Change tyre yourself, or get Roadside Assist to do it?

[Blitzen]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

[Tim]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

would you take your life into your own hands with one of those widow maker jacks!?

[mikepologti]

would you take your life into your own hands with one of those widow maker jacks!?

can only agree that fricken jack is scary, and besides why do it when someone else can do it for you , free of charge?

[Rocket36]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

I'm with you mate! My Mum, at 62, will still change a tyre on her car! People who don't are just friggin soft! My mate's girlfriend got a flat so she called him and off he went.

Changing a tyre should be part of getting a licence! If you don't know how, then you don't get one!

[Mrk_Mickey]

I'm with you mate! My Mum, at 62, will still change a tyre on her car! People who don't are just friggin soft! My mate's girlfriend got a flat so she called him and off he went.

Changing a tyre should be part of getting a licence! If you don't know how, then you don't get one!

Too true. It happened to me back when I knew nothing about my car..I whacked a median strip and knew nothing about torque so got very angry when my VW wheel wrench wouldn't work for me! It should be something that everyone learns how to do on their own car, even if it's not required by law. It does save you..

[brad]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

Old person, medical problems, wearing a $1000 suit, wheel bolts too tight - I can think of a dozen valid reasons. It isn't a crime to call road service for a tyre change but it is sensible for all drivers to know how to do the job.

I'd be really pissed-of if my Dad told me he had changed a tyre rather than ring the NRMA.

[jettapilot]

I can change the wheel - I don't have the equipment or training to change the tyre

But if I'm dressed for business I won't do it.

The last time I had a flat I started to change it myself. Got all the gear out, and then this guy came and gave me a hand. It's the old 'damsel in distress' thing.

Between the two of us we managed to placed the jack in not quite the right place and so bent the bit that goes under the door and I'd never have been able to undo the wheel nuts.

It's not always as straightforward as it looks.

[Arctra]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

(being posted NOT as a mod)
<sarcasm>
Ahh, I can help you there! I've seen this before. You (an a couple of other responders) appear to be suffering from what is commonly known as "Myopia". Quote from Wikidedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myopia#Myopia_as_metaphor

The terms myopia and myopic (or the common terms short sightedness or short sighted) have also been used metaphorically to refer to cognitive thinking and decision making that is narrow sighted ... It is often used to describe <snip> a viewpoint that fails to consider anything outside a very narrow and limited range.

Although research in the area is limited, anecdotal evidence suggests it commonly afflicts individuals deficient in humility and consideration, and they often exibit unusually high levels of arrogance. Unfortunately there appears to be no cure for the affliction, however symptoms can be treated. The most common treatment is known as "self restraint", however it has also been noticed that many afflicted with myopia tend to exibit alergic reactions to this "self restraint" treatment, causing them to become very defensive, irrational, often even more myopic.

With luck you'll only have a mild case though, and the symptoms should subside in a few days
</sarcasm>

Anyway, back on topic, this is very concerning. Although I can change a tyre quite happily, I'd be a little concerned about my girlfriend attempting it. I'd much prefer she used Roadside Assist, and to be perfectly honest on the side of the road I'd probably use it too if I wasn't in appropriate clothes. Hell, you effectively pay for it when you buy the vehicle (it's not something you can opt out of to save money is it?) so why not use it?

I'll be very interested to know what the outcome of your ordeal is mate, so please keep us posted.

[Spyda]

I want to know why the person was calling roadside assist to change a freaking tyre!!

WORD!

Ive changed 4 tyres while wearing all white and didnt get a mark on myself.

Stand on or stomp the wrench if the bolts are to tight and use a cloth or have some gloves in the back so you dont get your hand dirty. The 'widow maker' isnt so bad either, use it properly and dont wobble the car.

If my gf can do it anyone can.

[brad]

WORD!

Ive changed 4 tyres while wearing all white and didnt get a mark on myself.

Stand on or stomp the wrench if the bolts are to tight and use a cloth or have some gloves in the back so you dont get your hand dirty.

So how do you dump the flat back in the boot and not get covered in crap while still using good manual handling practice?

As I said, people should know how to change a flat but there's no embarrassment in using roadside assist. Especially if it's in a less than ideal spot. No point having a dog & barking yourself.

[Spyda]

So how do you dump the flat back in the boot and not get covered in crap while still using good manual handling practice?

What? You pick it up with your hands using rags or gloves and place it in the boot......

[Treza360]

Just a few tips for those undoing wheel bolts/nuts:

Loosen them whilst the car is still on the ground. That way you alleviate the risk of being to forceful on them whilst the car is jacked up and knocking the car off the jack.

If the bolts/nuts are done up too tight your foot is your friend. Set the wrench at an angle parallel with the road/driveway/flat hard surface you're changing your wheel on and stand on the wrench and apply downward pressure. Unless you're a small child your body mass should be enough to loosen the nut bolt.

For both of the tips above ensure that you have the jack basically sitting snug on the jacking point in case you forget that the car is still on the ground and remove all the bolts/nuts.

If it will fit put your spare wheel underneath the car so if it does fall off the jack it falls onto the tyre instead of onto the ground. This may still cause damage but it will be better than the damage that will be caused by your car underside and/or brakes and wheel hub hitting the ground. When you pull the flat wheel off pull the spare out and swap with the flat tyre.

If you are an RACQ or other equivalent Australian State member than their basic roadside assist should cover callouts to change a tyre if you are unable to (RACQ is a definite). They also should have basic car maintenance courses which are relatively cheap or free which show you how to do things like how to check and top up fluids, check and change tyres and other basic car maintenance (RACQ is a definite). If you haven't ever been shown or don't know how to do these then I would highly recommend it. Basic membership is only around $70 a year. One of the best things you can do if you're a motorist. If you don't have it go online and join now!

Cheers,
Trent



What are you still reading for go and join!

[Treza360]

So how do you dump the flat back in the boot and not get covered in crap while still using good manual handling practice?

If you have an Audi toolkit you use the plastic sheet they supply for that very reason (put flat in centre of plastic and pick it up by grabbing all four corners of the plastic).

If you don't have the toolkit, tomorrow you go down to Bunnings (they're open until 9pm on weekdays) and buy a plastic sheet. I would say for probably one-two square meters they'll charge you around $5.

Note I don't have a problem with Roadside assist. See my post above about RACQ or equivalent and my views on membership being pretty much compulsory.

Cheers,
Trent

[Blitzen]

Just to clarify, I am a mechanic by trade, but I changed my first tyre when I was 7 when mum got a flat.
But, you can still do this without getting dirty, or being forceful...Its all about mechanical advantage, ie, the length of bar you are using and how much pressure you apply. Standing on the bar is another easy way to get the nuts undone.

Anyway, back in January I was on my way to my fist night at my second job as a barman. I destroyed a tyre in an unseen pot hole in the bucketing rain (NQ Wet Season). Changed the tyre in the wet, not a mark on my white pants or shirt, and got to work just in time...All up to change the tyre, 10min. You would wait up to an hour just for roadside assist.

I can understand some situations(invalided, pregnant, disabled, aged), but if you can do it yourself, why not??

[brad]

What? You pick it up with your hands using rags or gloves and place it in the boot......

Too many potential injury issues if you hold a 14-20kg tyre/wheel assembly away from the body and trying to get it into the boot. Maybe your very strong but most people would have trouble trying to hold a wheel away from the body and get it over the boot lip, etc. Even when held against the body, we tell our guys to just dump the wheel rather than trying to place it into the wheel well as the risk of back injury is too high.