Are you sure your newly purchased car has a temp or spare tire back up?

[4570Man]

I have owned 2 different vehicles that came with a flat fix kit consisting of a can of goop and an air pump. First was a 2003 Corvette Z06. Second was a 2013 Mustang GT. I wouldn't consider either a cheap or economy model car.

I’ve blown 2 tires on a vehicle. One I hit a piece of metal in a field and it had a 3” long gash in it. The other one blew apart. The can of slim would have been equally as useful as the spare tires I didn’t have.

 

[k0ua]

What does a 途un flat do?

They allow you to "run" with a flat tire. To a point. About 50 miles maximum at reduced speed. There is usually a "frame inside of rubber that will support the weight of the vehicle with no air pressure. Since the tire does not go completely "down" it doesn't cut and destroy the outer tire, at least as quick. Armored cars, and this sort of thing will often have these to allow you to get out of danger hopefully and keep moving, and moving can mean the difference between life and death. Also kinda nice for your loved ones to be able to bring a vehicle into a save location instead of having a flat in the bad part of town.

 

[k0ua]

By the way, like everything else, run flat tires have downsides. They weigh more, and have thicker sidewalls, so fuel mileage is worse, and the probably handle worse and probably heat up quicker. etc etc... TANSTAAFL. They serve a purpose on some vehicles, but they probably aren't for everyone.

 

[k0ua]

I’ve blown 2 tires on a vehicle. One I hit a piece of metal in a field and it had a 3” long gash in it. The other one blew apart. The can of slim would have been equally as useful as the spare tires I didn’t have.

The last flat I had on a Dodge Minivan, was when I ran over a piece of flintrock in the road thrown from a bulldozer track. I stopped for the bulldozer by the flagman, he crossed the road in front of me. The flagman waved me on, and I run over the sharp rock. A flat ensued less than 50 yards down the road. The sharp rock cut the "he77" out of the tire, and nothing would have saved it. It was totally ruined.

 

[Turbys_1700]

This thread reminded me of an instance about 10 years ago.

We were traveling home from the beach. My father in his motor home, wife and I in the 5th wheel, and brother-in-law and sister in a car. My mother was walking around in the motor home when my father had to apply they brakes. She fell and was admitted to the hospital 130 miles from home.

We ended up driving the motor home and fifth wheel home and returned the same day back to the hospital. It was raining and about 1 AM when the tire in his car went flat. We were in Charlotte at the time and had to find a parking lot the change it. One of those low profile solid tires.

We ran back to the hospital at 50 MPH and made the trip back home the next day which was a Sunday. We stopped at a Sears but no 17" tires in stock. Needless to say we got some more looks driving his Cadillac with that solid tire. We made it but was frustrating running that slow. I guess the tire did what it was designed to do. It got us home.

 

[ultrarunner]

My old Ford came with two factory spares... never have needed them but I am doubly covered.

Lots of people I know with run flats opt not to replace when the time comes... so they run regular tires with no spare on board and leave it to the auto club.

Had a co-worker that ran her temp for nearly a year... I guess they are more substantial than they look... just to and from work on city streets.

There was a time when race cars had to carry spares... like the Lemans 24 hour race... no spare equaled no entry.

About a month ago my brother hit a piece of angle in the road late at night... both right side 20" tires on his 2016 super duty had sidewall puncture... not a single shop in town could help until Monday... this happened Friday night... and then it turned out to be Tuesday...

 

[square1]

Having an actual spare tire was one of the features pointed out when our 16 Subaru Crosstrek was delivered. A friend found out the hard way last week his 16 Chrysler 200 does not come with a spare tire. The can of goop had no chance of sealing the damaged tire on the side of the expressway. Ended up being taken on a flat bead to the closest dealer. Kind of ruined his entire day for getting anything done.

 

[Streetcar]

I must have all of bad tire luck.
I have ruined Goodyear and Michelin in the past year. Finish nail in sidewall and 16d nail backwards through the tire

 

[oosik]

I guess I'm just old but it would kind of shock me if I bought a new car and the salesperson explained that a full sized spare tire was a special feature. In all my 60+ years of driving I think I've had to change a tire once - on the road. Off-road, in Alaska, that doesn't count.

I have never owned, nor will I ever own, a vehicle with something other than a full sized spare tire. Currently I own a Ford F-150 and a Jeep TJ. Both have full sized spare tires. I routinely go places where AAA could not and would not go. Besides these places I go have no cell phone service. Every tried to "call up" AAA with smoke signals???

I know we are talking about vehicles that VERY SELDOM see a gravel road but it would really "bake my bacon" if I had to buy a full sized spare tire on a brand new vehicle - as a special purchase.

Hopefully - as long as I continue to purchase pickups and 4WD vehicles - this will not be a problem.

 

[Sigarms]

I can't imagine not having a spare - and I like full size spares - but maybe they are no longer more necessary than a myriad of other parts that could fail.

Can't imagine not having a spare tire, along with a jack, jug of anti freeze, couple quarts of oil along with a set of jumper cables (along with tow rope for truck).

Kind of like leaving the house without your gun