It was the late 1980s. I had graduated high school and more importantly(at least to me at the time) passed my road test. I was a bonafide licensed driver. As luck would have it, my mother was looking to unload give me her car since she was in the market for a new vehicle. She sold it to me for a mere $200. At the time I thought I made the deal of the century. The car’s book value was higher and the mileage was relatively low. The vehicle, a 1980 burgundy Plymouth Volare, lacked sex appeal, but she was mine and as they say, love is blind. Little did I know in the not too distant future, she’d break my heart.
One of the first cruel lessons a teenager learns about car ownership is the cost of maintenance. My short list of responsibilities for my new trusty steed consisted of car washes and picking out the most perfectly scented car air freshener tree. Would it be tropical breeze or midnight disco party? For awhile, my carefree attitude did not bear any negative consequences. Whether it was a late night run for pizza with my buddies or taking my girlfriend to see a movie, the Volare performed flawlessly. In fact, when my friends would lament about their car troubles, I’d scoff at their misfortune and boast about my worry free ride. Then one night it rained.
The skies had unleashed an epic thunderstorm. Unfettered, I opted to head to pick up my girlfriend anyway. As I drove on the treelined parkway which was unsurprisingly empty given the intensity of the weather, I found it increasingly difficult to see as the rain furiously pounded at my windshield. Unbeknownst to me, a sheet of water had quickly begun to form on the road. Without warning my steering wheel felt as if it had no connection to my tires. Next my car floated from the left lane, across the middle lane and on to the right lane. Suddenly the vehicle whipped hard into a tailspin. As the Volare spun I gripped the wheel tightly praying I wouldn’t slam into a tree. The vehicle screeched to a halt on patch of ground not yet flooded. I got out of the car unscathed, amazed I was alive considering the distance and fury of the spin.
After I caught my breath, I took out a flashlight and checked the tires. The tire treads were nearly bald. It turns out the previous owner, aka my mom, expected me to be responsible for more than car washes and air fresheners. The next day, I bought my first set of Michelin tires. Arguably, my first step to being a responsible driver and adult. As for the Volare itself, she eventually fell apart piece by piece over the course of the next year but my Michelin tires never failed me. Perhaps the one time the experience of being heartbroken was not so bad after all.
Disclosure:I have partnered with Life of Dad and Michelin USA for this promotion. I have received compensation for my participation, but my first car memories are my own.
Key Points from Michelin USA to remember about Tire Safety
- The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is often referred to as the 100 deadliest days for teen drivers, based on accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and National Safety Council.
- The cold, hard reality is that automobile accidents are the number one killer of teens in America. They account for a shocking five thousand deaths annually.
- 12% of the 2.2 million accidents that occur each year with inexperienced drivers are due to tire-related issues (26% are attributed to low tread depth; 32% are attributed to improper tire pressure).
- Driving on underinflated tires or tires with low tread can lead to safety issues on the road.
- Accidents due to improper tire maintenance are preventable, and simple steps can save lives.
- Checking your tire pressure with a pressure gauge monthly and learning and learning the proper way to check tread depth are two easy tasks that can help you correctly maintain your tires and contribute to overall vehicle safety.
What was your first car? And more importantly, what was your first car moment?
