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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Kerbed wheels

46 replies

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 14:39

A few years ago I got a car for my birthday. It was purchased second hand and is in great condition. I try my best to look after it, as I do with all our possessions. When we bought it, the wheels were somewhat kerbed (low profile tyres). He is really into cars and said we needed to buy new wheels. I said I'd prefer to keep the ones the car came with, at least for awhile, until I got used to parking the car. He insisted it needed new wheels. I begged and pleaded for the wheels to remain until I was ready to replace them. This was partly because I know he gets very upset about accidental damage (this is largely due to childhood trauma when his space and possessions were not respected). In the end, he bought the wheels anyway, saying he found them for a good price. I didn't feel I had much choice in the matter, but told him he had to promise to not be angry if I did kerb them. He said "you won't, but OK." Well, two months later the inevitable happened and I kerbed one of the front wheels. Of course he was furious and I had to spend several days with him angry about it. I reminded him of his promise, and he asked "how do you expect me to react when you do something like this?" I eventually told him I personally wasn't that bothered about the wheels and he needed to accept that I hadn't done it on purpose. I have now just parked and scraped the other bloody wheel and I'm now scared of his reaction. I can't decide if it's better to tell him as soon as I see him, or wait until he notices and deal with it then. I don't see myself as a deliberately destructive person, I try hard to make things last. But he seems to equate the damage with lack of care and respect, and dealing with his upset over this sort of thing is quite difficult. Am I being unreasonable in thinking accidental, superficial damage isn't anything to be upset about? Or am I just really disrespectful?

OP posts:
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 26/10/2023 14:42

Its your car...why does he get any say on it?!
It was a present

AntonFeckoff · 26/10/2023 14:43

Who is ‘he’? Your partner?

Do you often feel anxious about upsetting him? He sounds very controlling.

AntonFeckoff · 26/10/2023 14:44

Also, you shouldn’t have to be begging and pleading for things in a relationship.

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 14:46

Yes, sorry! I edited and forgot to add DH.

OP posts:
Scrabblerabble89 · 26/10/2023 14:46

Wheels can be repaired- my absolutely 'orrible 18 year old wheels were repaired last year and look stellar!

It's your car- so long as you keep it roadworthy, then the only person who gets a say on its condition is you! Keep it as you please, and enjoy it.

I understand the feeling of things not being respected, or having to fight to have enough, but these are matters for the other party to work on!

TLDR; Your car!

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 14:48

AntonFeckoff · 26/10/2023 14:43

Who is ‘he’? Your partner?

Do you often feel anxious about upsetting him? He sounds very controlling.

Yes, I do often feel anxious. He has a number of quite serious MH issues and I am frequently worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. This is just a good example as it's tangible. A lot of the other issues are harder to condense into a post.

OP posts:
LadyDanburysHat · 26/10/2023 14:48

You shouldn't have to be worried about your DHs reaction to this. That is not normal in a loving relationship. I would tell my DH I would not listen to any angry rants or however else it comes out. IF you are scared to stand up to him it's not healthy.

Laiste · 26/10/2023 14:52

You shouldn't feel on egg shells with your DH.

If i was you i'd tell him i'd curbed the bloody wheel and then tell him straight and calmly but firmly i didn't want a load of crap from him about it.

If despite telling him the above he did start to pile it on i'd be telling him i'd be going out till he calmed down. I'd tell him i consider his attitude A BIG PROBLEM which he needs to work out because it's not normal.

AntonFeckoff · 26/10/2023 14:52

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 14:48

Yes, I do often feel anxious. He has a number of quite serious MH issues and I am frequently worried about doing or saying the wrong thing. This is just a good example as it's tangible. A lot of the other issues are harder to condense into a post.

What are his MH issues?

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 14:54

I can't go into it too much, but quite severe PTSD due to very extreme trauma in his childhood.

OP posts:
rumred · 26/10/2023 14:56

Completely unreasonable of him. I kerb my low profile wheels almost daily. So fucking what? I don't feel any need to sit looking at them. And it's my car, it works hard and I look after it mechanically.
Bonkers to be upset about kerbed wheels. Life is way too short

RandomUsernameHere · 26/10/2023 14:57

He sounds horrible, you shouldn't be living in fear of him, especially over something as trivial as a kerbed alloy. You're not disrespectful at all, it was accidental. I would guess most people have scuffed an alloy at some point, it's easily done and usually easily repaired.

RandomButtons · 26/10/2023 14:59

Childhood trauma my arse.

He’s a jerk. This has nothing to do with childhood trauma.

Laiste · 26/10/2023 15:01

He's damaged by childhood trauma. He acknowledges that his attitude towards things like this (you say there's more) is unhealthy and is because of his trauma, but ... what? He can't stop it?

Is he having counselling?

I mean bluntly it sounds as if he's not capable of having a healthy relationship with someone else yet.

The way you describe life sounds awful to be honest. Stressing about his reaction to things.

Dbank · 26/10/2023 15:03

Offer to pay to get them refurbed, usually £100 a wheel, if they need a full strip, so maybe less.

Nicole1111 · 26/10/2023 15:05

He sounds abusive and trauma and mental health difficulties do not give him a green card to treat others poorly

Pottedpalm · 26/10/2023 15:06

Did he behave like this before you were married ?

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 15:07

Laiste · 26/10/2023 15:01

He's damaged by childhood trauma. He acknowledges that his attitude towards things like this (you say there's more) is unhealthy and is because of his trauma, but ... what? He can't stop it?

Is he having counselling?

I mean bluntly it sounds as if he's not capable of having a healthy relationship with someone else yet.

The way you describe life sounds awful to be honest. Stressing about his reaction to things.

He did have counselling but stopped when his counsellor basically told him he had "completed therapy". We've been together for 18 years, so sometimes I need to ask someone with an outside perspective if I'm being unreasonable or he is.

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 26/10/2023 15:08

Kerbing happens, its just one of those things. DH just got his wheels refurbed before selling the car and they were £75 each and look amazing

CasperGutman · 26/10/2023 15:08

He's being ridiculous, and has brought all this on himself. You never wanted the new wheels, and told him so - precisely because you anticipated this exact situation.

Incidentally, I've never understood why most people would want low profile tyres. They leave wheels so vulnerable to damage, make the ride less comfortable and reduce fuel economy. Now, I know they can improve handling, but how many of us I don't drive my car on a race track, I use it to ferry (travel sickness-prone) children around, generally in heavy traffic and under increasingly restrictive speed limits!

AnaisMae · 26/10/2023 15:08

You shouldn't be with anyone who makes you scared. Who you beg. Who doesn't listen to you. Just absolutely NO FUCKING WAY!!

Buster1995 · 26/10/2023 15:09

Pottedpalm · 26/10/2023 15:06

Did he behave like this before you were married ?

He did. I wasn't aware of the severity of the trauma, until later when he became able to discuss it. If I could go back in time and take his parents out, I would. They were monstrous.

OP posts:
backtowinter · 26/10/2023 15:10

Dbank · 26/10/2023 15:03

Offer to pay to get them refurbed, usually £100 a wheel, if they need a full strip, so maybe less.

Did you mean ask him to pay?

minipie · 26/10/2023 15:10

If you are frequently scared of someone’s reaction, it’s not a healthy relationship.

Notaflippinclue · 26/10/2023 15:15

What a miserable fuck - you only get one life! I know what I would do.