Flat tyre!
Well, I haven't had a flat tyre since I learnt how to drive some 15 years ago. Last night I pulled into the service station to check my air pressure, and the front left tyre was down to 10 psi -- very, very low. I refilled them all back to 32 psi and then checked the front left again -- it was now 31.5 psi. So I assumed there was a minor leak and filled it up to 34 psi, with the expectation of going to get it checked for leaks tomorrow. I drove around the corner to the newsagent and parked the car. While I was reversing the car felt weird, so when I stopped I got out and checked that tyre again. It was completely flat. Right on the rim. The drive from the service station to where I parked was about 25 seconds. That's a fast leak!
Due to my lack of experience a call to Dad was in order (aren't mobile phones handy?). I told him what had happened and he advised me to not drive on it at all, for fear of damaging the rim. He reminded me of the steps to change a tyre, and so there I was in my business attire, changing the tyre on a main road! It was kind of cool though, in that manly 'do-it-yourself' kinda way. Took about 30 minutes and then I drove safely home on my spare.
This morning I dropped in at Bob Jane and gave them my leaky wheel. They are going to patch it up and refit it later today.
Due to my lack of experience a call to Dad was in order (aren't mobile phones handy?). I told him what had happened and he advised me to not drive on it at all, for fear of damaging the rim. He reminded me of the steps to change a tyre, and so there I was in my business attire, changing the tyre on a main road! It was kind of cool though, in that manly 'do-it-yourself' kinda way. Took about 30 minutes and then I drove safely home on my spare.
This morning I dropped in at Bob Jane and gave them my leaky wheel. They are going to patch it up and refit it later today.
posted by Scott at 10:08 am
2 Comments:
The first time i got a flat was when i parked on a side street near Coogee Beach. I heard a sound as i parked the car, but thought nothing of it. When i returned to my car, it took me about 0.001 seconds to realise i had a flat, it really felt bad. Turned out that i had got a bit close to the curb, and that particular curb was unusually sharp, and punctured the valve. So i got out the $200 jack my mum had bought me, and proceeded to get my hands dirty (for the first time ever - heh). The biggest problem wasn't the steep gradient of the road (which was very steep!), it was the fact that i had a crowd of onlookers, who were observing from their party on the balcony of a nearby house. My confidence was already low, i didn't need that extra pressure! Well i somehow managed, and i have to say it was quite a satifying experience. And at least i didn't have my office gear on :-)
Nice one! I admit I had a few onlookers too, but they were all transitory... none of them staying and watching the whole process! So I was lucky in that respect! Glad you handled the pressure!
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