Help at the filling station with tyre pressures?

Allsorts - I had to ask for help having let the air out of my tyre. Talk about amusing the chaps who came to my aid,

I can’t do it, I just let it out.

I got fed up with the tutters too so I bought myself a foot pump which I keep in the boot. Takes a little bit of time but means I can do it at leisure.

I am fortunate in being able to ask mr i to do mine. Eyes, knees, co-ordination all combine to overwhelm me if I have to do it myself. I’m going to buy a home pump, having been liberated by this thread.
One of my daughters said her car wasn’t steering right. Have you checked the tires I said. The garage did it when it was serviced (10 months earlier). You need to do it monthly said I. What, she said, is that even a Thing?

I can't do it with cold fingers but the lads at the local garage where I have my car serviced are usually happy to do it, check the oil and washer water too.

I was doing mine recently and a very kind man who was waiting to do his tyres offered to do it for me. I remarked to my daughter later that I must be showing my age as a man offered to do my tyres. She tried to boost my confidence and said maybe you’ve got it wrong and he was trying to chat you up!

Best Mother's Day present. My daughter, after taking me out to brunch (our favourite), coming with me when I went to the petrol station and put air in my tyres for me!

Years ago before I learned to drive I used to get a lift to and from work with a kind colleague. She used to buy her petrol at a manned petrol station and pass over 50p (50p!) twice a week to a young lad who'd do the necessary. How I, and I'm sure many others would love those places to still exist. They must have been a Godsend for we senior motorists. I believe it's called progress.

Our new Honda CR-V tells us when a tyre is below pressure. However, it neglects to say which one, so they all have to be checked anyway! Luckily that’s Mr. B’s job as I don’t drive nowadays.

Good luck Nonogran.

Oh gosh I’m so relieved to know I’m not the only one who dreads the tyre pump thingy!
I can’t squat, I can’t hear the beeps even with all the car windows open & I can’t bend too well from the waist due to pelvic arthritis! Furthermore, I’d feel such an idiot wrestling with the valve (arthritic hands) with my bottom stuck up in the air if I could bend, No good me using my little stool to sit on because the tyre valve would have to be in just the right place to stretch & reach it. Would be a bit hit & miss to get the wheel(s) in just the right place.
You’ve all made me feel so much better & I’ll text my garage on Monday to ask if they can help.
United we stand!

My local ATS garage will check them free of charge too.

I would gladly tip a lad at a petrol station to do my tyres. It is a job I dread. My daughter showed me how but on my own I am not sure. Makes me feel stupid, which I am not.

I don’t even know what “tyre pressure” - unless ofcourse, I have a really flat tyre. Then I will definitely know ….

I also have a tyre inflater as per Kalu but the other day I couldn't find it...
So I went to the petrol station and found the machine at the back and told myself that it couldn't be hard,
First I parted with £1.50.
I set the pressure to my car's setting. So far so good,
There are 2 hoses one is for the tyre, the other for screenwash.

I gingerly approached the tyre with the hose which squirted screenwash over my tyre.
I hoped no-one had noticed
I then pulled the correct hose and attached it but it made such a noise of air that I was convinced I was letting out air. It was supposed to hear a signal/siren. I didn't. I could see no helpful screen. I gave up and drove home.

I found my home pump, under the front seat of-course it was and easily inflated the tyre which was very flat.

I have much sympathy for nonogran and any others like myself who long for the person, usually a man, who comes across and says "Do you need some help?"

www.argos.co.uk/product/4165769

Your local Kwik fit or Halfords might be able to help - worth asking, anyway.

This has been a little niggle for me for some time so I share your anxiety. My hearing loss also makes hearing the 'beeps' difficult so I keep looking out for the flashing on the pump as well.

When I lived in Devon I used to go to East Devon Tyres and a young man did it for me on a regular basis when it was quiet and refused to take payment on the unspoken understanding that I'd get my tyres from them when needed. Then I moved house.

Back in the midlands, sometimes there's a motorist near by who helpfully listens out for me but I admit it makes me feel foolish. I always thank them profusely.

Once it stopped when I'd only done three tyres but the girl behind the till couldn't come out to help as she was working alone (on a Sunday, not always the case in the week) and a young male customer kindly came to my aid. I then learned that the previous £1 had to go up to £2 to do all four tyres - an increase from the previous 50p which used to suffice.

On a weekday there are two people there and once I went in to ask if one of them could come out just to listen to the beeps for me. One of the ladies said, "I'll do it for you" which was so kind. I guess if you're buying their petrol too it's the least they can do. I appreciate this.

Thus far I've mostly managed but I can see that with my difficulty bending (and getting in and out of the car without wincing) will eventually lead me to ditching the car altogether. Not what you want to hear, I know. In the meantime I muddle along.

I bought a tyre inflator last year when I moved house as I was unfamiliar with local garages.

If you go on YouTube and type in the make you’ll be sure to find an instruction video.

I also use it for blowing up the tyre on my wheelbarrow. ?

Nonogran. You are not alone , I can’t do my tyres either, I am nervous of the machine, I don’t want to keep drivers behind me waiting, and I can’t bend down to get the hubcaps off , Solution? I ring my kind brother up to do it for me , the. I take him for a coffee. Everyone’s happy !

Every day is a school day on GN DaisyAnne ?

Leave the engine running as per the clear instruction booklet.

I cannot tell you how much better reading this thread has made me feel. I have always felt so silly for letting my tyres - tyres for heaven's sake - overwhelm me with anxiety. And then along comes a GN thread that makes you feel that others understand and have even found solutions.

Thank you all.

The AA sell a tyre inflator for less than £15.00.
You can do it in your own time, at home, with no pressure (see what I did there?) from tutting motorists or kneeling down in the pouring rain.
Yes, I do leave the engine running, mine won’t work with the engine off.

Could you keep a little footstool in the boot to sit on? nonogran ? I don't have a solution for the hearing problem though, other than to ask another customer to keep a lookout for you.

I'm about to go to the garage soon to do this dreaded chore . I go early to avoid tutters ! I'm conscious of taking too much time - it's a real wrestle for me but I'll get it done ! Last year after a second knee replacement I was forced to ask a lad to help , an awkward hubcap was making it difficult to reach the nozzle . I remember Shell used to employ a ' yardman ' who even offered to fill your petrol. That was before lockdown , so not that long ago !