A rant- tire tools

M

mwerner

Joined
Apr 23, 2002
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5,354
In addition to getting off work late this morning, I found a flat tire waiting for me.

Out with the as-yet-unused tools that came with the Hyundai. Typical stuff; little screw-jack, a pry-bar for the rim cover, and a lug wrench. A lug wrench all of 9" long.
I put all 200 pounds into that dinky little thing, and not so much as squeak. Fortunately, I was at the station and we had a 2' long pipe wrench in our tool room. (mostly seized burglar tools....) Using that as a cheater got my tire changed.
This thing is due for the 30,000 mile service soon, and I'm gonna demand they bust every one of those lug-nuts loose and re-tighten them by hand.

Not to mention throw a chunk of pipe in the trunk.
 
The first time I had to change a tire on my old Oldsmobile, I discovered that the lug wrench was literally made of bent-up sheet metal. Needless to say, it did not work. I had to call a tow truck just to have them bring out a lug wrench. I went immediately to Sears and bought a 1/2" socket wrench and the appropriate-sized deep socket.
 
Hehe- what's really annoying is that I have all that stuff. A nice 1/2" drive socket set, big X-lug wrench...In my shed. With the brand new car, I havn't been carrying enough tools to do a rebuild like I used to with my old junkers.
 
I like the X lug wrenches the best, you can lean onto it and pull up at the same time, it's a winner!

You could get a torque wrench ($60) and get a Chilton manual or something so you can tighten the lugs yourself. :cool:
 
mwerner said:
With the brand new car, I havn't been carrying enough tools to do a rebuild like I used to with my old junkers.
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True.

But even a brand new, high-tech car can step on a nail. So, it's a good idea to look deep inside that trunk and see what's in there because the junk that some auto manufacturers are passing off as tools these days is frightening. There's nothing like standing on the side of some dark road in the pouring rain next to your brand new car waiting for a tow truck to bring an adequate lug wrench.

When I got my new Mercedes, I made a beeline for the tools. I'm pleased to report that Mercedes supplies a very nice lug wrench and a very nice, functional, trustworthy jack too. They even throw in a set of gloves which is handy to have not only to keep your hands clean but because if you have to change a tire in the rain, the water can make things slippery.
 
Now that's a class act. I seem to recall reading that BMW motorcycles came with a very high-quality tool-set, unlike the stamped-steel junk that most have.

I habitually have lots of rubber gloves with me (curtesy of the department) and they're very handy for such things.
 
My father convinced me to keep a ratchet with the correct socket in the car. I followed that for years. Today I keep a scissor jack and a cross bar wrench in my car, Actually, I rotate them from my Jeep to Pilot on extended trips or going on dirt roads. I keep a pair of gloves with them.

I'll be adding a different jack to the Jeep so I'll carry the scissor in the Pilot full time. And just buy another crossbar.

Win
 
When I have any tire service, I tell them it is my wife's car, and they are to ONLY tighten by hand, NO IMPACT WRENCHES since she may have to change her tire by herself.

On many occasions the dorks on the floor forget, and have to loosen then tighten by hand. They get mad, but too bad. Properly torqued lug nuts can be taken off with a wrench.

Do yourself a favor and get either the X-style, or the newer collapsable one that is a bit more compact. Be sure to get the proper fit for your lugs too.

Also, make damned sure you don't lose any special locking lug nut sockets either. :thumbdn: That treally messes up your afternoon....
 
My previous car, a Ford Tempo, had the "security" lugnut on each wheel, as they had some kind of special low-profile tire.

Natcherly, being used iron, it didn't have the special socket...

So, I went to the Ford dealer, who didn't have any. He sent me to the Mercury dealer, who did. 20 bucks for a silly socket to fit over the thing. I should have just installed a regular lugnut.
BTW, the "special" tires were hard as the dickens to find and expensive to boot.
 
Often when I have a tire patched or replaced, the morons at the closest shop tighten the nuts too much.

Definitely get yourself one of those standard old x-wrench things like someone else already suggested. I also keep an air compressor and a full socket set in my trunk.

I sometimes even consider looking for a full size rim and spare, because those little donut tires are pretty worthless. The included jack is also a little scary to use, but I haven't seen a reasonable replacement.
 
Carl64 said:
Often when I have a tire patched or replaced, the morons at the closest shop tighten the nuts too much.

Definitely get yourself one of those standard old x-wrench things like someone else already suggested. I also keep an air compressor and a full socket set in my trunk.

I sometimes even consider looking for a full size rim and spare, because those little donut tires are pretty worthless. The included jack is also a little scary to use, but I haven't seen a reasonable replacement.
Click to expand...










For abour $60 bucks you should be able to buy a 12-volt high-torque impact wrench. Get yourself an impact quality appropriate socket & be sure the cord is long enough & the socket will seat..If you have those goofy locking lugs,buy replacements. A cheap poncho & gloves is a + too.

Uncle [cell phone & AAA ] Alan :cool:
 
I always carry a 3-ton hydraulic trolley jack, a pair of jack stands, a full 1/2" drive socket set, and a cruciform tire wrench in my trunk.

It makes parking lot brake jobs and oil changes a breeze, as well as making a flat tire a minor inconvenience instead of a big hassle.

Since I have all this hardware, unless I'm in a real hurry to get somewhere I always stop and help out other drivers with a flat tire. People seem quite surprised to see me pull a bunch of real lifting equipment out of my trunk.

Chicks dig it, too. I've got more than a few phone numbers by helping out girls who were having car trouble. :cool:
 
Had my first flat on the 2500HD a while back. The flashy looking 4 way didn't match the lug nuts. Got out the factory bar and couldn't break them by hand. Dad was with me and was fixing to walk back to the house for a cheater bar. Told him no problem. Just positioned the bar on the lug nut with a slight up angle and put a foot on it. Jumped up and let my full weight come down on the bar.
Broke free fairly easily. Yeah, I know.. could get a busted shin bone. But worked for me..
 
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