Changing a flat (saga)

[Nadsy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nadsy]

Has anyone had to change a tyre on a 150 VX? Yes, maybe my hands are softer than they should be, but you almost need a degree to get the spare off (plus some muscles, which, along with my soft hands I don't have).

My wife had a flat in the VX in peak hour yesterday, and while panicking that the 131122 guys weren't going to get there in time for the daycare pick up, I suggested she had a go (which went down well. Apparently I'm supposed to be able to change a flat remotely).

We got the flat fixed, and wanted to put the spare back in the box... in the dark, allow at least 45 mins. Bags not having a flat again! Putting the cover back on was another story all together

On the flip-side. The tools were really solid, and very neatly stored. I used to own a BF falcon, and the lug wrench went from a hexagonal shape to a circular one the first time I used it.

Not really a question, just more of a share.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Wheel plus tyre is over 30kg. You really need to familiarise yourself/herself with the removal and replacement of the spare before needing to make a change under pressure.

I suggest a saturday arvo tyre rotation practice with all drivers of the vehicle as participants. Competent use of leverage is a requirement for wheel changing capability.

[Nadsy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nadsy]

Totally agree. Practice run was done tonight (retrospectively) ;-)

[petcar1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close petcar1]

Mentioned this to the wife this morning and Se tells me that she has an automatic tyre changer, it called the RACQ. :-)

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

I'm not even going to go there.....my wife practice tyre changing...hmm....I think not

Happy wife, happy life......I'll let her call the NRMA.

Good idea about a practice run, I might just do that.

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

practice run would be useless for me... gf would never even be able to lift the spare..

[petcar1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close petcar1]

In fact wife has advised me that tyre changing is an easy 2 step process.

1. Call RACQ
2. Once home tell husband that tyre needs fixing.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

practice run would be useless for me... gf would never even be able to lift the spare..

With the right training, she would never have to.

I know it's amusing saying that she can just call the RACQ/V/NRMA etc, but that won't help when she has a tyre malfunction that can't wait or is out of reach of the AA's. I have watched a veritable weakling change a Prado alloy, so I know it can be done...

[croozr Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close croozr]

Once with the wife returning from the farm (I was O/S) she couldn't lift the wheel back on to the swing out carrier I had to instruct her to roll / drag the flat wheel in to the bush and mark the way point of the GPS so we could collect the next weekend - yes it was still there and she still doesn't like the twin wheel carrier.

[petcar1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close petcar1]

Don't be fooled by my comments. This is a woman born and raised on a farm. She has been driving since she was 10. Quite capable of changing truck tyres by herself, but these days has the attitude of, why should I, if I don't have to.
I have no doubt she can change the tyre if she had to, as I have seen her not only change the tyres on her fathers truck, but break the bead with a kangaroo jack and install a tube. They grow em tough in country Queensland.