Fuck! What have I done to my car?

[FrostyMoanyWind]

Bashed a high kerb. Can't call DH, he's at work. Think the hubcap is pushed in rather than the tyre coming off?

Is it safe to drive? Do I need to take to garage?

And if you took your driving test in the last 15 years, there has been a requirement to be able to identify where to top up oil and screenwash. So I very much hope that at the least everyone who took their test in that time period can do it!

I takes about 5 minutes to change a tyre. If you stand about looking feeble someone will probably help you. If you can't then you should have breakdown cover

The thing is that it's extremely simple, but too many people have never been taught/shown how to do it. And cars are very complex to a lot of people so they don't have confidence in themselves to be able to do stuff like that.

I was the same before we actually had a puncture once and I watched OH change it. If you have the tools and spare in your car, it's super easy.

Do you all mean changing a tyre? That's not an easy thing to do on a car is it? How do you get the tyre off?

Are you talking about changing a wheel? Either way I still contend that most people would not be able to do it and in fact trying to do it when you don't know what you're doing could be dangerous.

I don't doubt that some people can do it, that's not what I'm saying, but to assume that everyone can just hop out of the car, whip out their jack and crack on with it is totally unrealistic imo.

Patti you're right that most people don't know how to do it. That doesn't mean it's not an easy thing to do though.

If you have the equipment in your car, it should only take about 10 minutes. Literally all you have to do is put the jack under the car and lift it, unscrew the nuts on the wheel, remove the flat tyre, put the spare one on and screw the nuts back in, then lower the jack.

I suggest everyone watch a video on it because as soon as you've seen how it's done, you'll be able to do it yourself. And it could save you a lot of time and money.

Glad it’s been resolved OP

at some of the comments!

I'm just here to say it's a wheel trim for me too. Glad you got it sorted.

not now huggybear

Literally all you have to do is put the jack under the car and lift it, unscrew the nuts on the wheel, remove the flat tyre, put the spare one on and screw the nuts back in, then lower the jack.

All good in theory, but last time I tried, I just could not get the nuts undone. Took three of us in the end.

And you have to know where to position the jack. Get it wrong and you could severely damage the underside of your car. I know how to change a wheel but I have breakdown cover and would call them out these days. Ever tried lifting a wheel with the fat tyres they put on modern cars?

Yeah I got the wheelbrace onto the nuts and put my whole weight on it and nothing happened, kicked it, nada! The RAC guy had to use an electric thing like a drill as he couldn’t get it either.