Can You Change a Wheel? More than Half of the British Drivers Admit They Can’t

But since most of us end up on the side of the road with a flat tire at least once in our lives, knowing how to change a tire can make the difference between an hour of shame waiting for the roadside repair crew to show up, followed by five minutes of total embarrassment as those guys finish the job in no time, and fifteen minutes or so of testosterone-inducing activity that is guaranteed to make you feel like more of a man.

It would appear that fewer and fewer people know how to do the latter, and it’s getting worse the lower the age of the driver. A recent survey carried out in the UK discovered that more than half (55 percent) of road users would be left puzzled by the sight of a flat tire. The younger generations have it even worse, that percentage going as high as 76% for the 18- to 24-year-olds.

Of course, there are explanations to be found. First of all, fewer and fewer cars come with a spare tire as standard, the majority of car makers opting for the much smaller and lighter (also much less useful) repair kits. Then there are the runflat tires that can be driven even if punctured over distances long enough to reach a professional workshop, provided a certain speed limit isn’t breached.

But the survey carried out by Leasing Options showed we shouldn’t make excuses for these clueless drivers. Apart from their inability to use a jack, the 1,000 UK respondents made some other worrying confessions: 28 percent can’t even pop open the hood, 45 percent don’t know how to program the car’s radio (depending on the make of the car, that can be indeed tricky), while no less than 53 percent said they couldn’t adjust the height of the steering wheel.

Since you’re reading this website, you’re probably finding it very hard to believe, but it would appear that these people exist, and what’s even more frightening, they drive on the same roads with us. Because while the percentages may vary, we’re pretty sure similar surveys carried out in different western countries would yield equally terrifying results.

But you know who isn’t complaining about this? The companies offering roadside assistance, of course. The Daily Mail reports that last year, AA Tyres had to respond to over 300,000 drivers who requested help in changing their tires. That’s 800 a day. I tell you, there’s a very nice profit to be made on people’s ignorance and laziness.

We'll do our part. Here's a video explaining the mystery behind changing a tire: