Can you change a flat tire yourself or not?

[lyeag]

I have done it twice. My first was a slow leak that went down in the garage. When I informed my dad, he said, "Ok, let's go out to the garage." I thought he was going to do it. Nope. He grabbed the manual and handed it to me. Then he went and got a beer and a lawn chair while I did it. ( He did check the lugnuts to make sure they were on tight enough though)

 

[mum4jenn]

Yes I do know how and I have changed mine before. The first time it was after a major flood and we were living with my in laws until we rebuilt our house. They lived in the boonies and my dh was at work,FIL was away so it was me and my MIL. Together we figured it out and it only took about an hour. I had told my dh I needed new tires but before we could get some I had a blow-out from another one while I was directly behind him. It was about 6am and still dark outside. I flashed my light at him but he did not know why so he kept going. I pulled over on the side of the highway in front of our P&G plant and changed my tire in 20 minutes!! That was in 1994. I had another flat tire a couple of months ago and my dh watched me cahnge it because he said I did not know how...I had to prove him wrong!!

I have to stand on the bar thingy(and hop up and down) that loosens the lug nuts. That is the only way I can get them off.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

It was my mom who insisted I knew how to change a tire, change the oil, check the air pressure and how to open the choke on a carberator before I started driving.

So, I know how to change the tire and I can do it in the safety of my own driveway but I'm not changing a tire on the side of the highway as tractor trailers come whizzing by me! I also can't get the wheel off due to the wheel lock and the lug nuts.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Never attempted it. It's much easier to call the auto service to do it. I don't mind waiting. I just remind them I have a child with me, and they seem to step up the speed of getting someone there a bit faster.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

never had a flat, but i cant change them either

 

[clh2]

I have AAA and a cell phone

That's how I change my tires too!

I know how to do it - but as many other posters have mentioned - what about the lug nuts, what about getting the spare out from under the car etc. What would you do with your kids if it's just you and them in the car?

Funny story - on one of those really nasty bitter cold days, DH's tire went flat shortly after he arrived at work. Someone told DH about it. DH - who can change a flat - just called AAA. They tried to talk him out of coming out to change it, blah blah blah...it would be a 6-8 hour wait etc. Since DH was at work, not on the road - DH said fine - 6-8 hours would be great! Because AAA has the power tools and "power jacks" they can change them in minutes.

 

[helenabear]

I know I can... and actually changed one w/o getting a thing on my white shirt at the time too

 

[PaulaSue]

Nope and don't have to as Dh is a co-owner of a tire store. At least I get some benifits of being married to a tire man (very long hours and not much time off) besides the great trips he can win like Vegas and San Deigo to name a few.

 

[tone.def]

I saw it done once... I'd try really, really, really hard and if I messed up, I'd call for help.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I know how to, but I haven't had to do it yet. That's what AAA is for.

 

[KathyTX]

My dad would not teach me to drive until I could:

Check and add oil to my car
Pump my own gas
Change a flat tire

Same here, except I also had to actually *change* the oil before I could have the keys.

I can change the tires, and have done it lots of times. I do prefer to call AAA and have them do it these days, but it's nice to know that I don't have to depend on them in any real emergency.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

Yes I can and I have. But I don't like to. That is why I have AAA now.

 

[Kycha]

As far as know how I could but I don't think I have enough strength to get the nuts off.

Well now. That is too much information. Anyway. I most absolutely know how to change a tire. Not only did my father insist I learn, but the driver's ed class I took in high school gave us a hands on lesson. None of that helped much when it came to the real thing. There I am, on my way to my job at the bank, of course I am dressed in heels and a skirt, when I get a flat tire. This was long before cell phones, so my options are either change the flat myself, or hike 3 long country miles back home, in heels. I chose to change the flat myself. Anyway, I was doing really well. I managed to get the spare out of the trunk. I put the jack on the car. Next, I'm going to loosen the lug nuts.... Nothing. They won't budge. I struggled for about 5 minutes and I just couldn't get them to move. So, I just leave the car sit where it is and now I have to trudge the 3 miles back home. I was able to borrow my mom's car and go to work. So, after work, my BF(now my DH) comes with me to get the tires switched. Now it is his turn to loosen the lug nuts..... Nothing. They won't budge. This is surprising since my DH is the strongest man I know. So, it seems that when I had new tires installed, the technician used an air wrench to tighten the lug nuts rather than hand tighten them. So, after struggling for about 30 minutes and 1 can of WD-40 my DH was finally able to get those suckers off. So, the very next day I went and purchased a memebership to AAA. Haven't had a problem since.