to stomp on it to loosen the lugs like you said.

Get a $15 breaker bar along with the correct size socket for your lug nuts and be done with it....then take the tool that came with the car and throw it in the trash.

[johnjacobs]

I have learned how to change a tire from one of my friends. We were on a tour and suddenly we had problem with the tire. On that day I learned how to change a tire.

[QuarterMillionMan]

This question applies mainly to women. If a man doesn't know how to change a tire, he is hopeless. But of course if you have AAA or another road side assistance service there would be no need to change a tire yourself.


Once in Los Angeles on the 405 freeway going southbound my back passenger side tire blew out near the 110 freeway. I was able to pull off in the right shoulder lane. Anyone familiar with this stretch of the freeway knows this area is a busy freeway. I know how to change a flat but I called AAA and stayed in my car and got towed to Good Year. I did not want to risk getting killed changing my tire.

[kork13]

The last time I tried, I also couldn't get the lug nuts off. The other guy who was with me couldn't either. I'm positive neither my wife nor daughter would have a chance. They put them on super tight, which is a good thing I suppose as I certainly don't want them coming loose.

The trick is that you have to loosen the lug nuts while weight is still on the tires, before you jack it up.

Yes i do know how to change a flat, but thankfully (knock on wood), I've only had to do it once. Unfortunately, though, it was in a government 15-pax van, and apparently Dodge/Chevy/Ford (no idea which anymore) hides the spare for them under the chassis, below the tailgate. I've only driven small cars with them stashed in the trunk... So I shamefully had to walk around (in the desert... joy...) until I found someone who could show me how to get the tire out from under the van.

[~bs]

safer to call aaa and wait, especially on a busy roadway. ive changed many a tire before. but if a female is driving safer to stay in the car and call.

Even if you're a guy, AAA costs nothing extra if you have the membership, and you don't get your hands dirty on the side of some roadway either.

[~bs]

The trick is that you have to loosen the lug nuts while weight is still on the tires, before you jack it up.

True, but even then sometimes its difficult if your bar isn't long enough (leverage). Some shops improperly torque the wheels on too hard as well.

[sv2007]

True, but even then sometimes its difficult if your bar isn't long enough (leverage). Some shops improperly torque the wheels on too hard as well.

You can try stumping on it with your foot. Works for me.

[sv2007]

safer to call aaa and wait, especially on a busy roadway. ive changed many a tire before. but if a female is driving safer to stay in the car and call.

Even if you're a guy, AAA costs nothing extra if you have the membership, and you don't get your hands dirty on the side of some roadway either.

The problem with AAA is that it takes them about 30 minutes to come around here and even > 1 hr during commute time.

A few years back, wife called AAA and just couldn't wait any longer so I drove over to swap cars with her... and I waited a bit and changed the flat before AAA showed up. That's 1.5 hrs total time without seeing AAA.

I get AAA mainly for things other than flat.

[JoeP]

Our insurance has roadside assistance baked into the policy, so all we have to do is call the 800 number. If I'm remote and in a safe location, I'll try it myself rather than wait. But I've told my wife to call the number no matter what, because she is not terribly handy.

I do my own tire rotations on all my vehicles except the truck, and use an impact driver.