When is the last time you changed a tire on the side of the road?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238398)
Walnut Creek, California
May 22, 2017 5:06pm CST
Back in the day, most of us knew how to change a tire, and we did so when we had a flat, no matter how far from home we were. We also knew how to change our oil, put new spark plugs in, etc.
In recent years, I'm become more "adult," and have let others do all of those things. But yesterday, I was left with no choice. I was driving at about 65 mph on I-680 when my left rear tired blew out. Apparently it had picked up a large bolt of some kind, and that was its undoing.
I limped the car over to the side of the freeway and realized I'd be squished if I tried to change the tire there. I limped the car another hundred yards to an on-ramp, where people could easily see me, and got to work there.
I had never used the jack in this vehicle (a 2008 Nissan Xterra), and had never so much as let the spare tire down. That's what Big O is for (says the Elder Horse). But I managed to get the tire changed in abut 50 minutes. Everything was self-explanatory, and the jack worked like a champ.
Two questions: 1) When is the last time you actually changed a tire along side of the road? For me, it has to have been at least 15 years. 2) How many people do you think stopped to see if I needed any help? This is a busy freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.
18 people like this
19 responses
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
23 May 17
Glad everything went okay for you and you didn't get squished!
I'm pretty sure the last time I changed a tire was in the early 80s on the side of a desert road. Not much traffic there. I didn't need/want any help either. It was in my Beetle-driving days and I, like you, did most of my low-level wrenching. I have the AARP Road Assistance Plan now but I've not had to use them, knock on wood.
Since you were in N. CA, I'm guessing at least two or three people stopped to ask if they could help.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238398)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May 17
Heh. What would your guess have been had I been in S. Cal? One person stopped, a Mexican-American guy who said he worked at a laundromat. I thanked him and told him I had the spare on, so I thought I was OK. I'm glad someone stopped. My faith in human nature is...about where it was before.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238398)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May 17
@blitzfrick I find SoCal to be friendlier than NoCal.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
23 May 17
@TheHorse SOCAL is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to have a flat tire there.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
22 May 17
My husband does all of that thank God! Lol. But I do know how to change a tire as he taught me in case I ever needed that knowledge even though I don't drive. It wasn't long ago, just a couple months that my husband had to change our tire.
3 people like this
@marguicha (230365)
• Chile
23 May 17
I have "tried" to change a tire at a street in my city many years ago. In those years, no man would let a lady do the job. Soom some gallant prince would stop by and I´d put the desolate damsel look that was expected of me
The tire was soon changed and I only had to say thanks.
The tire was soon changed and I only had to say thanks.3 people like this
@cmoneyspinner (9218)
• Austin, Texas
22 May 17
It's been ages. Of course, I wasn't the one changing the tire. Can't remember if it was my husband or one of my sons. But nobody ever stopped to ask if we needed help. These days if somebody stopped, I'd be suspicious. How do I know they didn't stop to rob me?? Hey! This is the world we live in.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (174797)
• United States
23 May 17
@TheHorse You are very lucky you didn't lose that can of tea, pony! (If I had seen you on the side of the road changing a tire.... uhm... nothing... 
)
)
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238398)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May 17
@DaddyEvil I always think, Glad I'm not him.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (127195)
• United States
23 May 17
@TheHorse I don't think feminists want men to die off. That is a silly thought. I got a flat tire on the way to work several years ago but I didn't realize it at the time. I just knew something didn't feel right. So genius me just kept driving to work. Luckily it is only 10 minutes there. Upon arriving to work I discovered that I had a flat. I called my dad and asked if he could help me as he works in town and has some time off during the day. He bought me a new $250 tire and put it onto my car while I was busy teaching! hahaha He didn't even want to be repaid!
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
23 May 17
It's been many years since I changed a flat on a freeway. No one stopped.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
22 May 17
I have had to do it once only and it was oh say 30 years ago.
No car needed for me now however.
Good you had no trouble when changing yours then.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
22 May 17
@TheHorse I used to like working on an old truck I had about 6 yrs ago..that was the last one I had..yes it feels good to get it done.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174797)
• United States
23 May 17
Hmmm... the last time I had to change a tire alongside a highway was 8 or 9 years ago when I was bringing Pretty home from college. We were transporting all her things back using a small u-haul trailer. I had let the rental person attach the trailer to my car's trailer hitch and hadn't checked his work. The hitch came off our ball, ran under our car and punctured the driver's side rear tire, causing it to explode.
I am willing to bet not one person pulled over to check on you while you had fun beside the Interstate. (That's how many concerned travelers were on I-44 while I changed our tire!)
The difference is that I couldn't move my car to a safer spot! When the tire exploded, tire fragments jarred the toggle switch that keeps the motor from starting back up. I had never even heard of a switch like that in a car, so we had to call AAA to come rescue us!
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174797)
• United States
23 May 17
@TheHorse I owned a Buick Le Sabre at the time, similar to the one I own now. The switch in them is inside the trunk (sorta) on the driver's side wheel well. (Open the trunk, there is a small piece of the trunk carpeting on the wheel well that lifts up. You reach your finger into a hole and flip the switch.) Your car will start after that.
You got lucky, then, pony!
The AAA driver was really nice. He listened to me walk him through what happened, grinned and ask me to pop the trunk. I did. He reached into the trunk, flipped that bit of the carpeting to the side and flipped the switch. Then told me to start the car.
I was so embarrassed!
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
24 May 17
i miss that sort'a independence. heck, we used to rebuild our carburetors, too. last time i changed a tire'n the side 'f the road? hmmm....25 yrs 'go? 'n my own vehicle. been 'bout 8 years since i've done such fer someone else. i doubt anybody stopped to see if'n ya needed a hand. ya know, folks're soooo busy these days :(
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
24 May 17
@TheHorse hidin' 'neath a rock, sweet fella, jest hidin' 'nder a massive boulder 'n can't believe i've slithered out from such. once we learn those 'life skills', we might be a tad rusty, but can still get'er done. now that i'm more 'seasoned' 'n broken, i doubt i could manage such a task 'n would be hollerin' fer some help, lol.
watched yer video 'n aint fer certain if'n i love the song most 'r the pics from such?? very close, lol. big hugs!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238398)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May 17
@crazyhorseladycx Well, hope yer doin' OK overall. Which video???
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238398)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May 17
Lord have mercy, where you been, Girlfriend? I missed you! Oh, back to the subject, yes, I kind of miss changing my own oil and spark plugs (that's as far as I got). But now that I'm "older" and have been working for awhile, I let others do that sort of thing. Heh. I'm glad I was still able to change a tire.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91208)
• United States
22 May 17
I'd say no one stopped to help but I hope I'm wrong. I haven't changed a tire in eons and would probably call roadside assistance if needed
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
23 May 17
It has been maybe fifty years for me. I would have no idea where to put the jack now. That is what I like about AAA.
I would guess that no one stopped at all, right?
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 May 17
I'm glad you were able to get it done. I've never done it myself, but I did have a flat many years ago and a police officer was the one to change it for me. I'm guessing no one stopped to see if you needed help.
It reminds me of the movie War Room - at the end of the movie, the guy who had been against the main character throughout is on the side of the road, talking to someone to come and change his tire, and the main character just stops, changes his tire for him and goes on his way. Great movie by the way.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67089)
• United States
23 May 17
Never changed one and never plan to. Lol.
2 people like this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
22 May 17
Firstly, so far I have not encountered a situation to change the tyre on the side of the road. I always check up the tires for their condition at least once in 15 days. I have seen only a few people trying to help you when you are in such a situation waiting for help. Of course, the people are not as bad as I expected as I have experienced it when I went out with my girlfriend.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (190127)
• Boise, Idaho
23 May 17
I was stranded with two kids and my daughter in the car. Luckily a cop came by and helped me. I was never happier to see a cop in my life. My grandson was very young then, or I would have had him on the task, but he told the cop that he was his 'double' hero. First for being a cop and second for helping us. LOL
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
22 May 17
I am happy to hear you were able to change your tire safety!
I never have a flat on the side of the road where I couldn't make it home! The last time I got a flat was a couple of years ago, went to my uncles- pumped it up then my fiancé (boyfriend then) changed my tires back to the stock since the ones I got a flat were aftermarket.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 May 17
I'm sure nobody stopped to help @TheHorse . My Dad taught me to do all mechanic work on a car at age 11. I have 'always' changed a flat. My last one? 2 years ago. And it just kills me that 99% of the people will call AAA. And the kids today? Oh please, I seriously doubt if they even know where the flipper is to open the trunk of a car.
@JudyEv (382693)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May 17
Last year we blew a tyre on the bus and had to change it. That was a mammoth undertaking as the tyre is huge and heavy. We reckoned if it hit the ground flat we'd be battling to get it upright again. And did maybe one person help?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
23 May 17
Luckily, I haven't changed a tire since the 90's. And I'm going to guess nobody stopped to help.
1 person likes this
