So a couple weeks back I decided it was time to paint the ol' calipers. I get out the tire iron thingy (or whatever it's actually called) and try breaking the lug nuts, and the damn thing just sliped right off the nuts like they were stripped! The nuts have a tad bit of strippage right at the ends, but otherwise they are fine.

I had to break out a huge socket wrench and attach a long pole to it for leverage to break the nuts! If I ever get a flat I know I'm screwed, because I know the dinky tire iron that comes with the jack kit won't do a damn thing to get those nuts off.

Should I buy new nuts? Buy a bigger tire iron? Both?

Thanks in advance.

 

Maybe you should get bigger nuts!

 

Uh. I think the answer is very obvious.

Remove the spare tire, the jack, the tire iron and the tool kit. Add AAA or Honda extended warranty. Make sure you keep the TOW BARS in the car and I would recommend having a loving SO or good friends that can come pick you up if needed. Also, you may want to remember to put everything back in when going on a long trip.

Bottom line, weight reduction over 'tire insurance' locally. Why? Because you have a 50/50 chance that you'll puncture the wrong tire (can't remember which way it is, but I think the spare can only go on the rear) and have to remove the rear, put on the spare and then remove the punctured tire (front in this example if I have it right) and put the just removed rear onto the front. If you thought removing the lugs was tough on one, how'd you like to do if for two? :-)

I'd rather call a FLAT BED truck.

 

actually i think the spare can only go up front. the LSD will not like 2 different diameter wheels. up front they are independent.

if you get a flat in the rear, you have to move a front tire to the back and put the spare up front.

 

wow, that sounds like a sucky process. I'm gonna add towing to my car insurance.

edit:

What about that stuff like fix-a-flat? Does that stuff actually work? ..and by "work" I mean, fix a flat enough for me to get it to the shop?

 

Fix a flat can work depending on the damage to the tire. It typically will get you to a shop. At that point Fix a flat can screw you. I used to repair/install/etc tires for a living. The gunk from fix-a-flat gets all over the inside of a tire, it's quite nasty stuff. You have to clean all that crap out of the tire to properly patch it. The entire process is time consuming and I imagine many shops won't do it. You could be stuck buying a new tire for one that might have otherwise been repairable.

Take it from someone who's cleaned that crap out of a tire before, don't do it. Use a spare or have it towed or remove the tire, have it repaired and bring it back to the car. Fix-a-flat is crap.

 

You got small nuts!!!
Exercise!!!

 

You can't put the rear wheel on the front. Firstly, even if you could, there's good chance that you could potentially crush the outer lip on your fender.

The center bore on the rear wheels won't fit the front hub.

 

Thanks.

I believe I said I wasn't sure which way it was. Please just reverse my example to be accurate.

 

man, so many jokes can be extracted from my original post it's ridiculous.