Are you one of the 7.7 million Aussies who can’t change a flat tyre?

Like coopering (the skill of building the barrels or casks used to mature wines and spirits), blacksmiths, farriers (equine hoof care) and horologists (clock or watchmakers), the skill of changing a tyre could soon be endangered.

This prediction comes from a survey by Australia’s most visited financial comparison site, Finder, which found that over a third (37%) of Australians don’t know how to change a flat tyre.

“That’s an estimated 7.7 million Australians who can’t perform the once vital roadside repair … meaning changing a tyre could become an endangered life skill,” said Gary Ross Hunter, car insurance expert at Finder.

The survey, which analysed results from 1071 respondents, discovered some interesting insights about this deflating issue, including:

• Twice as many men (84%) compared to women (42%) claim they can change a tyre.
• The ability to change a flat is dying out with each generation – 84 per cent of Baby Boomers know how to change a tyre, followed by Gen X (65%), Gen Y (53%) and Gen Z (49%).
• The research revealed NSW residents are the least likely to know how to change a tyre – with only 57 per cent saying they can, compared to 70 per cent of Queenslanders.

While I’d like to be able to say that I buck this trend, the truth is, as a Millennial (aka Gen Y) woman, I am one of the third of Aussies putting this skill on the endangered list. And to be honest, I don’t have a problem with it.

Why? Well, because like many others surveyed, I outsource this job elsewhere. Changing flats either becomes a job for my husband or roadside assistance if my husband is too far away or if he can’t help for a particular reason.

And this sort of thinking, while not everyone’s cup of tea, is becoming more commonplace, according to Hunter.

“Manual tasks like car maintenance and home repairs are increasingly being outsourced. Aussies are much quicker to jump on Google to figure out how to fix a problem than look for tools,” he said.

While lots of us (61%, according to Finder) have roadside assistance that we can rely on to help in this situation, there’s a considerable number of Australians who don’t.

“That leaves many who don’t know how to fix a flat and don’t have roadside assistance to bail them out,” said Hunter.

“Millions of Aussies would be caught out if they had a tyre puncture in peak hour traffic,” he added.

Given that roadside assistance is a helpful service if you have a flat, Hunter advises looking into your car insurance, which can offer this as an add-on.

“Many car insurance providers will offer roadside assistance as an inclusion or optional extra in their comprehensive car insurance policies,” he said.

It can also be purchased as a standalone product, but whichever way you opt, it is best to have it ahead of time.

“It generally works out much cheaper to have that cover up front as a precaution than to sign up on the spot when you find yourself with a flat tyre on the side of the road,” Hunter said.

But if adding an extra expense isn’t feasible right now, or you consider yourself handy, going ‘old school’ and learning the tyre-changing skill could be your best option.

“Before you even encounter a flat tyre, take some time to familiarise yourself with your car’s owner’s manual,” Hunter said.

Once you’ve read up on the basics, Hunter said practising changing a tyre at home when you’re not under pressure is a great way to familiarise yourself with the process.

“This will help you remember the steps and build confidence,” he said.

It is also critical to have the right equipment.

“While most cars will come with a jack and lug wrench, they might be basic. Consider investing in a good-quality lug wrench that provides more leverage, especially helpful for tight nuts. And while not essential, having a pair of gloves can protect your hands from dirt and grime during the change,” he said.

Ultimately, safety is paramount – and this may mean forking out some cash.

“If you feel uncomfortable at any point during the process, don’t hesitate to call for roadside assistance. It’s always better to be safe than risk injuring yourself or further damaging your car,” said Hunter.