Flats & Sealants

I see many of the new cars (like a Cadillac SRX) do not come with a spare tire, jack, lug wrenches, etc. but just a compressor with a sealant inside. This is supposed take care of a puncture hole up to a 1/4 inch.

I suppose that it is a high psi unit and you just plug it in the cigar lighter and pump it up. You can then go a 100 miles or so.

So, since we do not have spares in our cars, cannot fit a jack under the car anyhow, have nowhere to store spares, etc., I thought a purchase of this type unit might be a solution to my worries about having a flat and no spare. Or should I just keep the 2 cans of slime in the trunk that I have there now?

Jay

 

Jay- A spare tire was an option on the 575M (not sure about the 550) and it came with a jack kit. Not sure what you do with the wheel you take off, however. Pretty much no room for it anywhere, especially the rear wheel/tire. A sealant kit is standard on the 550 and 575M without the spare tire option.

Personally, I carry a 12V compressor with me and if I pick up a nail, I just fill the tire every few miles until I can get the tire repaired. Nice thing about TPMS.

 

I'm thinking about removing the spare tire, jacks, etc altogether from my 550 and just carrying a 12V compressor for small punctures to get me to the tire shop. If it's a bad puncture, I'd just pick up the phone and call a tow truck. I live in Hong Kong, where it's impossible to go on a long road trip, but I suppose this would apply to some other locations or for owners who drive their cars only in/around urban areas.

 

Terry, won't it fit on the passenger seat?

 

No it won't, especially the rears. The only solution is to mount it on the roof and tie it down, leaving the windows down enough for the ropes or straps to pass under the headliner. Or I guess you could load it on the hood like a deer. Probably better to mount it closer to the nose for better forward visibility. That's a lot of trouble, so if you have a spare tire kit, the best plan would be to add a shovel so that you can bury the wheel and tire and come back for them later.

Or you could do what I do, which is pray that I don't get a flat, have two inflation cans and a package of those flat repair plugs to shove in the puncture and if all that fails, I have AAA. The tires that TAZ and I sport on the rears (355/25/19) have to be special-ordered these days, so we are totally screwed if we have a blowout or some puncture that cannot be repaired.

I think that the 12v compressor is a good "belt and suspenders" approach to supplement the cans of sealant to get you to safety...if not home.

 

That's why I carry the same stuff around in my trunk that you do, Dave. And this...
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

This is my rear wheel. Won't even fit in the car w/o the tire mounted on it. The only way I can carry it is in the bed of a pickup or if it's bolted to the car.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Dave- Those Pirelli 355/25 19s appear to have disappeared. I will probably try the 345/30 19 Michelin P SS tires next. Taller, but much better tire. Will probably have to change rear ride height.

 

Terry, the 550 trunk is big enough to fit the rear tire there. I modified the cardoard to fit the dummy tire.
Sark
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

A sturdy chain and padlock to lock the tire to a tree or pole.

 

Sark- Pretty ingenious, but mine nor Dave's is not fitting back there. Our own fault for having huge rear wheels.

 

Bought a Cadillac SRX compressor/sealant unit. ($150) Pretty nice little compact unit. Uses a latex type sealant that will not hurt your tire or TPMS sensors...so they say. The Fix-It-In-A-Can uses a different sealant which can damage things...so they say.

Also, I can take this unit when I take my Xterra off roading in the Arizona Strip. I've had 2 flats down there in one day so this compresor/sealant unit will maybe be helpful there also.

So now I'm feeling more secure!!

Jay
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Jay- Looks pretty handy. Can it be refilled?

 

Taz:

No, it can not be refilled. The unit is originally purchased in two units...the compressor and the sealant cannister.

Once you use the sealant it's defunct...(hope that never happens)... then it must be ordered again separately.

GM Order numbers are: Compressor: 25913642 I paid $110.58

Sealant Cannister: 20927667 I paid $30.38

Canister is good for 5 years.

Jay

 

one thought - is one tin of sealant enough for such a large tyre ?

I carry 2 to be sure.

 

Slightly better prices for these items can be found at this online source.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/

Compressor @ $84.81
Canister @ $22.50

Bill
FL

 

Why couldn't Ferrari think of that!

 

Jay- That would take up less room than my 12V compressor and no fiddling with the power cord. Will fit right on top of my CTEK battery charger, which sits in one of the leather cases for the much larger Zivan charger.

Thanks for the idea.

That charger case was one of the few good deals for a while on Schedoni leather cases. $250 from Ricambi three years ago, now $632. Parts prices have gone ballistic recently.

 

This seems like a pretty good idea for a tire emergency, has anyone run across a better idea similar to this since these post? Been pressing my luck relying on a cell phone and figure it's time be a little more prepared.
Current online prices on these two items are,
Compressor 25913642 $86.26
Sealant $22.50
Thanks for any thoughts.
Bill
FL

 

Taz,
You must be the only guy on the planet that has a working TPMS on a 575M.
You Rock!!