[AtomicKiwi]

While driving around a corner, I suddenly felt a large jolt, and pulled over to the side of the road. When I got out and walked around the car, I saw that my rear right tire had deflated, and there was a hole in it. So I called my dad (I'm 18 and know nothing about flat tires) and he came to put the spare on. He read the directions, and then put the jack on the side to lift the car. Well, he put it on wrong, and put a dent on the side in the black plastic! I am SO mad at him right now! He was rushing through it, and didn't follow the directions correctly, and so now I have a small hole/dent in the side of my MINI! I'm just hoping he realizes how upset I am, and buys me a new side bumper! I take such good care of my MINI -- it's always clean, I always park next to nice cars (Mercedes, BMW, etc) since they seem to take better care of their cars, etc.

If this was any other car, I probably wouldn't even care!

[rasp]

Dont take it out to much on the old man after all he only tried to help!

[Eric_Rowland]

Bummer about the dent.
Perhaps this is your opportunity to learn how to change a tire. Everyone has to learn sometime.
Now that you're home safe, read the instructions, and practice doing one yourself.
Then when it happens again:
1. You won't have to call Dad
2. It will be remedied more quickly
3. If you screw it up, you have only yourself to blame

[scooperman_uk]

sorry to hear about your blow out and skirt damage.

i had a blow out just getting of the motorway in my courtesy car which was a MINI one. quite scary i can tell u!

[ALD0]

The MINI Breakdown would also of been able to help you.

At least no 1 was hurt during blow out as like Scooperman said-It can be scary.

[AtomicKiwi]

It was very scary! At first, I thought I must have hit the curb. There was such a big jolt with the car and a loud noise. But then I realized that I was far enough away from the curb and couldn't have hit it. It felt as if the whole back end of the car had just fallen off... Really scary stuff.

At least we (there were 3 of us in the car) and my car is ok! Most of the emotion that I felt right after it happened is gone -- now I realize that it could have been worse. No one was hurt, and the damage to my car (due to the jack) is minor and my dad has promised to get me a new side skirt. I'm going to learn how to change a tire, so if this happens again, I'll be prepared and I won't have to put my car into anyone's hands. That way, if any damage is done, It'll be my fault and I won't have anyone to blame.

Thanks guys!

[Doctor Wha?]

Quote: Originally Posted by AtomicKiwi

I'm going to learn how to change a tire, so if this happens again, I'll be prepared and I won't have to put my car into anyone's hands. That way, if any damage is done, It'll be my fault and I won't have anyone to blame.

Thanks guys!

Kiwi, I think that's an exceptional lesson to take away from this experience. Too many people get out on the road without even having read the manual that comes with the car. It really has a great deal of very helpful stuff in it. Want to have fun? Read that manual.It won't take long (and it actually covers flats! ). Then, come back and re-read some of the posts on this board. It boggles the mind...

But I'm glad you're all okay, and very glad you've decided to take a more active interest in your "Motoring" activities. You'll be a more confident and competent motorer for having done so.

Oh, and your screen name rocks.

Cheers,
DW

[Eric_Rowland]

Any details? What caused it? Tire a total loss?
I've always been lucky enough to get my flat tires in parking lots...

[AprilWhine]

Good for you on learning to change your tire!

[CoryB]

Sorry to hear about the blowout and damage, but as you said, at least everyone is okay. And I'm very glad to hear that it has inspired you to learn to change your tire.

When I was your age, I also knew nothing about cars. Shortly after that though (age 19) I started learning and I'm still learning today at 45. I taught my oldest son to change a tire (much to his dismay) when he first got his drivers license - I wouldn't let him drive alone until he showed me he knew how. I'll do the same with my other son when he starts driving.

I think you should know basic things like that before you get out on the road. What if you'd been too far away to call your dad?

Anyway, another word of advice. Get a flashlight and keep it in the car. My son had a flat the other night and all he had for light was his cell phone! But he got the tire changed safely.

[stryder]

Here's some more advice on the flashlight front - get one of those LED keychain lights. You'll find they're quite helpful for everything, including if you ever have to change a tire again, but lets hope you learn how to do it, and then never need to

Good you're taking this all in stride, and sideskirts are easily replaced, so I wouldn't worry about getting everything fixed up, I'm sure your Dad learned his lesson as well.

[AtomicKiwi]

My grandma got a mini-flashlight for me for Christmas, and it's been in my glovebox ever since! I guess she has had some experience and knew i'd need it someday.

[xplode]

i'm sure you know this already, but sounds to me that you actually have a pretty cool dad. not every dad would have rushed to your aid (and read the instructions before going to work as well, albeit hurriedly). i've heard of the jack-denting-the-skirt problem before, run a search on it here, sounds like it's easy enough to do and possibly even a bit of a design flaw.

anyways - i'm sure your dad has a pretty cool daughter as well, who'll give him a big thank-you hug.

out of interest: not that you seem to have needed it in a blow-out situation, but did the flat tire indicator come on at all? perhaps after the spare tire was on? did you have to recalibrate?

[Meg]

Glad you're ok. It's always good to know how to change a tire. I know how, but would probably still either call roadside or my Dad.

[andyupnorth]

I agree with the above posts - everyone should be able to change a tyre. However, was it necessary? Did you not have run-flats?

[Rich_IX]

Yeh was gonna say minis are fitted with run-flats as default by any dealer they are expencive beggars as well.

[AtomicKiwi]

Quote: Originally Posted by andyupnorth

I agree with the above posts - everyone should be able to change a tyre. However, was it necessary? Did you not have run-flats?

Nope, I don't have run-flats. When I ordered, they were an option, but we decided not to get them.

[Rich_IX]

Thats strange I dident get the option for the tyres, they came with the car bundled in with the cars price. Must have been a freebie for me

[Meg]

Non-runflats are standard on MC's...the runflats are only an option.

[andyupnorth]

I don't know about the standard 15" wheels, but when you order the Chilli pack the 16" wheels come with run-flats as standard. I know people criticise the run-flats but they do give me peace of mind if my wife is out driving my car late at night.