Last week, I finished my college reunion, packed my car, and planned a leisurely trip back home. Maybe a stop along the way for some relaxing tourism, something to cap off a wonderful weekend.
I started my car. The display started beeping.
And the dashboard alerted me to a problem.
My front right tire was showing 19 PSI. Apparently it thought my tire was dangerously low on air.
Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh ugh.
I drove the car over to the next building and parked. Checked the tire pressure.
Forget 19 PSI. It was now down to 17 PSI.
Time to go into emergency mode.
Now the Chevrolet Volt does not contain a spare tire. But Chuck has AAA. And Chuck also has knowledge that there are plenty of Mavis Discount Tire stores all over New York, and they’re open on Sundays.
I called AAA. They dispatched a tow truck.
A six-mile tow, and I arrived at Mavis just as the tire store opened up.
Great. Now I’m looking at a new tire. Or maybe two new tires. Or four new tires.
I consoled myself to the blessing that this tire issue happened on Sunday – three days AFTER my Big Boy train chase, and two days AFTER my arrival at Hamilton College for my presentation. But still …
Ugh. Not the way I wanted to spend a Sunday. But stuff happens, I guess.
The counterman came out to talk to me. “Your tire just needs a patch. The hole is in the tread. We can patch it up, and it will last for the life of your tire. Just give us 30 minutes and you’ll be on your way.”
One tire patch and 30 minutes later, I was on the New York State Thruway and headed home.
Whew.
See, this is what you do when you own a car. It’s not just the average maintenance. You keep a AAA subscription with the maximum tow availability. And you make sure that there are plenty of options for your tires, your brakes, your undercarriage, all of that.
In the end, what could have been a horrible, emotionally pulverizing weekend …
Turned into a repairable inconvenience.
And I’ll take that for sure.
Chuck The Writer 