Finally got around to fixing my tyre this weekend. The one that keeps (kept) going down. Oh, right, I didn't tell you about that. Rewind. I had this tyre that kept going down. So I kept pumping it up, and thinking "I must get that tyre checked out." And not getting it checked out.
It was kinda weird because sometimes it would go for, like, four weeks and not go down. And then it would BE down and I'd have to rush to an airline and pump it up. And then, just a couple of days later it would be down again. I'd think "I really must get that tyre checked out." But I'd be busy and I wouldn't get around to it for a few days, and it would stay up and I'd think "can't be that urgent" and so it would go on.
The main problem was that it could get down to something like 12lbs of pressure (normal is around 28lbs) without any visible sign of trouble but then it only had to lose another 6lbs to be almost flat. And yes, I had pumped it up a couple of times when it was as low as 6lbs. I can't remember exactly how long this has been going on, but it was happening months before we moved house (13 Oct 2006) so I guess for at least six months and probably a lot longer.
So anyway, last week - Monday I think it was - I "just caught it" again. Luckily I'd stopped for a paper at a petrol station and when I came out of the shop I noticed it was really flat. There was an airline right there, so I filled it up. Two days later it was down again and I'd finally had enough. I made time Saturday to call round to National Tyre. They were really quick, had the wheel off the car in no time and there was the nail - only a small one - stuck right in the middle of the tread. Pretty soon the guy had the tyre off the rim and was peering at the insides.
"Have you been running this flat?" he asked, marking several chalk circles on the inner surface of the tyre and beckoning me over.
"Umm...yeah."
"Thought so. The sidewall is pretty chewed up. I would have been able to plug it - it's only a small hole - but once the sidewall's gone, well..."
Cost of a plug, that could have been fitted six months ago and saved me all the pumping up and stress? About £10. Cost of the new tyre I now needed because I hadn't got off my arse quick enough and got it sorted? £58.50.
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2 comments:
That's not an expensive tire, John, but you're right. You should have taken care of it a long time ago.
Could you please tell Karen to change her oil?
Thank you.
No it's not - I don't go fast and I don't have big wheels. I told one of my mates at work this story. He drives a Jag, S Type. Similar thing had happened to him recently, apart from the bit about leaving it too late, but he'd still had to replace the whole tyre. £204.
Oil! That reminds me! It's due for a service.
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