Yesterday central Pennsylvania had a major ice storm. Just after I passed the top of a mountain and headed down a narrow two lane downhill stretch, I heard the familiar thump thump of a flat tire (2005 honda civic). A 1/4 mile later, there was finally a safe place to pull off the road.Sure enough, the right rear tire was flat. Also, naturally I had forgot to wear my gloves that day. When I pulled out the doughnut and the jack, the tool used to raise the jack was missing. Rifling through the car I did find a pair of pliers that the handle of which would fit in the jack, but at this point I was pretty flustered and freezing. I got the lug nuts off, put on the doughnut in the freezing downpour, then could only find three of the four nuts. Eventually, I found the fourth nut on the floor of the car and completed the installation. I then had to drive another 35 miles on the doughnut through the ice to the closest garage, a Pep Boys (my LEAST favorite place). I asked them to try to plug the tire as I didn't relish driving around on three winter tires and an all-season (would be 5 day wait for a winter tire, and it wouldn't match the others on the car).
While going through all of this I discovered my cell phone was missing. Searched high and low, couldn't find it, and I knew I had it in the car after changing the flat. The Pep Boys guy showed me the metal shard about an inch long going through the tread right on the should er of the tire. Can't plug it safely. So I opted for their cheapest all-season tire (they only had two to pick from in my 14 inch size). Meanwhile I searched everywhere for my phone and prayed to find it (I don't think I've ever prayed so much in such a short time as yesterday evening.) Finally I found it buried in the snow and ice in the parking lot, amazingly it still worked and still is after drying out. So now I've got three snow tires and a cheap all season generic tire on the right rear of my car with another 8 inches of snow coming today.
Surprisingly driving on the doughnut and then the all season tire in the ice and snow wasn't as tricky as I expected, just had to be very careful breaking and turning. Today is literally supposed to be the end of the bad weather for the season (yeah,right), so I will leave the all season on for this storm (no choice anyway). I only drive the car in the winter, next winter I'll replace with four new winter tires. In all, a harrowing experience made worse by lack of staying calm and lack of preparedness.
Lessons learned: Always have proper clothes for a disaster requiring you to be in the elements for an extended period of time. Make sure your jack and associated tools are all present and in working order. STAY CALM, drive carefully and say your prayers. All in all, the Pep Boys guys treated me well and although the tire is a cheapie as most of theirs are they got me back on the road quickly and at a good price.
While going through all of this I discovered my cell phone was missing. Searched high and low, couldn't find it, and I knew I had it in the car after changing the flat. The Pep Boys guy showed me the metal shard about an inch long going through the tread right on the should er of the tire. Can't plug it safely. So I opted for their cheapest all-season tire (they only had two to pick from in my 14 inch size). Meanwhile I searched everywhere for my phone and prayed to find it (I don't think I've ever prayed so much in such a short time as yesterday evening.) Finally I found it buried in the snow and ice in the parking lot, amazingly it still worked and still is after drying out. So now I've got three snow tires and a cheap all season generic tire on the right rear of my car with another 8 inches of snow coming today.
Surprisingly driving on the doughnut and then the all season tire in the ice and snow wasn't as tricky as I expected, just had to be very careful breaking and turning. Today is literally supposed to be the end of the bad weather for the season (yeah,right), so I will leave the all season on for this storm (no choice anyway). I only drive the car in the winter, next winter I'll replace with four new winter tires. In all, a harrowing experience made worse by lack of staying calm and lack of preparedness.
Lessons learned: Always have proper clothes for a disaster requiring you to be in the elements for an extended period of time. Make sure your jack and associated tools are all present and in working order. STAY CALM, drive carefully and say your prayers. All in all, the Pep Boys guys treated me well and although the tire is a cheapie as most of theirs are they got me back on the road quickly and at a good price.
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