In lieu of a spare tire:

For those of us with “spare-less” late models like the 550, and where the exceptionally expensive can of Ferrari fix-a-flat is out of date, most of us just carry 1 or 2 cans of similar stuff from your local auto parts store…..and a AAA card.

 

Not to be a downer, but I always thought fix-a-flat was disasterous to the rim itself. I suppose it just gets "flung" outward to the tire, huh?

 

Same here...I carry TWO cans of whatever they have at the local hardware or autoparts store for each of my cars (including the 355). I also have a AAA Plus card. They cost about $5 each on sale...the official Ferrari one is like $150 or some crazy sh*t, and after eight years, I imagine the think won't work anyway.

 

Careful about removing that spare!! I believe it is part of the front crushzone in an accident and its weight was factored into the handling characteristics. Your car may be less safe without it,

Dan

 

I've heard the same thing about how it's bad for the rim, and the chemicals inside those fix a flats are not very environmentaly friendly either.

 

Personal expeience.
I used fix a flat products for motorcycles. Yes, it is good for immediate recovery, but the point is that you must replace the repaired tyre ASAP and the cleaning of the rim is, at least, challenging...
Dan,
the removal of the original spare tyres in front is not so releant. As a matter of fact, the reduced size tyre was a factory option and the weight difference was not affecting handling.
Ciao
Eugenio

 

I replaced the full size spare in the front of my 308 with a space saver from a 328. (Thanks Zan!) It made a lot more room. Now all my tools, jack, extra oil, etc. all fit up there as well, freeing up the entire truck. I thought all the 328s came with a space saver. I guess not.

Birdman

 

Guys: I replaced my 348 can of fix-o-flat with a space saver tire. Never thought I would see the day but my wife ran over something that ripped a hole in the tire. Called maybe 20 dealers and found spare and jack (very nice leather case) for $1400! FWIW.

Jeff
89 348tb, 86 tr

 

Was it really a 355 space saver spare they sold you? To my knowledge there is no "proper" 348 spare. I'm all ears!

 

I carry fix-a-flat instead of a spare in a 308.

 

Ferrari says to replace the tire at the earliest time after the fix a flat is used.

Also be aware that if your car has the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS, all 575 and later cars) that the stuff in the can will ruin the $400+ sensor inside the wheel.

$400+ for a sensor+ $300+ for a tire = Makes calling a flatbed look pretty good.

 

I think they came with a space saver in the US only - in Europe (at least here in the UK anyway) we got a full size front tyre.

I.

 

forget the fix-a-flat UNLESS you have a carjack in the car too. my 355 had a flat rear tyre. emptied an entire can of the stuff into the tyre, nada happened. then i find out you're really ment to jack the car up, fill it, leave it for 10 mins then lower it... doh! so now i've got the fix-a-flat stuff AND a small jack.

 

It really DOES make a difference in the amount of space! Did you do anything to your front spindle caps so the 328 wheel would fit? Otherwise, if you have a front tire go flat, you'll have to either remove the grease cap entirely, or put one of your rear tires on the front and then the space-saver spare on the rear. That's the way I'll have to do it for the moment.

 

My 328 (Italy) came with space saver.
Ciao
Eugenio

 

Just call me old school, but I dont like getting stranded and towed over simple crap I can do myself. Murphys law does not hazard fools, and in the worst place possible at the worst time, thats when youll get a flat. I want to be able to get myself back on the road. I will admit that tires today are almost incredible at staying together and keeping thier air, but nails and road debris can still wreck one. Also, before I would go with a space saver, I would want to be absolutely sure the tires on the car would fit in that hole. Really would suck to change your tire only to find your flat wont fit.

 

Are you sure? The U.S. 308s all had full size spares because at the time, the U.S. didn't allow space savers, so only the Euro 308s had the space saver. I couldn't get my hands on a Euro space saver for a reasonable price, and I also liked the look of the 328 space saver better, so I bought one. I find it hard to believe that they reversed themselves on the 328 and sent the space savers to the U.S. and gave the Euros full size spares, but what the heck do I know.

Mike, my understanding is that the grease cap only interferes with the horsey center cap on the 328 wheel. Maybe I'm wrong! My plan was for the purposes of a spare, I would just pop the horsey out. Or you can pry the grease cap off and replace when you get home.

Birdman

 

Jim I for one would advise against this as I have a fix a flat can for My 355 the only problem with it is if You have a large hole this cannot fix it as I know as I had to be recovered by truck when I had a blow-out.

 

I don't get what you mean... I changed out my 308's full size spare to a space saver, but the spare tire storage bin is still the same. A full size spare came out of it, so a full size wheel will go back in if necessary if I get a flat.

 

I took it that Krowbar was referring to the cars that do not come with a spare but with a can of fix a flat. I thought he meant that perhaps a space saver spare would fit in the storage area but the full size wheel would not.

My answer is throw the flat in the passenger's lap!



Birdman

 

That's what I initially thought too, but no, that's not the case, at least with mine, and you'll probably find that's the case with yours too... give it a try BEFORE you actually need it. With the grease cap on, the 328 spare will not fully seat against the front wheel hubs, even if you take the horse insert off the wheel!