Tire repair again1

bumblebee · Apr 4, 2015

Plugging a tire might be your only option whether you like it or not. A lot of cars are being sold today without spares, not even a donut.
My brother just bought a new Cadillac, it has a small air pump and a can of sealer, no spare. If its Sunday and you are away from home, its not going to be a pleasant experience if the tire can't be repaired.

I looked at a new Camaro just for the fun of it at our local dealership, there was room for a donut or maybe a full size spare but nothing but
the air pump and I think a can of sealer.

If I buy a vehicle, they are going to have to provide me with at least a donut.

Northvale - PA · Apr 4, 2015

It is silly, who do they think they are fooling? So why not just buy a spare at a junk yard for piece of mind? none of my farm equipment came with spares but I have them now. Except for tractor rears.

IowaJohn · Apr 4, 2015

Just got a new Accord, there is a donut.

Chris Jones · Apr 4, 2015

I'm betting 80% of people couldn't put a spare on to save their lives. Part changing culture and part improved reliability of tires I suspect. So to save weight thus improve mileage it makes sense the spare tire goes. I've use a spare only once in the last 22 years that I can remember. In essence the only times I've noticed a flat was at home and I either took it and had it patched or plugged it w/o the need to put a spare on the vehicle. I'm kinda leery about the cans of fix a flat. How many people do you suspect use it as a permanent fix despite the intention that it be used to get you to a tire shop. I'm also not crazy about the idea of having all that goo in the tire.

gab · Apr 4, 2015

Haven't thought about but I don't remember putting a spare on since the early 70's

Patrick Klise · Apr 4, 2015

One the first things my dad taught me about driving...was fixing a flat tire. This was in the early 1950's and you dearly needed to know that. I had lots of practice! One of my more memorable moments was having a flat tire on a 2 lane bridge...with my prom date and another couple (all in prom finery) on a 2 lane bridge between Davenport Iowa and
Rock Island IL and it's slightly raining. Not sure I've fixed a flat in the last 30 years.

DENNIS MIN · Apr 4, 2015

Chris,

My girls were not going to drive any vehicle until they changed the oil, rotated the tires. Jack used was from the vehicle.

They were quite unhappy with me at the time. Both know how to drive a stick, can easily back a trailer, and know proper etiquette and awareness.

They went on to college. They now kinda brag that they can skillfully master any manual transmission. Show off to the "boys" now.

D.

fixerupper · Apr 4, 2015

Last time I had a flat on the road was with the 84 Fifth Avenue sometime in the early 90's. Got a bolt in the tire. I was alongside the road trying to figure out where to put the jack when a neighbor stopped and showed me. Time before that was with my 59 Chevy in about 1970 or so. 2:00 in the morning four miles from home. Had a jack and spare but no tire iron. Started walking, went two miles and a neighbor's hired man picked me up on his way to load cattle. Found an insulation nail in the driver's rear of the Sienna in the Walmart parking lot. Drove to a tire store to have it fixed, nail was too far up in the sidewall and couldn't be patched. Put a new one on. Nine months later, same parking lot, same tire, long nail in the sidewall. Another new tire. GRRRRR!

old · Apr 4, 2015

Shoot now days how many people do you think could even use a spare if it was there. Let alone check there radiator or master cylinder or oil???? Me I think to get a license you should have to be able to check ALL fluids and change a tire. But then I do carry a class A CDL and as a truck driver you are suppose to do a walk around before you fire the rig up

kent@junction · Apr 4, 2015

wish I could say that had a flat last week picked up a bolt in front on the right side ruined the tire.

Sprint 6 · Apr 4, 2015

Most people have some sort of roadside program. A spare and jack today is mostly just wasted space and wasted weight. I have only used a spare on my vehicle once in 22 years of driving. That said, I personally would not want to be without.

jimg.allentown · Apr 4, 2015

Seems to me that I used my spare just about a year ago. I was pulling my utility trailer and hit something laying in the road that I did not see until it was too late to miss it. I don't go anywhere without a spare and tools to change it.

Blackhole49 · Apr 5, 2015

My 15 Malibu is the same. To buy a spare with the jack and everything, is around $400. Tempted to use an older model (pre 2013) spare even though it is an inch smaller. Even with a plug on board, blowout=tow.

Blackhole49 · Apr 5, 2015

Forgot to ad, according to GM, elimination of the spare adds .4 mpg.

Chris Jones · Apr 5, 2015

But did you need to install the spare? Just curious, 'cause I've had lots of flats just never found them where I needed to install a spare but once.

Given the ease with which I can now install a plug I now carry a tire plugging kit, pliers for removing the nail/screw, and cheap HF inflating pump in the truck. I would rather do that right on the vehicle as jack it up to put on a spare (which might be under inflated when needed too

). The one time I used the spare that I mentioned the tire went bang and flop flop flop while driving (no problems controlling the vehicle). Those kinds of flats of course can't be fixed with a plug or patch.

super99 · Apr 5, 2015

You must have been on the Gov't Bridge.

Tire repair again1

bumblebee

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Northvale - PA

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IowaJohn

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Chris Jones

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gab

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Patrick Klise

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DENNIS MIN

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fixerupper

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old

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kent@junction

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Sprint 6

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jimg.allentown

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Blackhole49

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Blackhole49

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Chris Jones

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super99

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