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Semi-blowout, it has been a while
Don McManus
Member Posts: 23,695 ✭✭✭✭
Passenger rear tire hit something on the freeway last night. I was going about 70 MPH, heard the thud and immediately jumped over to an exit ramp. By the time I got past the ramp and to a point where I could turn into a parking lot, about 30 seconds, the tire pressure had dropped from 35 to 10 PSI.
It was obvious my emergency compressor would not keep up with the air loss, so I changed the tire. It has been a long time since I changed a tire. So long in fact that I instinctively looked for the hub cap to drop the first lug nut into.
I haven't owned a car with hub caps for almost 35 years.
It was obvious my emergency compressor would not keep up with the air loss, so I changed the tire. It has been a long time since I changed a tire. So long in fact that I instinctively looked for the hub cap to drop the first lug nut into.
I haven't owned a car with hub caps for almost 35 years.
Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.
Brad Steele
Brad Steele
Comments
It has been a long time since I changed a tire in America. I remember as a kid changing flats all the time, if not my car then for someone else. Good old bias ply bald eagles or may pops[:D]
Good thing you took quick action and didn't ding up your wheel.
Come with me to Africa and I will make a NASCAR pit pro tire changer out of you Don.
Down there they call it a "puncture" and I have one about every 2 weeks. They still fix tires down there, they do the whole vulcanizing thing for about $10.
I was there one time for 9 months I drove about 14K miles and had at least 12-15 flats. It was so bad I bought a second spare.
Last winter I went out to the truck to find a left front flat. There was a small screw by the tire. Evidently I ground into the screw while parking. I hooked up the loud compressor, 5am, in my swim trunks (I was on my way to the YMCA) and got it filled. And she held. Found the leak. Decided I could fart harder than it was blowing.
Drove to Lowes, no plug kits. To the YMCA. Then home, still had air, then to my favorite garage.
Set it in the right spot and Junior had it plugged in record time for a $10 tip - two $5 bills. Told him to hide one, and throw the other into their lunch kitty.
I was lucky that I didn't damage the tire or wheel. Had it taken another 20 seconds to find a place to stop, I would have been riding on the rim. As it was, when I got stopped and went around to the right rear, the tire was bleeding off the last of the air.
Brad Steele
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I had bought the tires at Les Schwab, so they fixed the flat for nothing, and even replaced the spare and put it back for me. A good outfit, Les Schwab Tires.
I was lucky that I didn't damage the tire or wheel. Had it taken another 20 seconds to find a place to stop, I would have been riding on the rim. As it was, when I got stopped and went around to the right rear, the tire was bleeding off the last of the air.
Yep, Les Schwab is a good outfit. Been a while since I bought tires there though.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
it's called a AAA card.
A couple times there will be a state trooper already changing it, and I squeeze in and take over. Telling them they don't need to get their uniform dirty, and thank them for their service.
Since I've been with my wife, people have started pulling over and changing her tires for her also. I really believe in karma.
I've never taken a dime for doing it also.
Small Karma
Probably right.
Must have been karma that kept me from shooting a hole in the spare as I pulled the shotgun out of the way to get to the tire jack.
Brad Steele
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Small Karma
Probably right.
Must have been karma that kept me from shooting a hole in the spare as I pulled the shotgun out of the way to get to the tire jack.
Thank God there wasn't a negligent discharge malfunction!
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Small Karma
Probably right.
Must have been karma that kept me from shooting a hole in the spare as I pulled the shotgun out of the way to get to the tire jack.
There is a huge difference from good and bad karma. Mine turned out to be not good but Great.
quote:Originally posted by Don McManus
quote:Originally posted by select-fire
Small Karma
Probably right.
Must have been karma that kept me from shooting a hole in the spare as I pulled the shotgun out of the way to get to the tire jack.
There is a huge difference from good and bad karma. Mine turned out to be not good but Great.
I am glad for you that things are working out.
Brad Steele
Usually blowouts happen during the rain. Be thankful! They always seem to happen at the most inconvenient time, but it's hard to imagine when it would be convenient. Just glad you were able to safely exit.[:)]
My one and only blow out it was -2 outside.
i carry a kit to fix some on the road....air comp, 12v impact, plug kits...small trolley jack ..etc
You probably haven't had a flat in 10 years !
If you can't feel the music; it's only pink noise!
That reminds me, we've owned our newest vehicle for almost 2 years now; guess I better figure out where the spare tire, jack, and lug nut wrench are located! [:I]
I've had mine for 10 years, Old-Colts, and this is the first time the spare has been removed. I have a 4 way lug wrench that I carry, but I confess to having to consult the owner's manual to find the magic nut to lower the spare. A very handy design once you find it. It's a little cable winch that lowers the spare to the ground and is then used to lift it back up again when re-installing.
Brad Steele
Not a whole lot of tire dealers in SE Mo but always a wal mart
Road grater comes by about once a month.
I get slow leaks in the cars, (work rail, wife's car, 17 yr. old daughter's car) every month, right after the grater comes by.
The woman folk pay no attention to this, so I inspect almost daily.
I carry an air bubble, to get flats to a safe place, and inspect spares monthly.
Our rural mail carriers carry two to three spares.
If only the county would invest in some strong magnets to attach to their trucks and road graters.......
Suburban doesn't have the problem very often, but the tires are a lot better.
Yep, Les Schwab is a good outfit. Been a while since I bought tires there though.
Les Schwab pissed me off 10 years ago and I haven't been back.