A Tip on Changing a Flat Tire

Let me explain the situation.

Tuesday, I had to drive to Hartford with fellow Patch editors Dirk Langeveld, who does New London, and Bree Shirvell, who does Stonington, for an all-day training. I pull into the parking garage Tuesday morning and Dirk checks my tire, and sees it is completely flat.

So we sit through the training until about 3:30 in the afternoon and we get back and I begin to change the tire. I jacked it up, took off the four lug nuts but yet I couldn't get the tire off. I called my dad, who is good with that kind of stuff, and he says kick it. I kick it, hit the back with the lug nut wrench – everything – and I can’t get it off.

So I began to call some tire stores asking for help. After a few who just said kick it as well, I called a Hartford tire place and talked to a guy and he told me to put the lug nuts back on, but loosely, take off the jack and drive the car back and forth a little bit.

So I did what he said and drove it just reverse and forward all of five feet a few times. Then, I jacked it back up, took off the lug nuts and, Viola, the tire basically fell off and I could put on the donut.

So there you go, a tip in case you ever get stuck in that situation. Trust me, it eases quite a bit of frustration.