When you hear a steady flapping noise over the Japanese metal you're playing in your car, you know you've got a puncture. I hoped to make it to Knight Auto Accessories, the tyre shop I'd patronized once before, but the flapping got so loud and frantic that I had to pull over to a side road and park as it would have been too dangerous to continue driving. Glad I stopped as the damage to the tyre was pretty extensive.
Here's the leak. Judging by the scuff marks, I'd probably hit a kerb at some point earlier. I have a dim memory of having done something like that quite a while back, but I didn't notice any damage when I checked at the time. Back then, I'd probably created a weak spot and eventually wear and tear broke it down further until it finally ruptured today. I'm fortunate that it wasn't a dramatic blowout on the highway with tyre shards spewing everywhere while sparks fly as rim grinds against asphalt.
Didn't realize it, but M2 doesn't come with a spare tyre. I have the tools for changing tyres neatly stowed in the spare well, but no spare. So I call AA for assistance. Within an hour, a tow truck arrives for a free tow -- a privilege for people with more than three years of membership.
I complete my journey to Knight Auto via tow truck. Unlike the last time, Knight Auto didn't try to sell me new rims along with new tyres, but I wouldn't have bought them anyway. I like my stock rims too much. I have two new rear tyres now. Toyo, I believe, is the tyre brand that Mazda usually use for their cars, so I guess I've come full circle, pun intended. LOL. Cost for a pair of new tyres: SGD$260.
