How many people know how to change a tire?

[~bs]

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.

Yeah, you can change a flat fast, maybe as fast as 15 minutes if it goes smoothly enough. lol

[FLA]

my father made sure I could change the car's oil (I never once did it myself after I did it for him) and fix a flat by myself.

then I got my first flat when I was about 40 on a major highway. I pulled over and did all the steps right except no matter how hard I tried I could not get the lug nuts off even using that 4 pronged tool and standing on the prongs to loosen the nuts. I started to cry, I was so mad at myself because I knew what to do, I just wasn't strong enough to do it. I waved away everyone who offered to help for fear of being kidnapped until this sweet looking old man offered and just asked that I follow him to his church in return. I told him I have my own church so I couldn't accept his offer. He helped me anyways.

My DD has AAA and has been taught how to change one but told to never get out of her car or accept help, just call us or AAA and wait in the locked car.

[disneysteve]

told to never get out of her car or accept help, just call us or AAA and wait in the locked car.

Yep. That's exactly what we've told DD.

Maybe if we lived in some small town or rural area it would be different, but living in a major metropolitan area, there's no way I want her out there by herself trying to change a tire on the side of the road. Pull the car as far off the road as possible, call for help, and stay inside.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I can change a tire if it's in a safe place. I can't change a tire with two kids in the car and if they are out of the car it's not safe. I can also do my air filters and oil. But since I am a SAHM with a kid usually with me i haven't been able to change my tire in years.

The nightmare flat happened luckily when DH was with me. We got a flat right before we got on the freeway and since it was tolled and right before the booth AAA wouldn't come out. So he did it though we didn't want to because of all the cars around. It was nightmare and I stood there holding both kids as he tried to work fast.

[cypher1]

I rank changing a tire up there with something everyone should know. Reason being it happens unexpectedly. You cant predict it. Ive known people that had to wait 2 hours for AAA to show up and change it for them. Assuming you're in a safe spot that you're not going to get hit by a car its probably a good idea to know how to do it yourself.

Completely agree that everyone should know how to do it. Although I'm not going to expect someone like my parents who are 65+ with bad shoulders to be doing on the side of the road at any time.

I have AAA as well, but keep a breaker bar along with a good pipe (which I call the "Equalizer") for leverage. Having worked in a garage, I keep a bag of certain tools in my trunk which some friends used to laugh about it, until their car broke down and needed assistance as well.