# Is this a joke or a hack that actually works? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** nissan, versa\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683 "2025-06-16T15:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Keith-Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Keith-Al](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Keith-Al)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/1 "2025-06-16T15:30:17Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/2 "2025-06-16T15:35:14Z")
> [@Keith-Al](#): > > putting a plastic bottle between a tire and its rim What did they say it was for?? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/3 "2025-06-16T15:36:29Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Keith-Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Keith-Al](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Keith-Al)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/4 "2025-06-16T15:39:56Z")
I didn’t click the ad believing it could have been “click bait.” I’ve been burned before by that kind of thing. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/5 "2025-06-16T15:41:15Z")
> **[Should a Bottle Always Be Put on Tires When Parked?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bottle-tires-parked/)** > > We tracked down the origins of the rumor that was displayed in online advertisements. > **[Why Put A Plastic Bottle On Tire When Parked? Debunk Mystery](https://www.corwheels.com/why-put-a-plastic-bottle-on-tire/#conclusion)** > > Rumor has it that drivers must put a plastic bottle on car tire. Is that true? Why should you put a bottle on your car tire when parking alone? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/6 "2025-06-16T15:42:45Z")
So, this bit of clickbait suggested placing a plastic bottle between the tire and the fender, but the OP confused “fender” and “rim”? ---
**Author:** ![Keith-Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Keith-Al](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Keith-Al)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/7 "2025-06-16T15:49:36Z")
My apologies: I should have stated between a tire in the wheel well between a tire and the fender.Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Keith-Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Keith-Al](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Keith-Al)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/8 "2025-06-16T15:52:18Z")
My apologies: I should have stated between a tire and the wheel well, fender.Sorry! ---
**Author:** ![Keith-Al](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f14d63/32.png) [@Keith-Al](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Keith-Al)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/9 "2025-06-16T15:58:42Z")
It’s been one of those daze. Something about getting older, I suspect. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/10 "2025-06-16T16:03:49Z")
> [@Keith-Al](#): > > I should have stated between a tire and the wheel well, fender. 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? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/11 "2025-06-16T16:13:56Z")
> [@Keith-Al](#): > > I came across an online ad that says “a weird hack that actually works” Most people know to just avoid that stuff on the web . ---
**Author:** ![LoudThunder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/loudthunder/32/27769_2.png) [@LoudThunder](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LoudThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/12 "2025-06-16T17:59:24Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/13 "2025-06-16T18:02:04Z")
> [@LoudThunder](#): > > My understanding is that it is a Car Thief’s trick. That’s the claim, but it’s never been known to actually happen. See Snopes article above. ---
**Author:** ![johnlump\_191311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@johnlump\_191311](https://community.cartalk.com/u/johnlump_191311)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/14 "2025-06-16T18:04:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/15 "2025-06-16T18:16:18Z")
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… 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/16 "2025-06-16T18:35:31Z")
Jam a plastic bottle in hotel room door handle. Deters criminals. How? Who knows? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/17 "2025-06-16T18:56:11Z")
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. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/18 "2025-06-16T19:25:14Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > Jam a plastic bottle in hotel room door handle. Deters criminals. How? Who knows? I set the deadbolt and the safety latch. I know how they work. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/19 "2025-06-16T19:37:24Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > 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! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LoudThunder](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/loudthunder/32/27769_2.png) [@LoudThunder](https://community.cartalk.com/u/LoudThunder)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683/20 "2025-06-18T16:00:39Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > 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! 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… https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7252674781680504070 [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/is-this-a-joke-or-a-hack-that-actually-works/200683.md?page=2)