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Wheels on the Car Go Round and Round

So I got all new tires a month or so ago.  Mine were old and the last time I had a flat fixed, which really wasn’t all that long ago, the tech told me the treads were “getting a little bare” so I should maybe consider thinking about new tires at some point…so I knew it had to be done.  I’d been waiting for my tax refund to afford them — so with that and a little help from the tire fairy, I was set.

When I was finally able to take my car in (different place than where the flat was fixed), the very nice mechanic who looked over my car to check it in kindly informed me that up until that point, in his humble opinion, I’d likely been getting by on angels’ wings and a prayer.  Upon closer inspection of my tires, I’d say he was probably right.

I’m just now getting over all the “what if’s” that immediately popped into my head and am able to breathe normally again. Whew. Wing and a prayer indeed.

I’m curious though. If this was “getting a little bare” to the other repair shop…just what the hell is “you need new tires now” in their viewpoint?  When you’re dangling in your seat belt upside down off the overpass because of a blow-out at 65 mph?

Tire_1

yeah, so you see that squiggly white stuff there at the top? according to the mechanic, those frayed threads are the steel cords of the tire making an untimely appearance and apparently that’s a very, very bad thing…

 

Tire_2

17 thoughts on “Wheels on the Car Go Round and Round”

  1. Thank goodness you have new tires now….This brought to mind something I’ve shuddered about all week – and thank God for saving me from! Going 70 mph on the interstate this week, an idiot driver pulled over in my lane. I drive a crossover and I felt it almost go into a flip as I struggled to gain control from swerving. All lanes behind had practically stopped when I had the sense to look. I have never came that close to dying!

  3. Looks like you pushed it to the maximum limit there! In UK many new cars don’t have a spare tyre so there is always the risk of a blowout turning into an expensive recovery. I bought my own spare just in case!

    • I did! But I won’t be doing it again! All of the new cars here don’t have spares either. They come with these pumps instead that allow you to fix the flat tire on the road somehow and it’s supposed to last long enough to get to a gas station or repair shop I guess. I’d rather have a good old fashioned spare myself!

  4. I find the fact that you drove on such tyres almost unbelievable. Not only were you risking your welfare and those in the vehicle with you, but you risked the lives of others road users as well.

    Sorry if that sounds a bit over the top, but here in Aotearoa New Zealand vehicle safety gets drummed into us from the moment we learn to drive. My car must display a WoF (Warrant of Fitness) that is less than 6 months old just to be allowed on a public road (even if parked.). A WoF inspection checks tyres, brakes, structural condition, lights, glazing, windscreen wipers and washers, doors, seat belts, airbags, speedometer, steering and suspension, exhaust, and fuel system. It’s a driver’s responsibility to ensure that a vehicle is up to WoF standard any time it is on a public road. Also, no WoF, no insurance.

    • Well, you’re absolutely right. For literally decades I had someone else who was “in charge” of all those types of things and while it’s no excuse, I had no idea the treads on my tires could even get so bad nor was I encouraged to learn, but now I do and they won’t again. Believe me with my daughter in the car it’s not something I would’ve done knowingly.

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