Bad Tire Karma

I've had nine flat tires in my life time.

NINE.

I am twenty-six years old, which means that is almost one flat per year (of driving, I do know how to do SOME math). Except, I haven't had one in probably three years. I'm overdue.

But before I get to that, here are some of my greatest flat tire moments:

1) The day I was leaving home for College Station for my official college career. Had the car loaded up, about to hit the road and what do you know? Flat tire.

2) Two days after being in College Station, went over to a friend from high school's apartment. When I left I found a nice flat surprise. Luckily, I had old high school friends right there to help!

3) About two weeks after that (did I mention that I drove an Explorer with the Firestone's that were recalled?), I get to my car and a third one is flat (and you might ask why I just didn't get them replaced after the first two, but know that I was fresh in college and had better things to do than sit in a Discount Tire for hours.). So I called my good old next door neighbor Michael (yep Rachelle, I put Michael to work) and guilt tripped him into helping me change this flat. But by this time I was starting to know how to change a flat (and Michael admitted he wasn't too sure how to change a flat) and I had to remind Michael that it might be a good idea to loosen the lug nuts BEFORE jacking up the car...scary moment avoided.

4) It was the end of winter break in College Station. I was back in town so I could work. No one else was back. I woke up one morning to find a flat. I acted as if I was going to change the flat and got all the tools out and had the directions laid out. Only to be found by the UPS man who insisted on helping. Which was good, because I had no actual intention of changing the tire myself.

5) I was actually driving people from work around and got a flat. The guys in the car were changing the tire and somehow the car fell off the jack. This bigger guy put himself under the car and caught the car with his back. TRUE STORY.

6) Three hours into my twelve hour drive back from Georgia from visiting my mom, I am in Pensacola Florida on the shoulder of I-10. The only person I can get a hold of is Emily who offers no sound advise except confirming my thoughts that I should just drive slow on the shoulder until I get to a gas station. Luckily it worked out for me without destroying my car. Just as luckily, I pulled the same, get all the parts out and look at the directions for a long time until someone comes and offers their help. There is a nice man in Pensacola that works for CAT (construction equipment) that deserves a big thank you. As well as a UPS man in College Station, now that I think about it!

7) Emily informed me that I had a flat. We got out all the equipment, the directions and pretty much a white flag of surrendering. And no one was around to help. I felt pretty confident about my flat tire changing ability by this point so we forged it alone. It was a two person job getting the lug nuts loose, but after that it was not that bad. Near the end a man walked by and offered his help, but by that point I just wanted to accomplish changing a flat on my own and so we sent him away.

I know there are two other flats, but I think those might have been boring just drive into a mechanic shop and get them fixed type of things. How boring of flats are those?

Anyways, so onto today. My "Tire pressure is too low" signal has been on for a couple of days. No need to panic, I've had three of those in the past six months. They always happen when the temperature goes to the extreme. And at first I would rush to the mechanic and have them look at it. But after too many "cries of wolf" I've not been that big into rushing, especially after the coldest weekend recorded in Austin's past 15. Who's tires wouldn't go wacky after that???

So I pulled into Walmart. My intent was to get my tires rotated (because when I bought them 6 MONTHS AGO I got the full warranty including free rotation and balance). During which time, I happen to know that they will also correct the tire pressure.

After a longer than expected time had passed, I was informed that there was a two inch nail in one of my tires. Sounds about right. I seem to have that kind of magnet on my car. They were able to do a simple patch up, no problem.

Then they wheeled one of my tires into the waiting area where they showed me one of my other tires. It had a chalk circle on the bottom displaying how close my tire was to exploding in one spot. Something about the tire's inside track bursting, I think? All I know is that my warranty covered about $40 of the new tire (which if you add up the $10 I spent on each tire for the warranty, I came out even. I guess it's better than nothing.).

So after a total of two hours had elapsed, I finally was set free again to get my car.

Only to find that half way home the "Tire pressure is too low" light was still on. After $60 and two hours and they still couldn't figure out how to fix that light???

I guess you know where I will be for the better part of the day tomorrow...