Women's topic: Do YOU know how to change a tire? [Archive]

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 10:05am

I've been bugging my husband (for forever) to teach me a few things related to the care of a vehicle. i.e. Checking the oil, radiator for water, and how to change a tire. Well, yesterday, was my day, I actually helped change a tire. Not quite as exciting as I thought it would be, but no less, something new on the learned front, and that always makes me happy.

Anyhow, DH, mentioned (part way through the process), "few women know how to change a tire"... His words inspired me. Now, don't get me wrong, because I'm not at all anxious/excited over having to change out a tire (all by myself), but getting my hands a little dirty and actually turning the wrench, helped spark the "woman power" switch in me. :)

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 10:09am

To add... do you actually check the oil and water and all that stuff on your own vehicle? Regularly? I think, at least for me, I'd tend to feel like too much of a tom-boy, if I got overly involved with guy things, but learning a guy thing (or two) never hurts IMO.

JaneV2.0

5-4-12, 10:11am

Yes, and I've taken auto repair classes and changed my own oil a couple of times, but at this point in my life I'll be calling Triple A. I'm about as good at being handy as I am at housework. Really, I'm just a brain in a jar. http://www.kolobok.us/smiles/artists/connie/connie_34.gif

herbgeek

5-4-12, 10:18am

Yes, but I've never actually had to have done this in an emergency situation like on the side of the road. But I'm glad I know how to, in case I'm out of AAA range. :) I do check the oil when a car gets older, but not when its new. I have the oil regularly changed, and if it was significantly low they tell me (in which I know to check more often). I don't check the coolant level unless I have some reason to.

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 10:23am

ROTFLMAO! P.S. That smiley is awesome! I'm going to follow-suit Re: your ways, and either call my husband (or dad) to come bail me out if I ever have a problem. Oldest son doesn't like getting dirty. LOL!

Gregg

5-4-12, 10:28am

Not sure about DW, she's hardly the helpless type, but her desire to be mechanical isn't very high. She knows the # to AAA by heart so she'll be ok. My DDs OTOH did not get their first solo runs in a car until they had changed a tire, hooked up jumper cables, checked the oil and told me where it would be added if needed, added washer fluid, filled the gas tank and checked the fluid in the radiator. One of them is already a pro with duct tape and bailing wire, the other better not miss a membership payment to AAA. As a dad you do what you can.

goldensmom

5-4-12, 10:28am

I can change a tire, change the oil, recharge A/C, general maintenance but I don't like to get dirty. I don't check the oil, etc. as that is one of my husbands chores in our division of labor household. I do regularly check the fluids in the tractors before use.

One time when I was nicely dressed and leaving for work I found a flat tire on my car. I called road service to change it. First question from tow truck driver, 'are you sure the tire is flat?'. I answered 'although I am a woman I can tell when a tire is flat'. Second question from the tow truck driver 'can't you change it yourself?'. I answered 'yes, I can change a tire but I have road service insurance for that purpose so that would be your job'.

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 10:44am

That's great, Herbgeek. My husband reminded me that, "I married a woman, not a man". Yes, my husband is extremely old-fashioned when it comes to separating all things guy, with all things girl. Do you think he was hinting around me not getting to comfortable checking the oil, etc? LOL!

Gregg. I think that's awesome Re: your daughters! As a woman, I don't fancy getting my hands dirty (or my clothing), so that in itself will keep me away. Funny part to share. Before DH and I got started, DH, said to me, "you aren't going to cry if you snap a nail are you". >8)

I answered him, "I won't cry, but I won't be too happy". Some mechanic I'd make, huh! LOL!

Goldensmom. Good on you. Wow! I shouldn't be too surprised over all the mechanical experience posted thus far, as this is a frugal board. :) Ditto the getting dirty thing.

Float On

5-4-12, 11:12am

Dad taught me well. Sometimes I think he let air out of my tires on purpose just to see how fast I could change one and not be late for high school. He also taught me all the oil change, filters, fluid levels, etc. Oh and how to change brakes and to take the rotors off and take them in to be 'turned', etc.
Granted along with my husband came AAA and I haven't changed a tire in years. Usually if I notice a tire is low I'll drag one of the compressers down the driveway and then drive 4 miles to Big O Tire.

It's on my list to take an Auto Repair class at the Vo-Tech with my two boys. Husband isn't interested but I actually enjoy tinkering with cars. I learned how to change/replace some air conditioner parts last summer. If we lived closer to my dad, we'd probably already have a older car to fix up on weekends for the boys. As it is, he's been fixing up the older car himself and will just give it to the boys. They've really missed out on some of the best fun I had with my dad when he and I were working on old Ranchero trucks for me to drive to school.

CathyA

5-4-12, 11:17am

Yes, I can change a tire.......if I can get the lug nuts off! I used to change my own all the time....along with the oil. I remember coming out of work late at night when I was pregnant (and about 25 years younger) and found a flat........changed it myself then.
Sometimes those lug nuts can be a challenge and you need a really strong watchamacallit to get them off. The spares these days are "pretend" tires, and only get you to somewhere nearby to fix the flat tire.
Also.....changing oil these days is hard because of where they put things in cars these days. Plus..........these days, if I get down on the ground to do something, I might not get back up. :)

bae

5-4-12, 11:23am

My DDs OTOH did not get their first solo runs in a car until they had changed a tire, hooked up jumper cables, checked the oil and told me where it would be added if needed, added washer fluid, filled the gas tank and checked the fluid in the radiator. One of them is already a pro with duct tape and bailing wire, the other better not miss a membership payment to AAA. As a dad you do what you can.

My daughter, who is now 15, has been subjected to the same automotive boot camp for the past couple of years. Last year I bought a Mini Cooper which will become her vehicle once she becomes a proficient driver, to use as the carrot, and she is now completely responsible for the care and maintenance of this vehicle even in her pre-license stage :-)

My wife once helped me replace the head gasket on an MG on the side of the road during a long trip, so she's already well past the minimum standard. The state trooper who pulled up to ask what was going on almost died when she told him what we were doing, with a straight face. "You keep a spare head gasket *with you*?". "It's a British car, who wouldn't?"

JaneV2.0

5-4-12, 11:49am

CeciliaW

5-4-12, 12:54pm

I can, but I'd rather not.

Nella

5-4-12, 12:59pm

I can change a tire and have done so, but rarely. My dad made all his girls prove that they could rotate all the tires on our big old station wagon before we were able to get a driver's license permit. Now, with respect to changing the oil, no, I don't. I never learned that, but I do know how to check the oil and other fluids and add correct amounts if needed. I figure, there are other skills and talents that I have which I'm much better at, and I let my mechanic handle all the auto maintenance.

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 2:48pm

Holy smokes, Float On! That's great.

CathyA. I'm picturing myself pregnant, trying to bend over, turn a wrench, and maneuver a tire around. You were Wonder Woman, in disguise. :)

Bae. How lucky your daughter is.

JaneV2.0. I know, bad, isn't it... He means well, though. DH cherishes knowing all is taken care of for everyone.

CeciliaW. I'm thinking the same, now.

Nella. What a fun picture that would have been, seeing you and your sisters all working diligently on your dads car.

catherine

5-4-12, 2:51pm

I could if I had to. But frankly, I'm happy to play "damsel in distress" so I don't have to. I'm not confident in my results. But I can jump a car, add oil and anti-freeze.

DH did a wonderful job with the boys, teaching them how to maintain cars: change oil, change brake pads, change tires, etc. etc. As a family, we've even done body work (removing dents, etc. I'm the color consultant.)

I get a little sad when I see DH giving that up and bringing the car to the shop. I have fond memories of cars up on cheap jacks with two pairs of legs (one big, one small) on one end; the other end peering up into that vast greaseland.

treehugger

5-4-12, 4:32pm

I never learned how. I have 2 dads and neither of them is handy in the least. I guess I could learn, but at this point, I am happy to have AAA do it. I can and do, however, check and add oil, water/anti-freeze, and air in the tires.

I pretty much only "play the woman" card when it comes to killing and disposing of mice and rats. That is totally my DH's job and I am happy to leave him to it. :)

Kara

Mrs-M

5-4-12, 8:54pm

That's great, Catherine. :) But gee-whiz, it's so dirty...

Treehugger. AAA, is a good thing. :)

Mighty Frugal

5-4-12, 10:07pm

Bae-that's a great story:)

I don't know how to change a tire. I know how to check my oil but not change it. I know how to add windshield washer fluid. I won't go near the rad.

I'm pretty inept in all things 'manly' but when push comes to shove I find my way.

In my early 20s (early 90s) I had a 1982 Pontiac Grand Prix. I named him Brutus. Brutus would stall all the time. Once at a gas station the service guy made me pop the hood and did something and Brutus started. So I got out of my car and asked him what he did.

I soon learned how to unscrew the top off my carburetor and stick a pencil (usually all I had was an eyeliner-haha) down the choke to keep it open and start the car. Then pull out the pencil, screw the lid back on the carburetor and go. I had to do this every time I didn't let Brutus sit for half an hour between engine off and engine on. So every time I went to the gas station this happened.

It became quite comical to see a few men dashing over when they saw a young woman popping the hood and it was so cool that I could say 'it's ok guys...I've got it' and I did:~)

artist

5-4-12, 10:30pm

My father didn't allow me to get my licence until I was able to check the oil, check and adjust tire pressure, replace a hose, jump start a car, change a tire and add water the the radiator.

Selah

5-5-12, 2:30am

Oh, yes, I do know how to change a tire, having changed many of them in the past! The only problem I've had is when the lug nuts are too tight and I can't get them off. That usually only happens if a garage mechanice has tightened them using a power tool.

Mrs-M

5-5-12, 2:54pm

LOL, Mighty Frugal! Good on you.

Artist. I second the pre-license teachings.

Greenfeast. There's a lot to be said about simplicity isn't there.

Selah. Thumbs-up to you.

Tussiemussies

5-6-12, 7:47am

Changed tires when younger but have forgotten how to do it. Also keep our AAA membership which is a great service which we have used in the last year. Mrs M do you have AAA in Canada?

Mrs-M

5-6-12, 10:23am

So good hearing from you, Tussie. In Canada, specifically British Columbia (where we reside), we have what's called BCAA (British Columbia Automobile Association). It's a good thing. DH says that when we plan our next long trip, we're going to sign-up for coverage.

martha

5-7-12, 2:36am

Dad taught me to change a tire, check/add oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and windshield washer fluid. He tried but failed to persuade me to learn to change the oil; that was too grimy for my tastes.

Back in the day, when I had a flat in a public place, I could stand there and look helplessly at it and within a few minutes, one or more men would stop and change it for me.:|( Now that I'm much older and much more rotund, I've found that I can stand and look at a flat for an hour and nothing will happen, :doh: so now I just go ahead and change the dang thing myself. Occasionally someone will take pity and finish it for me.

Recently replaced the chevy I'd driven for 16 years with a new Corolla, hoping to get at least 16 out of it, too. It came with free roadside assistance, so now if I have a flat within the metro area, they send someone out to change it for free. I could get used to this! ;)

ctg492

5-7-12, 8:09am

Yes and have many times. Can check all the basic fluids. Understand the owners manual. Also know when to call the service department. I clean/wash/wax my car by hand.

Gregg

5-7-12, 8:57am

My wife once helped me replace the head gasket on an MG on the side of the road during a long trip, so she's already well past the minimum standard. The state trooper who pulled up to ask what was going on almost died when she told him what we were doing, with a straight face. "You keep a spare head gasket *with you*?". "It's a British car, who wouldn't?"

As a one time owner of a 1968 Triumph Spitfire ya got me with that one!

Q: Know why the British don't make computers?
A: They couldn't figure out how to make them leak oil.
Bada-bing.

Mrs-M

5-7-12, 10:38am

Martha. Older and more rotund doesn't mean a thing. You just have to play-it-up, better! :laff: Wishing you all the best with your new baby.

Ctg492. Great going! My favourite thing is a clean vehicle. Love getting into a clean vehicle! No dust and grime on the windows, floor-mats vacuumed, dashboard wiped down.

Gregg. Going to share your joke with my husband and dad! :)

Gardenarian

5-7-12, 3:45pm

I know how to, but AAA does it better. I have this fear of my tire flying off (I have had nightmares about this since I started driving. Weird.)

treehugger

5-7-12, 6:40pm

Just today I got to use my crack AAA calling skills. I drove a few miles from work to meet a friend for lunch, and when I turned into the parking lot, I noticed steam coming from my hood. I saw a gas station in the same parking lot, so decided to give the car time to cool off and took it to the gas station after eating lunch.

I filled the reservoir with water and everything looked good for about a minute, until all the water I had just added started gushing out from a different place. *sigh* So, since adding water was the limit of my relevant skills, I called AAA and had them tow me home to wait until we can get a mechanic friend to look at it.

The timing was good and my DH was just about to leave for school when I got home, so I took him to the train and drove his car to work. I can work at home for the rest of the week.

Kara

boss mare

5-8-12, 1:47am

I can change a tire, jump start a battery, drive a stick shift , hook up ( my current horse trailer is a gooseneck), pull *and* back up a trailer. In 1995 I went from WA to OK and back again with my truck, trailer and horse all by myself. In 2009 my next door neighbor and I ( she was 64 and I was 48) went from WA to TX and back with 3 horses and my Corgi I can use all manner of power tools including a chain saw But I will admit, as I am getting older ( I will be 51 this June) it is getting harder for me to get the gas-powered pull start tools started. I have looked into getting an electric chainsaw and leaf blower I have long nails but it is not the end of the world if they break. I love having the contrast of having the girly look and being able to do "guy things" at the same time LOL

Mrs-M

5-8-12, 7:43am

Gardenarian. Rest assured, if I were to change out a tire, DH, would waste no time in doing a following-up check-over afterwards. :)

Treehugger. Fingers crossed for you in hopes it's nothing serious.

Boss Mare. I have long finger nails, too, so me doing any sort of man stuff always puts me at risk of breaking a nail, which I do not fancy, and getting any sort of dirt of grease under my nails is a definite no-no. I wore a pair of thin cotton gloves the day I helped DH change out a tire just to be safe. :)

P.S. This thread has been a lot of fun, and the response has been wonderful.

lmerullo

5-8-12, 2:53pm

Just because I can, doesn't mean I would. I have perfected the "That's what I married you for", femme fatale persona. It has worked on the hubby thus far, lol...

I feel like replying to this thread is just asking for a tire to be changed. Last time I had to deal with a flat, I heart the tire pick up something (Thump, thump, as you drove) and I continually checked the tire pressure indicator on the dash. Since there was no change and the car did not react negatively with pulling to the side or anything, I just drove home. (Isn't that what any good wife should do?). By the time hubby got home, the tire was flat. DH then took the tire off and went to the tire store for it to be replaced. So, the reality is that *I* didn't have to deal with it. :)

Mrs-M

5-8-12, 3:15pm

LOL, Imerullo! "I have perfected the "That's what I married you for", femme fatale persona". Love that! Here's hoping this thread doesn't equate to any bad tire karma. :)

mira

5-8-12, 5:45pm

I've never owned a car, so no. When I do eventually get one, I will be taking classes! I don't want to be the poor sap getting taken for a ride by the mechanics! (excuse the pun...)

Mrs-M

5-8-12, 8:40pm

Good on you, Mira. I'm all for crash-courses. (Pardon the pun). ROTFLMAO! That one came so naturally, but all joking aside, nowadays, there are a lot of great basic entry-level classes one can take, anywhere, anytime, and for cheap. There's also the traditional, time-honoured option of seeking out a wise old neighbour to show you the ropes.

Wildflower

5-8-12, 8:48pm

I do not know how to change a tire, but do know how to check the oil, water, antifreeze levels and tire pressure, also how to jumpstart a car. My Dad taught me when I was a teenager. Cars were much simpler pieces of machinery 40 some odd years ago!

Mrs-M

5-8-12, 9:44pm

That's great, Wildflower! This has been a pleasantly surprising thread for me, all the expertise.

pony mom

5-9-12, 2:18pm

I have changed my own tire and was quite proud of myself. Luckily it was parked in our parking lot; I just took out the owners manual, dragged all my junk out of the trunk to get the spare out and jack out, and went to it. Years ago my dad gave me a metal pipe that fits over the end of the lug nut wrench, making it longer. More leverage to loosen the lug nuts (standing on it helps too). The only difficulty I had was prying off a round emblem thingy on the center of the tire.

How many of you can easily change your wiper blades? So many people I know have problems with those.

bae

5-9-12, 2:25pm

How many of you can easily change your wiper blades? So many people I know have problems with those.

I'm an engineer, and I have to have my wife change the wiper blades, I can never figure out the darned things.

Alan

5-9-12, 3:18pm

How many of you can easily change your wiper blades? So many people I know have problems with those.

Awww, wiper blades! I replaced mine just a few weeks ago. Took me nearly an hour to figure out which little adaptor to use. There were three adaptors and the wiper blade itself in the package. One of the adaptors seemed to fit on the wiper arm but I couldn't figure out how to attach it to the blade. I eventually discovered that the blade already had a fourth adaptor attached, which had to be removed before the correct one could be fitted on. DOH!!

bae

5-9-12, 3:38pm

Awww, wiper blades! I replaced mine just a few weeks ago. Took me nearly an hour to figure out which little adaptor to use. There were three adaptors and the wiper blade itself in the package. One of the adaptors seemed to fit on the wiper arm but I couldn't figure out how to attach it to the blade. I eventually discovered that the blade already had a fourth adaptor attached, which had to be removed before the correct one could be fitted on. DOH!!

Alan - two words: TIG welder.

Problem solved.

lmerullo

5-9-12, 4:10pm

I can replace my wiper blades. I just can't buy the right ones the first time around, and often have to go back to the store for a different size. I blame the "one size fits all" mentality of the look-up charts - my vehicle apparently had a "special" size, that was not the one listed in the store charts. I always remembered that small factoid as I was griping that the blades were too short.

A few years ago, though, I had a problem with the wipers on the car. I came home one day, told my daughter (my husband and both kids are certified mechanics) that the wipers quit working, after I heard a funny bump under the hood. Dd comes into the house holding the cordless phone. She said - how long have the wipers not worked - oh, about two days - next question - how long has the cordless phone been missing? Hmmm - seems the phone was laid on the car, and wedged itself under the wiper arm when I drove off.

Mrs-M

5-10-12, 10:05am

Great stuff, Pony Mom! No knowledge/experience with wiper blades. Even DH frets (occasionally) when changing them.

LOL, Imerullo!!! My husband said that one of the staff he works with left his house the other morning with his bagged-lunch sitting on top of the car, and upon arriving at work and parking the car, his bagged-lunch still remained where he left it, right on top of the roof of his car! LMAO! Every time I think about it makes me laugh! Can't stop thinking about what other drivers passing by where thinking! At any rate, your phone incident brings a whole new meaning to the term "portable telephone"! ROTFLMAO!

Gregg

5-10-12, 11:46am

Must be wiper blade season. We just replaced them on DW's car a couple weeks ago. She did one side, I did the other. She was on the porch and finished with her lemonade by the time I finally asked her what the trick was. It was a low testosterone day.

Mrs-M

5-10-12, 12:46pm

Originally posted by Gregg.
It was a low testosterone day. Or a high-estrogen one! LOL! Have you had your estrogen level checked lately? :laff:

Gregg

5-10-12, 1:37pm

Or a high-estrogen one! LOL! Have you had your estrogen level checked lately? :laff:

Lol. Now that I'm over 50 its probably time to have that checked, too.

Mrs-M

5-10-12, 2:14pm

LOL, Gregg! Lost of fun. :)

Spartana

5-21-12, 10:28pm

Congrats on learning how to change a tire Mrs. M!! I know that trying anything new can seem hard, but once you've done it and seen how easy it is, you really become empowered - even if you NEVER want to do it again! As for getting your hands dirty, do what I do - wear gloves! Those fitted latex dishwashing gloves that come up to your elbows are great for that. I keep a pair in my car along with a pair of disposable coveralls - the kind with the attached booties and hood - just in case. Along with a can of "fix-a-flat" (love that stuff) and my AAA card. And here I'll (sheepishly) admit that even though I was a professional mechanic for many years and have worked on everything from 3 story tall steam turbine engines down to tiny pumps and motors, who can do any kind of weldfing, machine my own parts on a lathe, do HVAC, plumbing and well... just about anything mechanical, I not only call AAA when needed, I also take my car into be serviced by others and one of my windsheild wiper blades is held together with a pink hair ribbon because I can't figure out how to attach the little clip thingie!!

And as JaneV pointed out (oh she knows me and my soapbox rants too well :-)!) I don't look at jobs, interests, hobbies or any activity as masculine or feminine - just genderless things that we humans do. I don't think that doing certain tasks make you manish or womanish at all, and believe that both genders can retain their "gender qualities" both on the job as well as afterwards. That grime washes off and the make-up and pretty dress comes on. Like your DH, my (ex) DH also didn't marry a man, just a girl who happened to be a grease monkey and liked to play with big tools :devil:!! Maybe I should post the photo of me covered with oil again :-)!

http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=785&d=1337633904

Manly Spartana paints her tools and nails (and everything else) at the same time:
http://www.simplelivingforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=783&d=1337633715

Mrs-M

5-21-12, 10:43pm

LOL, Spartana! I knew I could count on you to drop-by this thread and post!

I didn't want to admit the fact, but later on that evening, after I changed the tire, I spent all night examining my nails for any signs of chips, cracks, and dirt! LMAO! I really do belong in the house. :laff:

P.S. Love the picture!

bunnys

5-21-12, 10:56pm

Yes. I changed a tire once out of necessity when I went outside and it was flat before work. Took a half hour and was very empowering.

The next day it was flat again in a driving rainstorm and I got out to change it--knowing I could do it. I was about 5 minutes in, rain-soaked, water streaming down my face and had barely loosened the lug nuts. A man in a truck saw me, stopped, told me to get in the car and changed it himself in about 5 minutes. I was grateful.