Non-runflats / You get a flat / What do you do?
#1
Racer
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Non-runflats / You get a flat / What do you do?
I bought my Z06 used and the previous owner put on non-runflat tires before selling it. While driving this morning, I realized that I'm not sure what I would do if I had a flat (and I hate NOT having a contingency plan).
What do you all do? Call for a tow truck (and if so, where do you have the car towed to)? Can of sealant and a portable air compressor?
(and I'm not a big fan of my vette being towed... I've seen it done and even with some boards, they like to scrape the front lip)
What do you all do? Call for a tow truck (and if so, where do you have the car towed to)? Can of sealant and a portable air compressor?
(and I'm not a big fan of my vette being towed... I've seen it done and even with some boards, they like to scrape the front lip)
#4
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U.S. Air Force
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Make sure you have AAA Plus or Premiere card, they have additional mileage. Lets not forget cell phone!
#5
Go Canes!
#8
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Perhaps a better question is when is the last time anyone had a flat tire? I know for me it's been many, many years. It's just not very common nowadays. I'd offer that it happens so rarely that worrying about it is wasted time and effort.
#9
Racer
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I've had (for lack of a better word) "unlucky" sets of tires before. On my old Acura, I think I blew 3 of the 4 tires in ~ a year. 2 of them went at the same time when I ran over some crap on the road.
#10
Race Director
I've had punctures in mine and my wifes' tire in the last year but never a flat out on the road. Usually the slow leak nail/screw stuck in the tire that can usually be plugged. Flats on the highway are rare unless the tire is worn down to the cords.
#11
Race Director
#12
I'd only had my 09 for a short time when my son was coming home from overseas deployment and I was picking him up at airport in R.I.
It was a 11:00 PM flight so the traffic was no problem..But I knew when that DIC lit up with the tire Icon I had a problem..It proceeded to tell me I was losing air REAL fast! I thought OH Great I'm on 95 going to Providence at 11:00 on a Sun night to pick up my son and I'm getting a flat with a car with no spare..GREAT..Well the Goodyear got me to the airport,picked up my son and drove back 80 miles to Mass. You won't ever catch me without runflats after that night.I'm a believer. Next day I took it to a Goodyear place and they fixed it for $20.00. I was lucky! They saved my butt that night for sure.I hadn't had a flat in 40 yrs. before that night but you just never know............
It was a 11:00 PM flight so the traffic was no problem..But I knew when that DIC lit up with the tire Icon I had a problem..It proceeded to tell me I was losing air REAL fast! I thought OH Great I'm on 95 going to Providence at 11:00 on a Sun night to pick up my son and I'm getting a flat with a car with no spare..GREAT..Well the Goodyear got me to the airport,picked up my son and drove back 80 miles to Mass. You won't ever catch me without runflats after that night.I'm a believer. Next day I took it to a Goodyear place and they fixed it for $20.00. I was lucky! They saved my butt that night for sure.I hadn't had a flat in 40 yrs. before that night but you just never know............
#13
Racer
My AAA plan covers 100 miles of towing, roadside repairs(flats), Gas(prepaid of course) and Dead battery jumps. Can't beat it if you ask me! When I need tires again, I am done with runflats. just my $.02
#14
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I'd only had my 09 for a short time when my son was coming home from overseas deployment and I was picking him up at airport in R.I.
It was a 11:00 PM flight so the traffic was no problem..But I knew when that DIC lit up with the tire Icon I had a problem..It proceeded to tell me I was losing air REAL fast! I thought OH Great I'm on 95 going to Providence at 11:00 on a Sun night to pick up my son and I'm getting a flat with a car with no spare..GREAT..Well the Goodyear got me to the airport,picked up my son and drove back 80 miles to Mass. You won't ever catch me without runflats after that night.I'm a believer. Next day I took it to a Goodyear place and they fixed it for $20.00. I was lucky! They saved my butt that night for sure.I hadn't had a flat in 40 yrs. before that night but you just never know............
It was a 11:00 PM flight so the traffic was no problem..But I knew when that DIC lit up with the tire Icon I had a problem..It proceeded to tell me I was losing air REAL fast! I thought OH Great I'm on 95 going to Providence at 11:00 on a Sun night to pick up my son and I'm getting a flat with a car with no spare..GREAT..Well the Goodyear got me to the airport,picked up my son and drove back 80 miles to Mass. You won't ever catch me without runflats after that night.I'm a believer. Next day I took it to a Goodyear place and they fixed it for $20.00. I was lucky! They saved my butt that night for sure.I hadn't had a flat in 40 yrs. before that night but you just never know............
I do find it amusing that all of the people who say they carry a plug kit forget that plugging a rear tire on a Vette means laying on the ground to get access. If the tire is flat the car will be several inches lower on that side and there won't be much room to get access.
I really don't want to be laying on the ground in the dark along a busy highway trying to install a plug in a tire. That is a sure recipe for becoming a grease spot.
Bill
#15
Yeah I was surprised it was fixable too Bill. But the inside of the tire looked fine and there was a pretty good gash in the tread. They fixed it and I drove it another 10000 miles before I traded it in for my 13..You'll not see me in the middle of Feb. lying on the side of Rte 95 looking for tire damage at 11:00 at night!! Give me the run flats ANY Day!!
#17
Burning Brakes
There was a time when I rode Triumph motorcycles
and I carried the right tools to tear down the top end.
I think anyone that thinks they are gonna plug a flat on
the side of the road / at night/ possibly in the rain?
Is dreaming.
That is all.
and I carried the right tools to tear down the top end.
I think anyone that thinks they are gonna plug a flat on
the side of the road / at night/ possibly in the rain?
Is dreaming.
That is all.
#18
Le Mans Master
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Non-runflats / You get a flat / What do you do?
1. Immediately curse the fact that you don't have ZP tires
2. Assign the blame to someone, anyone - damn roofing contractor
3. Call someone who can't really help but to whom you will vent
4. Bless the day you subscribed to AAA or
5. Be flabbergasted how much Dewey's Towing & Bait wants to flat bed your car
6. Get car flat bed towed - make Dewey's night
7. Get tire fixed/replaced - look at the bait while waiting
8. Swear you are going to get ZP tires tomorrow
9. Complain how much ZP tires cost tomorrow
10. Post on CF if it's OK to just get 2 ZP tires till your good non-ZP's wear out
And have a nice day
1. Immediately curse the fact that you don't have ZP tires
2. Assign the blame to someone, anyone - damn roofing contractor
3. Call someone who can't really help but to whom you will vent
4. Bless the day you subscribed to AAA or
5. Be flabbergasted how much Dewey's Towing & Bait wants to flat bed your car
6. Get car flat bed towed - make Dewey's night
7. Get tire fixed/replaced - look at the bait while waiting
8. Swear you are going to get ZP tires tomorrow
9. Complain how much ZP tires cost tomorrow
10. Post on CF if it's OK to just get 2 ZP tires till your good non-ZP's wear out
And have a nice day
#20
Team Owner
But, I drive my Z06 on long distance cruises to see the wonders of our scenic states. I keep run flats on my Z06 as the last place I want to have a flat is when I just crossed the Continental Divide on Independence Pass at 12,093 feet. No way can I breath at that altitude messing with a flat tire. Probably can't get cell phone reception either so what good is that AAA card(or my State Farm card). Then trying to find a place to pull off the narrow road with no shoulders at the place I have the flat is highly unlikely. Then trying to get a roll back truck????? LOL.
I came upon a wreck in the mountains of Colorado once, and there was no cell phone reception to call for help. One car that had stopped to give assistance had to drive on to try and find a place with a land line phone to call for a wrecker and an ambulance and the Jaws of Life as an old lady was trapped in the rear of the wrecked SUV and no way to get her out.
I've driven in all parts of this country and found many areas that don't have cell service. A flat tire(with no spare or with non run flat tires) is more than an inconvenience if you can't call for help.
Run Flats(and the spare tires in my 56, 64 and my Mercedes DD) are like the insurance on your home. Not many of us have had our home destroyed by fire(I've owned homes since 1967 and never had a house fire) but I still pay the insurance premiums. Just calling the fire department on my cell doesn't negate any losses I will have if my house is on fire. That paid up insurance policy will cover it.
Last edited by JoesC5; 06-19-2013 at 12:59 PM.