Tire inflation kit

completely useless !

 

I think its a bad idea to use the sealing liquid cans as it makes a mess of the inside the tire and I don't see the point since there are better alternatives that seem just as easy and more robust.

I've not yet addressed this problem in my new Ferrari, but in my BMW I don't carry a spare and use regular non runflat tires. So I keep an air compressor and plug kit in the back under the floor. I'll probably do the same on the 430.

It's really easy to install a plug and the kits are very small. Note that this only works on simple punctures to the tread area such as nails and screws, which is 95% of the tire problems I've had over the past 25 years. In the case of a real blow out where the tire bursts or sidewall damage, you are SOL, call for help.

For a normal puncture, you just need to pull out the object, ream the hole with the little hand tool, apply adhesive from the tube to a rubber plug, and then push the plug into the hole using another little hand tool. Wait 15 minutes. Then re-inflate.

This works fine on runflats as well as normal tires. But note that on a runflat its critical to do this immediately and NOT drive on the tire at low pressure, ie do not use the runflat features. The reason is that this weakens the sidewalls permanently and the tire then needs to be replaced. If you plug the hole and restore normal pressure before driving then a runflat is perfectly safe for continued use.

For the long term, its worth considering removing the tire from the wheel and installing an internal patch behind the plug. Although I've never actually done this and the plugs hold fine. Maybe with a vehicle like a Ferrari and if pushing it hard it would be wise. I don't know how often the plugs really fail.

The construction crews continuously building new houses nearby LOVE to sprinkle sharp objects all over the roads and my vehicles love to retrieve them.

 

I have the spare tire and managed to get a jack kit off eBay as mine was missing -- around $400. BTW mine also came the inflation kit but I'm thinking of selling it and getting an inflator and temporary plug kit. Please -- if you do the plug and re-inflate the tire make sure you take the tire to have a patch installed on the inside. Plugs from the outside were banned in the UK many years ago because with the advent of steel reinforced tires, the plug eventually was cut resulting in a blow out.
Alan

 

I replaced my can of goo with a 12V inflation system. It fits in the same fabric container (once you remove the foam) and has the option of air or air plus goo. I also bought a tire plug kit and I have a leatherman-style tool with which to remove nails/screws.

I have some confidence this will get me home under must conditions and it's only slightly heavier than the can of goo (but way lighter than a spare wheel & tire). One big advantage it has over the can of goo is that you can add more air on your way home if you still have a slow leak.

Of course, if you properly use the tire plug kit in the case of a puncture by a nail or screw, you have a good chance of actually fixing the problem as long as you have a source of air available.

 

If you replace a blown out tire with the spare, will the blown out tire fit in the trunk so you can get it home?

I don't have my car yet, so I can't check this for myself.

 

I don't like running with out a spare (2 separate flats on my previous 997 left me stranded) but that seems to be the norm for our cars. Just signup for AAA, the higher level with the increased mileage. They came and got me and took me to the dealer.

 

I have a Scuderia spare that I bought for my regular 430 and I tried test fitting both the OEM front (225/35ZR19) and rear (285/35ZR19) into the front trunk. The front tire will fit but the rear tire is too big. You will need to put the rear tire in the passenger seat (hopefully you're driving alone!) I also bought a tire bag just in case I have a rear flat.

I see you're still looking for your manual 430!

 

Used properly, plugs are absolutely fine for temporary use. In fact, I'd bet they have greater long term success than a goo-kit -- especially in the age of TPMS sensors.

I carried a plug kit and portable compressor in my 348 for years. I had to use it twice (and once on my wife's car). Zero problems.

 

I bought a full size extra front wheel that I keep in the trunk when I am going any distance from home. I have had some close calls on being stranded and don't look forward to it. I simply keep it wrapped in a contractor size garbage bag so no dirt in trunk.

The idea of meddling with a plug kit on the side of a road leaves me cold. Rather have AAA come and put on the extra wheel and just go. Cost was about $750 for the peace of mind.

 

Hi Ron-

Thanks for the info. Bummer about the rear tire not fitting! What the heck does someone do with a blown out rear...and a passenger?? I guess I'll have to hide one of them in the bushes until I can return! Yeah, I don't think my girlfriend would be happy hiding in the bushes...maybe if I said: "but baby, that's a thousand dollar wheel, I can't just leave it here in the bushes!" She'd beat the crap out of me!

Yup, still looking for a car...man, it's a lot tougher than I expected!

 

I started carrying one of these when I got my first M series BMW with no spare tire. I now have one in every car. Standard Model - Tire Plugger - Stop & Go International Inc Store

It's small and much better than inflation goo. You still need a compressor of some kind, which most cars that have no spares already have. It's the last resort, such as when you are out of range of cell coverage or otherwise can't get a flatbed tow.
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I like this! I'm going to order one. Is there an option to inflate with no goo coming out with the 430 compressor supplied? Don't really see a downside if I you use with the goo coming out. I've used the goo in my Benz and it worked perfectly.

 

Nice kit. Very compact compressor.

I want add that it would be helpful to have a lightweight jack, though I suppose you could roll the car until you expose the puncture and try to crawl under enough to work on the repair. If it's necessary to remove the wheel to make the repair, you'll need a wrench, too.
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Get yourself a premium membership to AAA. Membership includes 200 miles of flat bed tow service.

 

Quite good. I've been a member for years. But does you no good if you're on a back road out of range of a cell tower.

 

I carried donuts or full size spares for 20 years. I sacrificed storage space, weight, money to buy them, etc. because I had it stuck in my mind that I needed one as insurance against getting stranded in some remote location.

But it really doesn't make all that much sense. Its pretty rare to have a true tire failure on a passenger vehicle these days, ie driving on a paved road and experiencing a blow out. Most people will have none or maybe a few in their entire lives if they are unlucky. It's more likely to have any number of other mechanical problems that could leave you stranded. Dang, I've run out of gas maybe 4 times and I've only had one tire failure in 25 years of driving. Note that even my one tire failure was really user error because I drove off the road onto a gravel shoulder and then back on but caught the inner sidewall on a sharp edge of asphalt causing the tire to blow.

For all other vehicle problems except a tire failure, the universal answer is to call for help, not to attempt repair at roadside.

So where does this spare tire idea come from while we don't carry spares of anything else?

I believe its because the first cars had much less robust tires than modern cars and the first roads were much worse than modern roads. So tire failures were very common, in the early 1900s. But now that they are rare we continue on this tradition of the spare tire out of habit. Eventually they will go away, as evidenced by the fact that many modern cars do not include them and charge extra to buy them as an option. That's the beginning of the end of the spare tire.

I do carry gear to fix the screw punctures because they happen to me a few times a year and I don't want to become the AAA frequent user of the year!

 

I did a lot of research and experimentation to find the ultimate portable air compressor to carry in my SUV. I selected the Viair 450P-A. This unit is very solid (and heavy) and can run pretty much indefinitely without overheating. It's very nice. Most of them on the market are pretty bad and can barely survive inflating a few tires.

VIAIR 450P Automatic Function Portable Compressor : Amazon.com : Automotive

Not sure I'll put another of these in the Ferrari.

 

Iridium sat phone solves the back road cell coverage problem. Have had one for so long for my business, I forget not everyone has this luxury.

 

I wonder if you're unlucky or people in your area spread more screws around. I've had screw/nail punctures but the last one was so long ago I can't remember when it was. I'm quite sure it's been at least ten years since I've had ANY issues with a tire; not even a slow leak.

I would guess that in the last 40 years I've had, with one exception, zero blow outs and only about 3 or 4 screw/nail punctures, all of which were slow leaks and repaired at home rather than on the road.

The only real tire problem as far back as I can remember was returning from a race weekend. I was sleeping in the back of our SUV and my wife was driving at a steady 80 mph. She woke me up to ask why cars were honking at her and asked me to have a look at our trailer and race car. One tire of the two-wheel trailer was completely missing and we were cruising along quite well on the steel wheel alone; so much for the requirement to have a four-wheel trailer for safety considerations. No vibration, no pulling, no swaying, just the passing cars honking at her and a little bit of sparking.

I put on the spare tire wheel and we continued without further drama. In that particular case, a can of goo or even AAA wouldn't have provided a fix as good as a spare wheel.