Would you believe that it is difficult to FIND a certain tire?

As I sit here thinking I really need to jump in the shower and get ready for my foot surgery today, I am penning this blog post!  It is thanks to a fellow Squidoo lensmaster Tony in the UK that I think about my pet peeves more often ... these days!  I am really more than a little peeved about Tire Kingdom and my Goodyear Eagle Z-rated tires!  One in particular ... a 245/40R17.  That is the type of tire that goes on the rear rim of my 1999 Mercedes-Benz SLK-230.  I've got two 225/45R17s on my front.  vroom vroom!

Last Saturday, Tire Kingdom installed a loaner Sumitomo 245-sized tire on the rear, which had the WRONG 215 since July 30, 2010.  The store manager promised me that day, he would get the tire in and installed before April Fools Day - the day of my foot surgery.  It is on my right foot ... driving will be an adventure from that day forward, until the foot heals.  Be careful if you see me in my yellow roadster!  beep beep!

I called Goodyear Corporate Customer Relations and spoke with Kathy.  She told me, that tire IS hard to find.  No location in the South reported it in inventory.  Kathy said that 2500 of that tire was on BACKORDER.  Good grief!

When I googled that tire this morning, it was sort of an April Fools as Tire Kingdom was advertising the low price guarantee ... but they seriously do NOT have my tire.  Darn!

I am contemplating the thought, "Would you believe that it is difficult to FIND a certain tire?"  I can't believe it!  The tires are supposedly performance tires, you know?  I just wish they were performing for me!

A word of caution about hydraulic struts in car trunks!

It was just a week ago that I experienced "quite" a painful injury to my right hand, wrist and forearm when the trunk of my Mercedes-Benz SLK-230 slammed closed with that significant part of my body in the way. Without going into lurid details, it was an incredibly painful moment -- with lots of sound effects oh my! and many pleading prayers to the man upstairs. As I was in the parking lot of a grocery store, I could have dialed 911 or hollered for a stranger to help. Instead, I retreated into the front seat of my car until I could compose myself and drive myself home ... and put away said groceries.

Getting straight to the point! The next day, after seeking urgent medical care attention, I one-handedly googled to find if any other poor soul might have experienced a similar injury. I found two forums for Mercedes-Benz and SLK drivers, and left a one-hand typed caution. You see, I found several car drivers mention being hit in the head with their trunks, but no one said they injured their hand. What my message to those of you with those hydraulic struts meant to hold open your trunks, IF you get a warning bang on the head, HEED it! Immediately replace those hydraulic trunks struts.

At this time, some seven days later, the cast-like splint has been removed and I have been informed that I have no broken bones. I have just started to use my right hand to type; however, I am not pain-free. We are waiting to see if I need to follow up with an orthopedic doctor ... fingers crossed = not.



See if you can find that roadster of mine in my post about the Best Roadsters Ever.