Changing a tire. Can you do it?

I learned how to change a tire when I was 10.

Swear to God I had to help a 30+ year old man (calls himself a man anyway) change his tire a few weeks back, dude was literally clueless about how a fricking jack works.

That’s a parent problem before it’s a kid problem. My real issue is that some insurance company is marketing a service as a substitute for a skill our kids should have as a basic life skill.

I will say it’s harder now with run flat tires and donut spares. We used to have full size spares and a legit jack and X lug wrench. High end luxury cars have special nitrogen filled tires.

My dad taught me when I was 10-12 years old

Sure, l can change a tire. Run a trotline and skin a buck too. But some of these contraptions they put in cars that they call tire irons and jacks, and the maneuvers you have to pull to get them into service can make a man doubt his place in this world.

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But some of these contraptions they put in cars that they call tire irons

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I always carry a four way lug wrench for this exact reason. Ford tire irons are just terrible.

I can change a wheel and mount and balance a tire however, I am not fully dismissive of the next generation due to there possible lack of wheel changing skills. When I was younger tires weren't near as good as they are today regarding puncture resistance. I can't tell you how many flats I had when I was younger, broke and ran tires bald before replacing them. I can't remember a time when I have actually had a tire flat enough to have to change and not just add some air to in order to get somewhere to have it fixed/replaced.

I have also had (and still have) cars that did not come with a spare. The last two BMW M cars I bought had fix a flat and an air compressor and LIFETIME road assistance for flats. For that type of car it is a performance issue . You also have tons of cars sold with run-flats which avoid the need as well. TPMS systems also alert people to low tire pressures and prevent a lot of the flats that had us changing wheels in the past.

While I think it is still a valuable life skill it isn't as necessary as in the past, not as dead as setting points on a distributor but certainly not as useful as a lot of skills young people have that we did not have at their age.

Yes I can change my tire. I can also wipe my arse and rub one out. What else you want to know?

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Sure, l can change a tire. Run a trotline and skin a buck too. But some of these contraptions they put in cars that they call tire irons and jacks, and the maneuvers you have to pull to get them into service can make a man doubt his place in this world.

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..and have you seen where some of the foreign manufacturers are putting them now? I got a Nissan van and damn near had to take my 2nd row rear seats out to get to the iron and jack!

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Watching a liberty mutual insurance ad

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Makes me not want to be insured by Liberty. Seems their ads have folks whining yet getting rewarded for higher risk behavior (which should come with higher premiums to cover said risk). I want to be in the risk pool with the smart kids who can actually drive and not get in wrecks.

My two daughters (no way pictures would ever appear) knew how to change a flat and drive a straight shift car when they got their drivers license.

One daughter was at a restaurant with a group of college friends when the uncle of one of the boys saw them and picked up the check. He offered the use of his jag if any of them could drive a "stick shift" car.

Daughter was the only one and he gave her the keys and said return by the time he and he and his wife ordered and finished their meal. She told me she wanted a jag after that experience.