What do you do when your tyre blows and you have no spare?

I was driving my 348 yesterday and accidentally clipped the rear wheel on a kerb and the tyre side wall split and in less than a second it was totally flat. The split is almost 2 inches long and won't hold any air at I'll.
I very slowly drove home which was about 2 miles. Any further and I I would have been stranded. I had to remove the wheel and will be taking it to get a new tyre and I'll be replacing the opposite side too as these cars can be sensitive if one tyre is a lot more worn on one side than the other. Would tyre foam spray have helped?
Have any of you been in this situation?
Thanks.

 

if the side wall has split open (2 inches).....tow truck.
you drove home on a totally flat tire???? hopefully you have not damaged the rim.

 

why not purchase either an aftermarket rim/tire or an ebay oem front tire/rim for a spare? the oem 348 rims are quite cheap.
I have a spare tire for my 355 and have never driven with out a spare to avoid being stranded in the middle of no where..... without cell towers nearby.

 

I'll find out if the rim has been damaged when I have it balanced and hopefully it will be straight.
Yes, a proper full size spare sounds like the best plan. I carry the foam in the car but would not have been any use in this case.
Would the rear wheel also fit the front if I did buy one as a spare?

 

with the 355 which has larger tires I have test fit both a fully inflated front and rear tire (295-35-18) in the front trunk and both fit with no issues. And on the 355 I did try to fit the front tire on the rear to see if it bolted on ok and cleared the caliper and it fit with no issue.

 

In this case no, but if you had a nail in the tire and used the foam you might not be able to repair/plug the tire because the foam contaminates the nail hole as well.
Many garages will not even attempt a patch repair if you use the foam for concern the repair would fail.
I have installed plugs (with cement) for nail damage and the tire lasts for the life of the tire with no leaking or issues.
I would avoid the foam.

 

Thanks that's great, hopefully it will be the same with no issues. I have a full spare set of Mondial 3.2 wheels but the rear does not clear the caliper on the 348. But the versa the 348 wheels do fit the Mondial.

 

When driving these cars you HAVE to watch for road debris and you HAVE to avoid hitting curbs. As the aspect ratio goes down (45->40->35->30) you have to obey these rules ever more stridently.

 

Two words, flat-bed.

Nothing with a 2" gash can hold air.

 

Hello AAA

 

Well the tyres are ordered and on their way. A lesson learnt and will be investing in a spare wheel.
Thanks everyone.

 

My Porsche 993 had a collapsible spare but my Maserati Coupe doesn't. I did read on the forums though that a certain Mercedes collapsible spare will work on it.

Anyone know if anything like that exists for the 348/355?

 

Pretty sure AAA doesn't operate where the OP lives.....

 

Here's a weird question...my 348 has 360 wheels, but the original wheels came with the car, as well, and they all have brand new tires on them. Could I use one of those as a spare? Or are the sizes too different?

 

I call up AAA and have them send out a flatbed.

 

No, but the UK surely has a similar auto club.

I believe it's AA the Automobile Association.

 

Not a weird question at all and yes it should work fine. The width doesn't matter at all for the spare. Just carry a front rim and it will be ok on the rear and not too wide for the front. Overall diameter is all that matters and they should be very close to the same.

If a tire is wider you get a lower aspect ratio on the side wall so the side wall height, and there for the diameter, stays the same

348 355 360 what ever tire sizes they came with stock are all different but the overall diameter is about the same 26.xx inches if I recall.

 

Correct, also my insurance includes free recovery and flatbed home.
Thanks.

 

What to do when you have a flat tire? WTF kind of question is that? Who owns these cars? Everyone know the answer. Open the rear hatch; cut a fuel line; throw in a lit match. Problem solved.

 

Bingo, don't forget to call your insurance co first, liability only will not cover this
FULL coverage with flood insurance, for when the fire dept hoses it down.

 

Yes. Certain years of Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable donut spares will work. Check my348.com for details. I think a spacer may be required as well but you can pick up a cheapy eBay one for temporary use. Don't forget that you also need to carry a jack and lug wrench. My 348 to-do list includes setting up an easily removable false floor for the front trunk along with a spare tire for those times when I don't need every last bit of storage space.

 

Regarding Taurus donut spare, search "spare tire" in the 348/355 section and you'll find pnicholasen's excellent description with pictures of the Taurus spare plus spacer. Definitely on my "to do" list.