Changing a Tire in the Snow

[Jack Flash]

Ah, the joys of a Michigan Winter!

My wife called me from work to say she had a flat tire. She wanted me to drive to the parking lot and change it for her.

Well, she is a fairly petite woman. I have been changing tires since I was a teenager (that's a long time). Is it possible to say no?

So I get there. It's flat alright. Oh joy, a snow packed parking lot with more snow falling. I've never changed a tire on the Subaru before so I had to read the manual for where everything is. Subaru tucked the jack, handle, lug wrench, etc. away in hidden nooks and crannies. Just what I need: a freezing cold Easter Egg Hunt with snow falling on everything.

To get the jack into position, I had to more or less lay down. Fortunately, I had a big piece of plastic to put down so I did not have to lay right in the snow. Now tell me I haven't learned a thing or two in all these years!

Ok, now the flat tire is off. A shiny stainless steel screw stuck right in the tire. Now put on the "doughnut" spare. Oh, hey, you don't think it has air in it do you? That's why I brought along a hand pump. How many strokes does it take to bring the spare from 13 to 60 psi? I lost count.

You think that was all there was to it? Think again. This is an AWD. Subaru wants you to open up the fuse box, find a spare fuse, and install it to tell the ECU to go into Front Wheel Drive only. Of course, they don't tell you where the spare fuse is, so another Easter Egg Hunt.

I took the flat to the shop where I bought the tires. They told me the tire was ruined. Seems she drove on it too long. Finally something to be happy about: we paid for road hazard when we bought the tires, so we get a new one for about $14. But they don't have one in stock so I have to wait a day or two before they can install it.

At least we can get the Subaru home so I can work on it out of the weather!

[Salty RI]

I bet it was only flat on the bottom I think it's time to get her AAA.

[labworm]

Originally Posted by Salty RI

I bet it was only flat on the bottom I think it's time to get her AAA.

I have something similar called "Roadside Assistance".

The best $65.00 a year I could spend, too old not to have it.

[NYlakesider]

Originally Posted by labworm

I have something similar called "Roadside Assistance".

The best $65.00 a year I could spend, too old not to have it.

Right on brother.

I’m a gear head worked around cars all my life. If my vehicle warranty does not cover problems like this I/wife have AAA. Call them, and let them do it. I do not mind if you a bit late in coming home, you can always start cooking when you get in.

[Salty RI]

Originally Posted by labworm

I have something similar called "Roadside Assistance".

The best $65.00 a year I could spend, too old not to have it.

I couldn't tell you how long I have had AAA, I did a 130 mile round trip into Ma every day for forty years, I wouldn't be without it.

[labworm]

Originally Posted by Salty RI

I couldn't tell you how long I have had AAA, I did a 130 mile round trip into Ma every day for forty years, I wouldn't be without it.

Were you the one that was carving Don in all those wooden tables in Hayes-Bickford's and the Waldorf?

[Salty RI]

Originally Posted by labworm

Were you the one that was carving Don in all those wooden tables in Hayes-Bickford's and the Waldorf?

No Durgin Park was more my speed.

[loknload]

Yep,,,,AAA for the autos and Coach Net for the Motorhome ! In both cases worth every penny spent!
I couldn't tell you the last time I changed a flat?

[Rustyt1953]

This takes me back. In '69 I had a flat on my '64 T-Bird.
January, a foot of snow and single digit temperature.
I had forgotten my gloves (at 16 my brain wasn't fully attached yet). The tire iron slipped off a lug and smashed my left index finger against the axle hub.
Yes it hurt but not like it did when I got home and it thawed out.
I showed it to dad and the nail was turning black.
He said "Put your hand on the table and do not move it."
He took out his ancient pocket knife and drilled a hole in the nail.
When blood started to seep out, all the pain went away.
Dr. Dad, the hillbilly healer did it again.

Thanks for bringing the memory back.

[litenlarry]

I was driving a company pickup truck from point a to point b during a snowstorm..I was in the middle of Iowa, didn't know the area, and the truck was new to me..It was a "88 Ford 150 extended cab long bed..

The jack, which was a hoot to find, was able to jack high enough to get the flat off..BUT did not jack high enough to put the spare on..The spare tire was located underneath the truck at the end of the truck bed..Everything was frozen, accessing the spare tire was a real chore..
Snowing like crazy and big 18 wheelers are wizzing by..By now I am freezing my cajones off, feet and hands numb, moustache frozen..
What to do ? I came up with the idea to use the flat tire rim and put the jack on top..It worked !
The pisser was there was a full service, service station less than a mile down the Interstate..
Had I known that I would have driven the flat to the station..
Bummer...

[Hillbilly77]

Originally Posted by Salty RI

I think it's time to get her AAA.

What does that have to do with anything?
He didn't say a word about her drinking too much.
She only had a flat tire.

[rog8732]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly77

What does that have to do with anything?
He didn't say a word about her drinking too much.
She only had a flat tire.

H B, you are a right smart "quicker-headed" than I first thought you to be.
Maybe I had relied too much on the labworm's opinion ?

[bearman49709]

Originally Posted by Hillbilly77

What does that have to do with anything?
He didn't say a word about her drinking too much.
She only had a flat tire.

Maybe you had to much to drink can't tell AA from AAA.

[Jack Flash]

Update:
I would like to thank Kubudo & JcMack for the suggestions about replacing all four. I looked in the Subaru manual and on line and became convinced I should do just that. The old tires had 30,000+ miles on them so that softened the sting a little bit.

I don't think there was any piling on about AAA. There are diverse opinions on any subject. This time around, I'm glad about the way I handled it but in the future I think I will just have it towed to the tire shop.

[photocosmo]

At the risk of "piling on" I would like to also emphasize the recommendation of having (in my case AAA) additional roadside assistance. Yes, my insurance has it; do you really want to interact with your insurance company? The great thing about my additional coverage is that it also insures the DRIVER and not the car so it becomes even more versatile and hence, usable. Also there might be times (out on the edge of the highway in the desert, in my rusty '74 MG midget, late at night and alone) when I'd rather just do it myself for the adventure and excitement of it all and I can still reserve that decision for later.

[kobudo]

Just wait until they tell you that you have to change all 4 tires at the same time because it is four wheel drive. Can't have tires of different tread depths now can we.

[JcMack]

Originally Posted by kobudo

Just wait until they tell you that you have to change all 4 tires at the same time because it is four wheel drive. Can't have tires of different tread depths now can we.

The Subaru manual will tell you you'll need all four tires. Sube wants all four to be within .00000015 in. of one another. Women want equality. I have yet to see one climb out of a sewer with a hard hat on. Maybe I don't want to.

[DeadAye]

Y'all are funny....
I once changed the rear main seal in a '63 Rambler flat head 6 in the snow, on the side of the road in Indianapolis using only 2 combo wrenches and several pipe cleaners to pull the new seal in. The cost of the seal and a bottle of Indian Head and oil meant that I only got to eat once a day for a couple of weeks.
Those are the ones that we now refer to as *the good ol' days*.

[Salty RI]

My Aunt had one of those old Rambler flat heads, maybe around that same year, it looked like an upside down bathtub, the salt air here did a job on the body, by 1968 the front fender's were flapping in the wind, she sold it to some guy who took the motor out and put it in an old Studebaker pick up.

[Fishinfool]

"Fix-A-Flat". Never leave home without a can in my truck. Carry a tire plug kit, and a small compressor for those times off road when things get serious.

Larry

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Around here, in the Borderland, no snow but a tire change is a family reunion. Never seen anything like it, car pulls off the highway with a flat tire, within an hour there is at lease three vehicles pulled off with it. The whole family, three generations and a family picnic to change one lousy tire. I have no explanation, it must be a Hispanic cultural thing. Just an observation, not criticism.

[billwill]

I always carry a small square piece of plywood to put jack on. Hard to jack something up when you're sinking with each turn of the jack handle.

USPS and FedEx have those big tyvex mailing bags, keep a couple in the car to keep you knee dry. Keep one in your backpack when hiking too, its keeps your butt dry when you need a break.

[model70hunter]

Fishinfool hit 2 biggies, fix a flat and a 12 v air compressor. Both are in my truck tool box, along with a 4 way tire tool and jumper cables.

Everyone who said AAA is right on, we've had them for a while, twisted my wife's arm. Her Chrysler quit running 1/2 way between STL and KC. She left a few days earlier in my Super Duty with something for one of the kids. She was going to the prewedding diner with out me now.

The cost to get it towed back to STL was huge, but AAA paid for it. I love those folks.

I was pulling a large trailer with my 55 HP tractor on it and had a blow out in KC, a HP fella stopped in a minute, called road side assistance. The guy had an aluminum floor jack. The tire was changed in almost NASCAR time.

P.S. And Jack, when I was in the service with a guy from the UP we went to visit his folks on the 4th of July. Went to an 18 club in the Wisconsin boonies, his dads neer new Buick died on us. We like to froze to death that night.

[Franklin]

Did you have them reinstall "Winter Air" back in the new tire?

[carpriver]

My Ford has road side assistance, they sent a tow truck, to chance a flat, bring gas, unlock the truck. and it only cost the $36,000.

[Nevada Ed]

Being a hunter.................
I carry a tool box, jump cable, plus a box of flares, along with
the road side help.
At my age, I don't need to do that stuff any more to my 4x4
and maybe hurt my old worn out body !!

I will not buy a car with a fake spare tire.

[Muley Gil]

I had to remove the radiator in my '52 Buick Super (straight eight & DynaFlow) in Atlanta, back around 1973. Did it in the parking lot of the shop. They rodded it out, painted it and I reinstalled it, filled it with Prestone and I was back on the road.

The fun part was sleeping next to a pool in a lawn chair at an Atlanta motel. Couldn't afford a room AND get the radiator. Too hot to sleep in the car in June.

[saemetric]

My Subaru is an older one, an 82, and smartly they keep the full size spare, jack, handle etc. in the nice warm dry engine compartment. Almost a joy to fix a flat. Sometimes progress is not so good.

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Years ago I read in a book about camping that the best place to practice camping techniques and checking out your equipment was-your own backyard. I had an '81 Chrysler Wagon, back in 1993 I was preparing to drive to Gettysburg for the 130th Reenactment. Opened the spare tire compartment-I'd owned the car for about a year. The spare tire looked like Swiss cheese, the jack was about 2 sizes too small. Needless to say I quickly got replacements.

[williamlayton]

AAA !
Blessings

[NCTexan]

I'd always wondered what their advertisement meant. Now I know.