My neighbor drives a Wrangler. He's got it outfitted to go offroading, but I don't believe he ever has. He's declined every time that I've invited him.
....you know the type...hi-lift bolted to the side, plate bumpers front and rear, brake light behind the spare, smittybilt synthetic winch, lightbars galore, fuel wheels and Falken wildpeak ATs...
anyway, I asked him a few weeks ago when the last time he rotated his tires. answer: "Never. why?"
"because they sound like MTs coming down the road. I can hear you way before I can see you."
Neighbor: "I was planning on getting new ones soon. Do you think I ought to rotate them?"
"Yes."
Few weeks go by and last week he asked how much I'd charge him to change the oil and rotate the tires for him. I told him to buy the parts and bring beer. He said that he insisted on paying me. Again, I told him to buy the parts and bring beer. That's what neighbors do. He says that I should expect a good tip if I refused payment. Next thing I know, I get a text that says the parts are in the passenger seat and keys in the ignition. He's got a dinner function and needs to hit the road in the morning.
I'm thinking "that's not quite how this works." but I sent him a text back and told him to make sure he included the key to the wheels if they require one.
The oil readout showed 0% life and it was cloudy coming out. The lug opening was pretty small and there was no key. A 17mm fit on them fine with no play, so I took the first lug nut off with that. Nope....definitely requires a key. Can't find it anywhere in the vehicle. Not in the glovebox, center console, under the back area with the factory jack, or in Yeti bag of recovery gear. (No joke, this dude is prepared for anything....except changing a flat)
So I go up to AutoZone, who happened to have the key in stock.
What should have taken 30 minutes ended up taking 3 hours, but got it done. The tires were so bad that the INNER tread block was starting to feather and it felt like you were driving down stairs on a smooth surface. It's been about a week since I did it, and the jeep isn't anywhere near as loud coming down the road. I told him it would take a while for them to smooth out based on how bad they were.
Next morning there was a bottle of wine on my porch with a $50 bill taped to it.
Oh, and it was raining the whole time.
