My dad and I didn’t have a whole lot in common. He traveled during the week and sold equipment to railroads, while I’m at home every day doing internet publishing and child passenger safety work. He was always puttering outside or in the garage, I am usually inside on the computer. He liked westerns, I like sci-fi. He liked country music, I like rock/pop. He drank Genuine Draft, I prefer Guinness. He was more of a “farm boy”, I am definitely more “city”.
In talking to one of my sisters recently, I realized that he did impart at least one common interest to me. Cars. Turns out, we all had childhood memories of helping him grease the points or do an oil change. To this day, I still put my cars on ramps to do an oil change, a hassle I’d probably never consider if it wasn’t for my dad. My passion happens to be new cars and keeping kids safe in cars, while his favorite pastime was restoring antique cars. So, perhaps it is not surprising where my interest originated, especially considering how different a path it is than high power electronics design, my career before this one.
So where is this going? In honor of dad, who would have been 78 today, I decided I was going to splurge on a safer, new set of tires for my car. Something he would certainly appreciate! My old ones were Toyota’s crummy OEM tires, but still in pretty good condition, so I hadn’t been able to justify replacing them. 
Weird thing, while I was at the shop having the new treads installed, I was passing the time talking to Kecia about upcoming blogs on the phone. I happened to learn that her car was in the shop at the exact same time last Monday morning, also for a new set of Michelin tires. What are the odds of that?
Maybe we can chalk it up to like minds thinking alike. Maybe it was simple cosmic coincidence. Tires are perhaps one of the most important and also most overlooked safety features on a car. I’m sure Kecia is glad she got her new tires with all the rain New York state is getting (safe wishes to anyone else affected by frankenstorm Sandy this week)! So, anyone else put on a new set of rubber recently?
I noted that Honda used top-of-the-line Michelins on the Odyssey and Pilot I had. I guess Acura did the same, lucky you! Toyota used bargain-bin Bridgestones on my SUV:-( I also considered Continental, but Discount Tire gave me a great deal on my Michelins to match the out-of-stock Continentals! Plus, Continental didn’t even have the courtesy to respond to an inquiry of mine a while back. Incidentally, I’ve had great experiences with Discount Tire for a number of sets going back many years.
I just checked–my Michelins are still good. They only have about 11,000 miles on them and are less than 2 years old so they still have lots of life in them. I wish they would sponsor us. These have been great tires–first that have held air for me.
Hey maybe Michelin will see this and start sponsoring the blog with new tires!
Aaaand… DH just got home from the dealership and said we need new tires, LOL. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Heather does, too. We’ll make it CarseatBlog-official.
As I read this, DH is at the dealership getting our van’s routine maintenance done. Does that count?
My all seasons are still in good shape. At some point in November I’ll put on my snow tires from last year that only have about 6,000 miles on them.
Two brand new rear tires yesterday. I had a screw in one and the hole wasn’t patchable, so the two more run down tires got replaced (all four are the same age, just shows that some get more wear and tear, get all four checked and get them rotated and balanced!). The other two will probably get replaced in the next six months or so.