Tire change on interstate

[TTU03]

What you do? The handful of times I had a flat along the interstate I pulled over and changed it.
A young person that I know was just killed while fixing a tire on the interstate. The car was fully on the shoulder and the tire happened to be on the shoulder side. He was rear ended.
Changing a tire seems so simple and I hate to pay a wrecker but I’m not so sure now.
I do suppose it makes a difference that the interstates in the area can be extremely busy.

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[sharpsicle]

I change the tire if I absolutely have to. But I also maintain my surroundings as I do it. If there's a visibility concern, I put a marker out on the shoulder as well. Definitely not fun or easy to do it on the side of a freeway, and there is an inherent risk, but that won't prevent me from doing it. Just need to be cautious, observant, and take whatever steps I can to be safe. Everyone's comfort level is going to be different.

 

[Jefe1018]

Well you obviously need to have it changed. Whether you call a tow truck to have some sort of safety barrier (the tow truck) is the question. Locally our interstates are patrolled quite well by department of transportation trucks that are there to help people with flats or break downs both technically and in the way of putting their big trucks (with red and blue flashers) between you and traffic.

Still carry some flares, cones, etc. I would also just spot check your equipment before taking off. That's probably the best way to deal with a blow out, preventing it to begin with.

 

[DCPHOENIX]

GET OFF THE ROAD.
Sorry to hear that someone you know died.

Highways are no place to mess around outside of your vehicle. I’ve only once had a flat while moving. That happened in the UK. I drove an extra 1/4 mile or so, on the shoulder, slowly.

If I absolutely had no other choice but to stop on a highway, id throw it in 4x4 and drive across grass and change the tire. Absolutely no chance I’m laying down on a piece of concrete with other cars doing 80+ next to my head

 

[Fundamental Jeepster]

GET OFF THE ROAD.
Sorry to hear that someone you know died.

Highways are no place to mess around outside of your vehicle. I’ve only once had a flat while moving. That happened in the UK. I drove an extra 1/4 mile or so, on the shoulder, slowly.

If I absolutely had no other choice but to stop on a highway, id throw it in 4x4 and drive across grass and change the tire. Absolutely no chance I’m laying down on a piece of concrete with other cars doing 80+ next to my head

Have to agree here. Would drive as far as possible to get as far away from road as possible. To many idiots out there paying attention to other distractions instead of the road. The Highway Patrol is constantly putting up videos of dummies not getting over and creaming patrol cars.

 

[Rahkmalla]

i've got steel wheels that cost $90/pop to replace and can be beaten back to shape if need be.

I'm continuing on my way at a reduced rate of speed until I have access to a clearing significantly larger than a traditional highway shoulder. Don't care if it's grass or concrete.

 

[TheDerb]

I wouldn't change a tire on the side of the highway. I'd either go until an exit or a clearing and pull pretty far off the road. If I could change it there, great, otherwise Im comfortable calling up the Gecko and having them come get me.

My pride will live to be bruised another day if I don't change my own tire.

 

[Rahkmalla]

My pride will live to be bruised another day if I don't change my own tire.

A man should know how to change a tire. A smart man should know when to change a tire, and when not to.

That being said, dumb animal brain does kick in even if you know you're making the smart move. I had to call AAA once because the scissor jack on my Ford Fusion was bending sideways and that just didn't seem safe, and i really didnt feel like dropping my car on a rotor. I knew calling roadside was the smart move, but I still felt the need to explain myself when the guy showed up. Didn't want some random stranger to think less of me that I was some coddled millennial. Why did I care what the roadside stranger thought of me? Dumb animal brain.

 

[HopSlammer]

So sad to hear OP. Unfortunately it isn’t all that uncommon. I’ve had to change tires a couple times on the highway shoulder and it is truly an unnerving experience. Like others have said, it’s good to carry road flares, reflective triangles with blinking LED’s. I added towing to my insurance policy mostly for the fam who I’ve told plz don’t even try changing the tire unless you can safely tortoise over into a parking lot. Too many things can go wrong, conditions out in the wild are never as safe as a garage or driveway.

 

[HopSlammer]

Prayers for your young person and family.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I tend to agree with the masses, if given the opportunity I’d take it and limp to an off ramp.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Many thoughts and prayers go out to all those we hear on the news who have experienced this very sad and tragic situation.

Over the last 5 years of stopping to help people on the side of the road for a variety of reasons, many couldn’t get over to the side and are stuck in the middle.

The worst ones are semi trucks, heavy haulers that, for what ever reason we’re in the middle lanes and not on the right side and their trucks just die or if on a hill and it’s super icy, are just stuck in the middle lane with no traction and the drivers coming in hot haven’t judged the spacing or timing to move out of the lane are all of a sudden amplifying a very dangerous situation.

Going to and from work, I come across many situations to help and it was imperative to install strobes, front, sides and back which have de-escalated the danger. I’ve had police, fire and highway maintenance workers impressed and comment on them and even video my strobes. They can’t believe a Good Samaritan would prepare like this.

My strobes grab,…no, they tackle your attention like nothing else. Most driver’s attention span is asleep at the wheel and they need stimulation to WAKE UP when a situation is up ahead.

Todays LED technology in strobes is impressive and next level. Getting strobes doesn’t mean that that’s all you have. These lights, if picked right for your needs can also be switched from strobe to flood mode to light up a scene or camp site with a simple override switch. So you can have the best of both worlds.

My lights are from strobe companies in the States who provide lighting to first responders and others. The newest and best lighting possible.
- Wickedwarnings.com
- strobesnmore.com
- speedtechlighting.com

Having strobes is no guarantee of 100% personal security but if 90% of drivers are asleep or dicks only thinking of themselves, having intense strobes will take that 90% and move it to 10%
Stay safe with strobes when assisting others on the side of the road.

2021 Jeep Gladiator

 

[Prescottmojave]

I would drive it to the nearest off ramp. In Arizona we are fortunate to have wide dirt areas on the sides of the interstate in the rural areas. If available, I drive off into the dirt if needed.

I would rather buy a new wheel than get hit.

I have responded to and witnessed too many rear end collisions with vehicles stopped on the right shoulder. Also, never stop on the left hand shoulder.

 

[DrewsJT]

I blew a tire on the 1 ton work truck with no spare. Called tire service and they changed the tire off the rim with a sludge on the side of the road. He did ask me to keep an eye out for him! He was a bad ass tire guy

 

[FLGladiator]

Don't think it's safe on the grass side either. I was driving from Miami airport to Orlando at 3am and my M3 got a blowout. I pulled all the way over into a semi large shoulder and as i'm changing the tire as quick as possible, I feel my leg get covered in red ants. I jumped up and started hitting the ants and brushing them off. I finished the change quick. I called my wife and told her I may drive straight to the hospital and drove as fast as I could in the m3, felt ok so went straight home. Crazy night, leg full of scarring from the thousands of bites.

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