A Flat Tire
My dad taught me how to drive when I was 17. I have been driving ever since and although it surprises a lot of people I know, driving has been one of the things that I enjoy doing. Of course that excludes Manila traffic. But to seat behind a wheel and be in total control is a priceless feeling. This is probably the reason why I enjoy long drives. It helps me clear my head.
I am sad to say that society still hold biases against lady drivers. We are often branded as the weaker link when it comes to driving skills. In my more than 10 years of driving experience, I have witnessed male incompetent drivers. I have always strive to prove those that look down upon women drivers by not just knowing the skill. My dad use to tell me that driving does not only entail knowing how to operate a car. It also entails understanding how a car works. I thank my dad for making sure I keep that principle in mind because a few weeks ago, my car had a flat tire and I was not completely helpless.
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| Reserved tire installed in rear, driver side. |
I was on my way home on a Sunday evening when I suddenly felt that something was wrong with the car. It was harder to control. I knew then that I had a flat tire. But I was on a flyover and thought that it was not safe for me to stop there. And so, even though it is NOT advisable to drive with a flat tire, I had to until I reached a safer place. That night, I was very near a gasoline station so I opted to crawl the car there. This is very important especially when you are by yourself.
My petite frame limits me from changing a flat tire all by myself. I simply cannot lift a tire without breaking a bone, seriously. This is the reason that I enroll the car I normally drive to a roadside service provider so I could get assistance whenever I encounter a car problem on the road. I am currently a member of Wheelers Club International. They never failed me until my latest car emergency where I couldn't reach their hotline. I had no other choice but to ask help from some of the staff at the gas station.
However, the 2 male personnel that assisted me didn't exactly know how to change a flat tire. This is the reason why it is important to know at least the basics on car troubleshooting. Thanks to my dad who taught me how to change a flat tire, I was able to guide those that were helping me.
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| Changing a flat tire. |
I wish I could have recorded on video how to change a flat tire but I was alone and needed to attend to other important things. Here's a guide on how to change a flat tire:
- Park the car in a safe area, away from passing traffic. Make sure the car in on a leveled ground. You really don't want to change a flat tire on an inclined surface.
- Get your jack, car tools, and tire reserve out of the car.
- Loosen the bolts of the flat tire. Loosen only, do not completely remove them yet.
- Jack up the car until the flat tire is lifted off the ground. Make sure any part of your body is safe just in case the car suddenly collapses.
- Completely remove the tire bolts. Set them aside on a safe place.
- Remove the flat tire.
- Install the spare tire.
- Attached the bolts. Make sure they are tight enough.
- Lower the car and remove the jack.
- Tighten the bolts again to make sure the wheel is fully secured.
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| The culprit, a 1.5cm long bent metal. |
I brought the flat tire to a vulcanizing shop the following morning and found that a small nail-like metal was the cause of the flat tire. Fortunately, the damage was easily repaired and I am still thankful that it didn't cause my tire to just burst. That would have been more dangerous for me.
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| Flat tire repaired. |
A few reminders:
- Always have a jack and other essential car tools. You'll never know when you'll need them. And make sure all are in good working condition.
- A flashlight is very handy, especially when your mishap happens in the evening.
- Make sure the pressure of the tire reserve is correct. It is useless to change a flat tire with a flat reserve.
- Know where to properly place the jack by reading the car's manual. This is crucial because there are specific jacking points on any car that can carry its weight when being lifted by a jack. If the jack is placed improperly, the car can collapse and you definitely do not want that.
- Make sure the hand brake is up when changing a flat tire. This will prevent your car from rolling while it is being fixed.
- The spare tire is not meant for prolonged use so immediately have the flat tire checked and fixed.
Experiences like this should not deem us (girls, most especially) helpless. If we are physically not capable, help will always be around. However, help comes in different forms. Sometimes, we need to help those that are willing to lend us a hand. Remember that driving entails more than just acquiring the skill.
P.S. Thanks to my parents who came to my aid because my jack was broken. I couldn't contact my roadside service provider and the gasoline station I went to didn't want to lend me their jack.