It never rains it pours

[L Austin France]

Can't remember the last time one of us was caught out by a puncture away from the house but one 3 weeks ago & another today on the wife's C4 car is really taking the proverbial. The first was near home & I was able to rescue the damsel in distress with a hyraulic jack. Today, miles from home, I was driving us back from a trip when it happened & boy, what a pain it was to change the wheel using the car's scissor jack & a borrowed sledge hammer & log to unstick the 'grown on' alloy wheel which no amount of kicking would shift.
Each time the tyre was ruined & the only saving grace is that today's tyre was one on the front where both were needing changing in a few thou.km.
Any road nice local garage has ordered a pair which hopefully will be here for fitting tomorrow which is good as knowing our luck it'll be tempting fate to drive without a spare

[niemeyjt]

And remember, new ones to the back - so your friendly garagist will loosen all four sets of nuts for you.!

Over this side of the hexagon, the wheels come off twice a year and I try to put a bit of oil or copper grease where two different metals meet.

[Blaze]

OH hit a parpaing in the road - unavoidable - and wrote off the front tyre which was nearly new. He put the run flat on on. Fortunately he only had to buy one replacement as the garage found one that was compatible.

I learnt how to change a tyre years ago .... but perhaps time for a refresher course, haven't done it for a long time ....

[niemeyjt]

I learnt how to change a tyre years ago .... but perhaps time for a refresher course, haven't done it for a long time ....

Change a tyre or change a wheel?

With all the balancing I let the pros do the former - except on things like tractors, wheelbarrows and bicycles.

[Hotrodder]

I count myself lucky. My one and only tyre change away from home was in 1964. A front tyre blew out at about 60mph. Not fun at all. Considering all the thousands of miles I have covered since then over all kinds of surfaces with and without any tread I'm very lucky indeed.

[L Austin France]

Trouble is that two flat tyres in three weeks makes one wonder when the third is coming & driving with no spare becomes scary.
Just 'cos you're paranoid don't mean it ain't gonna happen.

[Hotrodder]

Quite often it is the person who worries about every little thing is the one that suffers the misfortune. The people who just carry on without any risk assessment at all get away with murder.
In that respect I have led a charmed life. No brakes, no clutch, shattered windscreen, bald tyres, no water in the radiator, no MOT, no helmet, and probably others I can't remember didn't stop me but to be honest I wouldn't do any of those things today.

[L Austin France]

Great service from our local little Texaco garage 6km from chez nous.
Puncture at about 1500 hrs yesterday, new tyres ordered, delivered & fitted by the same time today.
Probably ( certainly) paid a bit more than a large tyre place would charge but it beats a round trip of 30km & a wait ( over an hour last time) until they have a ramp free.
Deffo worth supporting your local businesses.