Almost 8 million Australians don’t know how to change a flat tyre, according to a new survey.
The Finder survey of more than 1000 respondents showed that one in three Australians don’t have the vital roadside repair skill.
The worst offenders state-wise were NSW residents as only 57 per cent admitted that they could change a tyre, compared to 70 per cent of Queenslanders.
Less than half of women who took the survey said they can change a tyre, whereas twice as many men said they can do it.
The survey also showed the ability to change a flat is dying out with each generation.
Almost twice as many baby boomers (84 per cent) have the skill compared to the youngest driving generation Gen Z (49 per cent).
About 65 per cent of Gen X and 53 per cent of Gen Y were able to help with a flat tyre.
Insurance expert Gary Ross Hunter said many Aussies would be stuck if a flat tyre happened.
“Aussies are quicker to rely on online resources for troubleshooting, or professional services, instead of tackling the issue themselves,” he said.
“Caught in peak hour traffic, plenty would be stuck if they needed to fix the issue themselves.”
Mr Hunter pointed to manual tasks now being outsourced as to why it’s no longer as common anymore.
“Having roadside assistance can act as a safety net if you get stranded because of an issue with your car including a flat battery, running out of fuel, a flat tyre and getting locked out of the car,” Mr Hunter said.
“While it’s handy to know how to change a flat tyre, it’s always better to be safe than risk injuring yourself or further damaging your car.”