Crazy day...

New Macme2
Mar 14, 2018 30 Comments

So my 18 year old car (suv) gets its first flat at home. I debated on calling AAA or DIY. Young son was around so decided on DIY.
It as struggle to get the spare out. Somehow got it out. As suspected, it only had 35 psi as opposed to 60. All those tyre shops that lie to me that my spare was good!

Put my son on a foot pump to pump it. He gets to 45psi with struggle and pump breaks (Schwin, made it China, from Target). I said with 45 of 60 will get to tire shop to patch.

Replace with the spare ( all first time for this suv, in 18 years). Put everything away. Then son(13) puts the valve stem cap. I go and tighten it. It bends slightly, the I hear leak. Yes, the valve stem breaks from where it attaches to the tire.

I guess 18 year old spare, never inspected, plastic/rubber just cracks!

Now will take the tire and patch using the 2nd car and repeat!

Just thankful this didnt happen,
on a family road trip!!!
Or on a way to a kids test or performence or important work event/meeting
Thankful I don't have urgency to commute to work!

Just missed sons evening activity and work I do during that time in a Starbucks

Now sitting and working away to catch up, and wondering how to efficienly get the patch done in the morning between calls/meetings

#crazyday

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 TOP 30 Comments
  • Pivotal RktMnšŸš€
    Cool story bro šŸ˜Ž
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • You have a second car? I mean why didn't you put the spare from the first car in your second car and drive it down the gas station to get the tire pumped up? You had the poor kid pump a SUV size tire using a pump made to pump a football or a blow up doll. And you had the nerve to say the pump broke because it was bought from target. Not from your own stupidity. LOL. WTF!?
    Mar 14, 2018 6
    • New Macme2
      OP
      2nd wasnt around then! Then again glad the spare broke before I even drove it.

      The pump is normally used for bikes!
      Mar 14, 2018
    • I guess you had to do what you had to do. But damn. Pretty funny.
      Mar 14, 2018
    • New Macme2
      OP
      Good points mostly, but pump was rated > 80 PSI.
      Mar 14, 2018
    • Here's to a better tomorrow. šŸ»cheers!
      Mar 14, 2018
    • New Macme2
      OP
      That I like and would love to drink and chill, but have work dumbed on me ( thats another story for another day)
      Mar 14, 2018
  • Cisco Amazong
    Install new tired - enough patching already

    Mobile mechanics come to home and do stuff on car - low cost on craigslist
    Mar 14, 2018 13
    • Sirius XM UvIK51
      Did they not test it after patching?
      Mar 15, 2018
    • New Macme2
      OP
      They saw a nail and just assumed thatā€™s it! Yup thatā€™s bad
      Mar 15, 2018
    • New Macme2
      OP
      So I learned that tire had a crack on the side wall like a cut.. So need to replace ..needs ordering .. so another trip tomorrow

      Also they can repair / attach new valve stem on the temporary ( small) spare. That was nice of them. Now, car is on spare so I can drive to get the new tire. Now Iā€™m hoping the 18 year old, never used spare, holds the air overnight.
      Mar 15, 2018
    • New Macme2
      OP
      Nope the 18 year old valve stem fixed ( because they said so), spare tire didnā€™t hold air!

      Now I will remove tire 3rd time and drive the other car to bring the new replacement tire!

      I guess the shop Iā€™m going should be checking their work well :(
      Mar 15, 2018
    • Sirius XM UvIK51
      That sucks man. I hope the new tires work out.
      Mar 15, 2018
  • New / Mgmt
    Portlandia

    New Mgmt

    PRE
    startups
     Portlandiamore
    Next time simply call AAA. You juiced it for 18 years, go to Costco for a replacement, free repairs for life of tires
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • Sirius XM UvIK51
    You should check your tire pressure on all tires including the spare every time you rotate the tires. More often if you find yourself needing to add air in between rotations. If you have a shop rotate the tires, check the air pressure after theyā€™re done to validate their work. Itā€™ll usually be under or overfilled, which will need correction. Not sure how often the spare needs replacing if itā€™s not being used, but obviously as you found out, 18 years is too long. Good thing it didnā€™t happen away from home!
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • AMD
    Jab473

    AMD

    PRE
    Intel
     Jab473more
    Take the tire to be fixed somewhere. Itā€™s not worth your time to do it yourself. American Tire repairs flats for free, but I donā€™t recommend using them, had a bad experience.
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • Amazon
    psychopath

    Amazon

    PRE
    Amazon
     psychopathmore
    Patching a tire at home? You cannot do it right unless you take it to a shop.
    Mar 14, 2018 1
    • New Macme2
      OP
      Oh that's not part of the story or plan!
      Mar 14, 2018
  • Synopsys lOwW45
    1st world problems ...šŸ˜“
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • F5 Networks wait,what?
    ^this. Tire rotations are part of scheduled maintenance. This easily could have been avoided.
    Mar 14, 2018 0
  • New Macme2
    OP
    The point is check your spare tire health at least when you change tires. I make the request but don't double check!
    Mar 14, 2018 0