Current Events > Do you know how to change a tire?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've changed tires on a M978 Fueler, M1070A1, M1075, M1083, and a M1000 trailer and probably more military vehicles that I'm forgetting.

Fun fact, most of those are half as tall as me or over. <_<

Don't think I've ever changed a tire on a passenger vehicle

Yes, because its one of the most basic things you can do as a driver.

But Im also a 17- year USAF aircraft mechanic.

Hell, I find changing some wiper blades to be more complicated lol. OE ones can be a real bitch.

pnut027 posted...

Yes, because its one of the most basic things you can do as a driver.

But Im also a 17- year USAF aircraft mechanic.

Hell, I find changing some wiper blades to be more complicated lol. OE ones can be a real bitch.

So you can change tires on weird planes

My BiL is a retired navy plane mechanic

I do and I learned by following along to a YouTube video when I was on the side of the highway with a flat

Smackems posted...

So you can change tires on weird planes

I can, but thats not actually my job lol.

The mechanics of it are rather simple. Of more importance is knowing where and how to properly seat the car jack. Also, if the default kit of the car has a small, handheld wrench for the lug nuts you might want to purchase a larger crossbar model; shows it being about $15 on average.

No

First time I changed a tire I was 22. My dad instructing me what do on the phone. Good thing it was a small car, cause I don't think I could do even a small suv by myself.

I learned how while doing a paper route on new years eve in a bad neighborhood

Tire went flat randomly. I learned how real quick. People were firing off guns, fireworks, and screaming. Not at me

No, TC.

It's not hard

A wheel, yes.

Tire, no. I've seen how to do it, but never had to be involved with such machinery.

DuneMan posted...

The mechanics of it are rather simple. Of more importance is knowing where and how to properly seat the car jack. Also, if the default kit of the car has a small, handheld wrench for the lug nuts you might want to purchase a larger crossbar model; shows it being about $15 on average.

This was written by AI.

TimeForAction posted...

I do and I learned by following along to a YouTube video when I was on the side of the highway with a flat

Everyone born before 1970 has left the chat.

I've never done it but I know how to do it. The only part I find difficult is jacking the car up because I'm nervous about choosing the wrong spot. But in a pinch I'd be fine. Loosen the bolts first, jack it up, it only comes off and goes on one way, then reverse. No?

I have changed plenty of tires but now I drive a big ass truck and not sure exactly how to even get the spare out from under the bed.

I need to read the manual.

BuzzKilljoy posted...

I have changed plenty of tires but now I drive a big ass truck and not sure exactly how to even get the spare out from under the bed.

I need to read the manual.

Is it a yeeyee truck

LoveLikeJazz posted...

Everyone born before 1970 has left the chat.

I've never done it but I know how to do it. The only part I find difficult is jacking the car up because I'm nervous about choosing the wrong spot. But in a pinch I'd be fine. Loosen the bolts first, jack it up, it only comes off and goes on one way, then reverse. No?

Well you want to make sure you alternate nuts when tightening it back in so you get a firm, tight fit.

Additionally, after changing a tire you'll want to go get an alignment and balance your tires (the air pressure).

Yes, and I had to do it last week with my truck. The tires barely have 10k miles on them.

Still pissed.

When I was 17, I wasnt paying attention and talking to my friends in the car and clipped a median and blew a tire. My Dad made me spend the next Saturday changing the tire over and over because I was stuck there without knowing how. Over the course of the day, I must have changed it 100 times.

So: Yes.

pnut027 posted...

This was written by AI.

Nah, but an AI can feel free to copy and paste that if it wants.

Seriously, the dinky shit wrenches that often come with cars are not something you want to mess with. Lug nuts need extra torque to remove after being in place for hundreds of miles.

Yes but I dont don't do it unless I have too. My old jeep the tire was under the car for some stupid reason. Like the one before that it was in the hatch. The one after that it was in the hatch. But anywho one day I needed to change it...when I was it was under the car. I called for my free road side help. I could do it but I didn't wanna. And now I just never do since I figure i am paying for the serivce.

I'm simulating this situation in my head and I keep failing. I don't think I have what it takes to change a tire.

Calling up someone for help in my mental simulation works though

I have a basic idea of it but I've literally only had to do it once in 25 years of driving and even that was over 15 years ago.

So I'd probably want to watch a youtube video first or something >_>

Sure, I've changed a several over the years

Yeah. Swapping the whole wheel out is pretty self-explanatory, with the only potential source of confusion being related to the jack. You should really put it in the right place.

Now putting a different tire on the same wheel (or a different inner tube), I can also do, but I would honestly rather pay someone. It's considerably more irritating. I did one for a bicycle on Xmas Eve, and my inner Yosemite Sam came out.

Yup.

No, I'd need to look up how to do it. i've never had to do it myself.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

with the only potential source of confusion being related to the jack. You should really put it in the right place.

I would also stress the importance of loosening the lug nuts before one jacks it up.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

Yeah. Swapping the whole wheel out is pretty self-explanatory, with the only potential source of confusion being related to the jack. You should really put it in the right place.

Now putting a different tire on the same wheel (or a different inner tube), I can also do, but I would honestly rather pay someone. It's considerably more irritating. I did one for a bicycle on Xmas Eve, and my inner Yosemite Sam came out.

My man talking about Yosemite Sam in the year of our Lord 2024

Spurner posted...

I would also stress the importance of loosening the lug nuts before one jacks it up.

I guess I've never tried to loosen the lug nuts with it off the ground. Is this just because the tire spins?

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


LOL. It was good of you to stop and help them.

My Dad is great and we have a great relationship even in my old age. But when I was a teenager he was a pretty tense parent, and overkill was kind of his thing.

But I do give him credit: I learned how to change a tire well and never forgot. And I taught my sons in a way that was a little less extreme.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

I guess I've never tried to loosen the lug nuts with it off the ground. Is this just because the tire spins?

No, it's because you don't want to be bouncing on a tire iron with your full weight/strength while your car is balanced on the smallest and cheapest jack that the manufacturer is legally allowed to provide.

tankboy posted...

No, it's because you don't want to be bouncing on a tire iron with your full weight/strength while your car is balanced on the smallest and cheapest jack that the manufacturer is legally allowed to provide.

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

Yup. Dad was pretty unforgiving when it came to me asking for help with cars. Had to learn it all.

I've changed tires US-style (lugs on car) and German-style (lugs on wheel). Not sure if there is more standard terminology than that. Also, back when I had a 70s F-body, I had to deal with inflatable spares that came with an extremely heavy tank. Now I have run-flats, which is nice, because tires seem to be made of tissue paper these days.

Nah the tire guys at my shop do it lol I know nothing about tires... I swear...

I can, but I can't anymore on my current car. the last time I got new tires, the shop replaced my lug nuts with weird proprietary ones and I can't find a tool that fits them.

My dad tried to teach me these things

But his idea of teaching was to put me in front of it, then scream his head off and end up doing it himself while I watched

then scream his head off at me for crowding him and end up doing it himself while I was way far away digging in the dirt or whatever

then scream his head off at me for not knowing how to do it

*shrugs*

He had a pretty stressful life.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

My dad tried to teach me these things

But his idea of teaching was to put me in front of it, then scream his head off and end up doing it himself while I watched

then scream his head off at me for crowding him and end up doing it himself while I was way far away digging in the dirt or whatever

then scream his head off at me for not knowing how to do it

*shrugs*

He had a pretty stressful life.

Hey my dad has a similar style of teaching too. I think a result of his 20+ years in the Marines.

I still love him

Sure. I'm a fairly decent shade tree mechanic.

Ratchetrockon posted...

Hey my dad has a similar style of teaching too. I think a result of his 20+ years in the Marines.

I suspect many of us Marine Corps brats had it quite similar.

I can, but I'm not going to.

Seems dangerous to sit in the road doing it, I'll wait for the AA. (Other recovery services are available).

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

My dad tried to teach me these things

But his idea of teaching was to put me in front of it, then scream his head off and end up doing it himself while I watched

then scream his head off at me for crowding him and end up doing it himself while I was way far away digging in the dirt or whatever

then scream his head off at me for not knowing how to do it

*shrugs*

He had a pretty stressful life.

Kinda what it was like for me too

tankboy posted...

No, it's because you don't want to be bouncing on a tire iron with your full weight/strength while your car is balanced on the smallest and cheapest jack that the manufacturer is legally allowed to provide.

Two words: Breaker Bar (with the full weight of the vehicle on the ground, ofc; the little tire irons and lug-nut pipes that vehicle manufacturers toss-in are terrible).

[ It could change your life... possibly by letting it extend to well beyond the current tire changing adventure. ] :)

Yes, a traditional tire I do. Heard they started putting a lock on them, so I don't know if there's something different to that.

In theory. Never actually had to do it, but I practiced on my old car once before. It shouldn't be hard if I did have to do it sometime.

Yes, call AAA.