A New Tyre
japra | Apr 27, 2009 | Comments 28
Friday afternoon, as I was vacuuming up the dog hair in my car’s backseat, I noticed my front right tyre (that would be the driver’s side tire–lol!) had an approximate 15″ split along the side. Yikes!
So bright and early Saturday morning, Mr. DJ and I drove around our small town looking for a replacement. We finally ended up at the same place I went to have my two left tires replaced about a year and a half ago. (You can read that story here: “Depending on the Kindness of Strangers”). Did you know some Volvos have a special “key” for removing the bolts on the wheels? We spent about 15 minutes looking for that thing. And did you know that even after that search, the garage managed to forget to give they key back to us? And we forgot to check for it before we left. And of course, the garage was closed by the time we realized this (they close at 12:30 pm on Saturday) and was closed all of Sunday… which of course left us too paranoid to take a day trip up to Stratford-Upon-Avon on Sunday as planned because there would be no way for anyone to repair our tyres if we were to have a flat along the way. Oh well.
By the way, the very nice gent at the garage remembered me. And my car. And the fact that I managed to mangle my two left tires by scraping them along a sharp low curb driving 20 mph. Sigh.
PS Apparently it is a very difficult and time consuming process to replace the tyre key. So if you have a car that needs one of these, make sure you have it and know where it is!
Filed Under: Blog • Expat Life • Featured
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
The first thing we did when we moved here was make friends with the man who owns the local rent a car company here in our village. He knows all the right people to see about mechanical issues. He pointed us in the right direction for finding a cheap run around car for my husband as well as recommending a good person to do our MOT inspection. Indispensable.
Kat, that is SUCH a good idea! I wish we had bought a smaller car, but we were still in American mode when we made that purchase. I love that Volvo, but I really would prefer something smaller for zipping around… and parking!
I know someone who has a Mini and she dreads having to deal with tires for her car – they have to be special ordered, can only get them at the Mini dealership and cost more than SUV tires. But her car is so much fun!
Julia, I did my UK driving lessons in a Mini after driving in that huge Volvo for one year. Boy did I have buyer’s remorse! I LOVED driving the Mini!
That’s so funny that you think you’re Vovlo is huge! I don’t know where I’d put everything if I had a sedan. I’d probably get some serious verbal abuse in Europe if I was driving around in my SUV.
Julia, I guess I have been here a long time! lol
That key thing for the tyres is mental. And what a shame you didn’t get to go to Stratford-Upon-Avon! :(
Any idea how you sliced the right tyre?
Half Irish Rover, the wheels were apparently misaligned, so this time it wasn’t my poor driving and the crazy UK roads ;-)
We’re going to give S-u-A another go. Don’t worry!
I know how to change a tyre but I can never get the nuts off! :(
Akelamalu, well done you! My husband has tried to show me how to change a tire, but in one ear and out the other… I just call for roadside help ;-)
only you can make a tire look like ‘art’, or should I say ‘tyre’. I like that photo. Frustrating about your key, but at least the job’s done now. I’m all for roadside help too.
Christine, I’m glad you like the photo!
;-)
Hahaha! That is so true!!!
I have ran over more than my fair share of curbs! The first time I ever drove over here I took a nice big chunk out of one of the left tires. As it was a rental when we returned it, I made sure to park as close to the left curb as possible so they wouldn’t notice- and luckily they didn’t!
Jessica, I am glad I am not the only one! These narrow roads (and cars parked in them in all directions) are a bit hard to get used to, aren’t they?
Mr. DJ had the same problem with our rental when we were looking at houses out here. But we paid 70 quid for the a replacement tyre!
I didn’t know Volvos needed a tire key! I’m sorry that you missed Stratford.
Bee, at least mine does! It is kind of a pain, but I guess those tires are expensive enough to warrant the need?
I am hoping we’ll get up to Stratford soon. We would have taken the train, but it takes 3+ hours!!
As I was pulling into a friend’s funeral once, I drove over some brand new kerbstone that was just *lying* in the middle of the road! Being new, it sliced right through the tyre of Stephen’s car! He forgave me – I shouldn’t have been driving anyway because I was crying (as one does tend to do at funerals!)
Oh no, Emm! What a terrible thing to happen on such an already emotional day! Your husband sounds like a wonderful guy :-)
He is a wonderful guy but very similar to my dad in the sense that it broke his heart to see his car hurt!!! He would not have been so forgiving if I did not have such a good excuse!!
Oh Dear, it must have beena very tyring day for you :)
Maddog, well, it wasn’t too bad. I do hate giving up my weekends for stuff like that, though. Especially when the weather is so fine!
I LOVE your new bog. Its the best design I have seen!!!
Thank you, Lilly! I had a bit of help from Mr. DJ ;-)
make that blog, arghhh
I hate it when that happens! I always wished the blogging platforms would let you edit your comments ;-)
I hate car trouble.
Laurie, it is the pits. At least the guys in the garages here are good natured.