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
Install new tired - enough patching already Mobile mechanics come to home and do stuff on car - low cost on craigslist
Tires
Tire is only 2 years old and first nail. Need to hunt for a spare for sure. EBay seems to be the only option. As the car is very old (18 years, 223K), keeping the spending low.
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!?
Footballs only go to like 9 psi, right?
2nd wasnt around then! Then again glad the spare broke before I even drove it. The pump is normally used for bikes!
Take the tire to be fixed somewhere. It’s not worth your time to do it yourself. American Tire repairs flats for free, but I don’t recommend using them, had a bad experience.
Patching a tire at home? You cannot do it right unless you take it to a shop.
Oh that's not part of the story or plan!
The point is check your spare tire health at least when you change tires. I make the request but don't double check!
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 they’re done to validate their work. It’ll usually be under or overfilled, which will need correction. Not sure how often the spare needs replacing if it’s not being used, but obviously as you found out, 18 years is too long. Good thing it didn’t happen away from home!
^this. Tire rotations are part of scheduled maintenance. This easily could have been avoided.
1st world problems ...😴
Next time simply call AAA. You juiced it for 18 years, go to Costco for a replacement, free repairs for life of tires
Cool story bro 😎