I came across an online ad that says “a weird hack that actually works” putting a plastic bottle between a tire and its rim. Is this to avoid using the parking brake?
What did they say it was for??
In my experience, anything online that includes the words “a weird hack” is nothing more and nothing less than worthless clickbait. In this case, how would you be able to mount a tire to its rim if a plastic bottle was placed on the rim before you mounted the tire?
But, if that “weird hack” actually did work, how in the world would this eliminate the need to use the parking brake?
I didn’t click the ad believing it could have been “click bait.” I’ve been burned before by that kind of thing.
1 Like
So, this bit of clickbait suggested placing a plastic bottle between the tire and the fender, but the OP confused “fender” and “rim”?
My apologies: I should have stated between a tire in the wheel well between a tire and the fender.Sorry!
My apologies: I should have stated between a tire and the wheel well, fender.Sorry!
It’s been one of those daze. Something about getting older, I suspect. 
That confusion aside, did you really think that a squishy plastic water bottle placed between the tire and fender could prevent a vehicle from rolling on a sloped surface?
Most people know to just avoid that stuff on the web .
1 Like
My understanding is that it is a Car Thief’s trick. They put the plastic bottle there while the car is in a parking lot (usually over the passenger side tire) where the driver would not see or notice it and when the driver starts to pull away, the bottle makes a lot of racket and the thief just happens to be near by and starts screaming “Stop, Stop…” and tells th driver that something is terribly wrong and when the driver gets out to look, the thief jumps in and drives off with the car. Probably with a woman’s purse inside or the man’s cell phone tossed onto the passenger seat…
1 Like
That’s the claim, but it’s never been known to actually happen. See Snopes article above.
2 Likes
Total fraud. I worked at a bank that had to be super cautious as we handle data with people’s personal information. These types of sites either corrupt your systems with malware viruses, spam ad trackers, or phish (fish) for your passwords. Stay clear.
1 Like
It is fun to put bubble wrap at the back of a tire when a mechanic goes to back a vehicle out of a bay… 
2 Likes
Jam a plastic bottle in hotel room door handle. Deters criminals. How? Who knows?
Always face Magnetic North when starting the engine, and your battery will last longer. It must be true, because I read it on the internet.
2 Likes
I set the deadbolt and the safety latch. I know how they work.
Yes, but if a plastic water bottle can restrain a 5,000 lb vehicle from rolling on a sloped surface, surely one of those bottles is stronger than the locks and latches on a hotel room’s door!
1 Like
Forget whether a plastic water bottle can restrain a 5,000 lb vehicle from rolling on a sloped surface or whether one of those bottles is stronger than the locks and latches on a hotel room’s door!
The “Bottle Top” alone could probably defeat Superman from getting into his Fortress of Solitude…