Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Original poster

Not to know what whether or not my car has alloy wheels

189 replies

Rascalls3 · 01/07/2014 18:41

Just been told off by the Green Flag operator because I didn't know if my Mini had standard or alloy wheels Apparently ( he said ) that as I hold a driving licence I should know ALL about my car!!!! Interested to know how many ladies out there know what a alloy wheel is. My lovely car mechanic has told me that I am the proud owner of four alloy wheels!

OP posts:

slithytove · 01/07/2014 19:17

I don't know how to change a tyre neither does DH I know that I pay for breakdown cover each month and that they will come and put on a tyre for me, or tow me somewhere if needed.

Seems safe enough to me.

slithytove · 01/07/2014 19:19

My house has mainly screw fittings, some lamps have bayonet fittings, and the stupid halogen lights in the kitchen have a fitting which is impossible for anyone to replace the bulbs.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 01/07/2014 19:21

Both our cars have them. And the house has a random mixture of bayonet, screw, various types of halogen and low energy spotlights, I have a list and a very big box of spare bulbs.

specialsubject · 01/07/2014 19:22

yes, you should know - apart from anything else it is relevant for the insurance. You should also know how to check oil, water and tyre pressures, and how to change a tyre - although if the wheels were put on at a garage it often takes a 10 foot pole and a lot of weight to loosen them. So you may need to call the breakdown service for that.

isn't all this in the driving test now anyway?

'how many ladies?' - do we have a time-traveller here?

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 01/07/2014 19:22

I know how to change a tyre in theory, but not in practice on my new car.

It has alloys. I know where all of the parts are that I would need, but have not ever tried to do it.

Actually, this thread has made me think that perhaps I should have a dry run. I drive around by myself quite a lot in rural areas with patchy mobile signal, or with our 2 young dc's.

Thanks for starting this thread OP!

TSSDNCOP · 01/07/2014 19:25

I have them. You typically have to pay more for them.

I also know if I scratch them DH cries.

Nohootingchickenssleeping · 01/07/2014 19:26

I change my own bulbs in the car, they are an H7 fitting. No alloys here but normal wheels.

ICanSeeTheSun · 01/07/2014 19:28

I will take the alloys off to clean them, the put them back on. However I always make DH check the wheels. If a tire was to have a puncture I would use my breakdown cover as I don't have the confidence.

Op as long as you know what fuel to put in and how to drive, breakdown cover is all you need.

marne2 · 01/07/2014 19:35

Lol, if I had a mini I'm sure I would know what wheels were on it. Sadly my car does not have alloys .

bigdog888 · 01/07/2014 19:45

I despair that I have to share the roads with some of the posters on this thread!

bigdog888 · 01/07/2014 19:47

although if the wheels were put on at a garage it often takes a 10 foot pole and a lot of weight to loosen them

That's the mark of a really shit garage.

RhondaJean · 01/07/2014 19:51

Oh for heavens sake! I bet you don't know where your locking nut kit is either to get the bloody wheel off.

And btw op, this foam that costs £50 to replace (unless I got that wrong)? About a fiver in Asda. Get yourself educated, get smart and stop letting the side down AND being ripped off.

specialsubject · 01/07/2014 19:59

yes, garages shouldn't use gorillas to put wheels on - but for those of us who don't buy new cars, we don't know where it's been!

have now learned to check wheel nuts when it is not an emergency. Oh, and I also know where the locking nut key is too.

bloody silly idea though - fragile, up the insurance and less protection for the disks.

another BS idea is cars without spare wheels, but that's progress for you.

s113 · 01/07/2014 20:01

I thought one way to recognise alloy wheels is:

if you can see the brakes through them.

FraidyCat · 01/07/2014 20:07

You should know how to change a tyre if you have a driving licence really

I've never learned, TBH it's not crossed my mind that it's a skill, I assume the how is fairly obvious (or in the drivers handbook.) I've changed a headlight bulb via a hole in the front wheel arch, I think that is probably conceptually more complicated, in the way various clips had to be undone.

In 30 years of driving I've needed a wheel changed at the roadside once, couldn't get the nuts off, so got breakdown man to do it. I don't think being able to change a wheel is important the UK, though I'm someone who's always had breakdown cover, which may influence my outlook.

ouryve · 01/07/2014 20:09

I don't even drive and know the difference.

Original poster

Rascalls3 · 01/07/2014 20:10

Thanks for the Asda tip. Recovery truck driver said it costs 50 pounds! No Asda around here but will track one down if I ever use it. Sorry for 'letting the side down'

OP posts:

chemenger · 01/07/2014 20:16

I don't think there is any need to be rude about people who have no interest in the mechanics of their cars. I have two degrees in engineering and I would always use my recovery service to change a tire, because I don't want to do it. I could do it but I choose not to. I'd much rather pay someone to do it. How am I "letting the side down"?

Calloh · 01/07/2014 20:26

I agree with chemenga, I can change a tyre and have done many times, always in extremely annoying conditions, I can also do some extremely basic car maintenance and drive the actual thing.

I don't know if it has alloys because I don't know what alloys are in car parlance, I know what they are in chemistry. At no stage at my life has anyone ever told me what alloys are in relation to wheels and in no way has it ever seemed particularly important.

Its patronising to suggest that a lack of knowledge on this suggests I can't drive. Surely it's a bit like saying a lack of designer shoe knowledge inhibits your ability to walk?

OneLittleToddleTerror · 01/07/2014 20:32

Yes I know what alloy wheels are. Is it a bit insulting to ask how many ladies know? Is it one of these man things we aren't supposed to know? By the way I don't know how to change a tyre though. That's why I belong to the AA.

Victrix · 01/07/2014 20:37

The only problem with the foam is it means that you can't have a puncture repaired, instead you have to fork out a for a new tyre.

I have massive alloys, I keep them shiny and I can change a wheel if need be

OatcakeCravings · 01/07/2014 20:37

I've never put petrol in my car! My DH does it for me.

specialsubject · 01/07/2014 21:01

you don't have to know the details of car design, or even induction-compression-ignition-exhaust.

but you should know the basics! For instance, I am staggered how many cars fail MoTs because there are light bulbs gone; this indicates that nobody is checking.

part of car ownership is the very simple maintenance and checking; are the tyre pressures right? Are the oil and water levels right? Is there screen wash? Enough tyre tread? Lights ok? Wiper blades ok? None of this is rocket science. You should also have a rough idea of your normal fuel consumption, because a big change indicates a problem.

and you must know the spec of your car and any modifications to get insurance. That sometimes includes factory-fit options.

beyond that, most cars still on the road are now way too over-engineered for anything else.

Calloh · 01/07/2014 21:07

Special please can you helpthen.

I can change light bulbs on cars and wipers, check tyre pressures, oil and coolant levels. These are all things that I need to be able to do to keep my car on te road - knowing if the wheels are alloys has not yet come up. I have not modified the car and that is all the insurance company need beyond the reg plate.

But still don't know what an alloy wheel is.

I have googled alloy wheels vs normal wheels and there is little out there to say how you can actually tell.

WhoDaresWins · 01/07/2014 21:11

I don't know what an alloy wheel is nor do I care. I have breakdown cover for a flat tyre.

I know lots of other stuff though like why Stevenson v Donaghue is the fundamental case in English law, what the sauce bearnaise phenomenon is and why I'd be excited if I found an old battered script of a play called Cardenio so do I pass?

My passive-aggressive point there is that you can't know everything and tend only to learn things you are interested in.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8