…learned the hard way.
- Sketchy places (most likely) will do sketchy work. [If you go to a sketchy place to get your flat tire fixed, plan on ~1-2 months later, having it go flat again....at 11:30PM...after you just got back from the airport...and you haven't eaten all day...hypothetically speaking of course.]
- Check the tire pressure in your spare BEFORE you really need it. [It turns out, your spare tire will not always be full and ready for you. You should routinely check the pressure to ensure that it does in fact have air in it so that when you finish changing your flat...now at midnight...after getting back from the airport...you can actually go home rather than have 2 flat tires and no idea what to do at that point....again, hypothetically.]
- Take off your rings while changing a tire even if your hands are already dirty and you don’t want to stick them in your pocket. [Not only will they stay cleaner that way, you will also avoid cracking the band on your antique engagement ring unknowingly while jacking up the car only to find it days later on an airplane and burst into tears as a result.]
[Some after-the-fact details: That night, I borrowed Emma's car (thanks, Emma!), took my 2 flat tires to the gas station, filled them up, put the spare on, and eventually made it home ~1AM. The ring has a hairline crack in the band. It is soldered to my wedding band so it is safe, but has yet to be fixed.]
What a day! Life isn’t fair!