Poll: flat tires vs mechanical breakdowns
03-03-2015, 09:26 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Poll: flat tires vs mechanical breakdowns
In lieu of the recent thread about running with or w/o a spare tire I just thought I'd ask how many of us have actually needed one.
JMO, but a good basic set of hand/diagnostic tools and a couple of spare parts (all of which I keep in my spare tire tub) are going to be many times more useful since the odds are that a mechanical or electrical issue is going to sideline one these cars before getting a flat tire.
So, how many of you have needed to repair something on the car itself to get it back on the road opposed to changing a tire???
I'll start:
Tire change 0
Mechanical/electrical 6 to 8 times.
Gary
JMO, but a good basic set of hand/diagnostic tools and a couple of spare parts (all of which I keep in my spare tire tub) are going to be many times more useful since the odds are that a mechanical or electrical issue is going to sideline one these cars before getting a flat tire.
So, how many of you have needed to repair something on the car itself to get it back on the road opposed to changing a tire???
I'll start:
Tire change 0
Mechanical/electrical 6 to 8 times.
Gary
Last edited by Gary's '66; 03-03-2015 at 09:31 PM.
03-03-2015, 09:32 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Redondo Beach CA
Posts: 1,200
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C2 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
In the Corvette:
Tire change: 0
Mechanical/Electrical: 4 (not counting the blown engine)
The Chevelle, which has seen more than 100K miles in my care:
Tire change: 2
Mechanical/Electrical: 6 (or more)
Tire change: 0
Mechanical/Electrical: 4 (not counting the blown engine)
The Chevelle, which has seen more than 100K miles in my care:
Tire change: 2
Mechanical/Electrical: 6 (or more)
03-03-2015, 09:35 PM
#3
Instructor
Tire change 1
Mech Elec 1
Bob D.
Mech Elec 1
Bob D.
03-03-2015, 11:09 PM
#4
Team Owner
On both '61 (8 years) and '63 (2 years):
Tire Change: 0
Mechanical Breakdown: 0 (although I have limped home twice from mechanical issues in the 61; but I DID make it home)
Tire Change: 0
Mechanical Breakdown: 0 (although I have limped home twice from mechanical issues in the 61; but I DID make it home)
03-04-2015, 06:10 AM
#6
Le Mans Master
In lieu of the recent thread about running with or w/o a spare tire I just thought I'd ask how many of us have actually needed one.
JMO, but a good basic set of hand/diagnostic tools and a couple of spare parts (all of which I keep in my spare tire tub) are going to be many times more useful since the odds are that a mechanical or electrical issue is going to sideline one these cars before getting a flat tire.
So, how many of you have needed to repair something on the car itself to get it back on the road opposed to changing a tire???
I'll start:
Tire change 0
Mechanical/electrical 6 to 8 times.
Gary
JMO, but a good basic set of hand/diagnostic tools and a couple of spare parts (all of which I keep in my spare tire tub) are going to be many times more useful since the odds are that a mechanical or electrical issue is going to sideline one these cars before getting a flat tire.
So, how many of you have needed to repair something on the car itself to get it back on the road opposed to changing a tire???
I'll start:
Tire change 0
Mechanical/electrical 6 to 8 times.
Gary
Hi , I traveled 60,000 miles 48 states, 15 European Countries over the last 4 years without a spare tire. Carry a can fix it flat. No flats in the last 40 years.
Jack
Broken down many times, AAA long distance towing
03-04-2015, 06:27 AM
#7
Drifting
In 60,000+ miles I've had:
Zero tire problems.
1 bad battery, push started and drove to a parts house and replaced.
1 broken rocker arm. Drove to parts house and replaced myself, with tools in trunk.
Ran out of gas once, called AAA.
Zero tire problems.
1 bad battery, push started and drove to a parts house and replaced.
1 broken rocker arm. Drove to parts house and replaced myself, with tools in trunk.
Ran out of gas once, called AAA.
03-04-2015, 07:44 AM
#8
Race Director
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: Cape Cod, Mass.
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2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
With the 65, 1 flat in 44 years (over 200,000 miles). Numerous breakdowns on the road with things like fuel pumps or water pumps that required a flatbed. Most of the other issues like a carb loading up I have been able to fix at roadside.
03-04-2015, 07:51 AM
#9
Enjoy while you can.
Member Since: May 2008
Location: 10th District Court OHIO
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Ohio Events Coordinator
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
In 5 years, 3K miles:
An older coker tire had an internal separation. I was able to get her home going 25 mph.
One electrical; the bulkhead connector got loose. She came home on a flat bed. My neighbor came by and after I told him what happened, he knew immediately.
I have been very lucky.
An older coker tire had an internal separation. I was able to get her home going 25 mph.
One electrical; the bulkhead connector got loose. She came home on a flat bed. My neighbor came by and after I told him what happened, he knew immediately.
I have been very lucky.
03-04-2015, 08:10 AM
#10
Race Director
Tire change - 0
Mechanical breakdown - 1 (required being flat-bedded home)
Most of the tire issues I've had over the years involve a nail or screw and relatively slow leak and didn't involve a roadside repair. I do keep a can of tire slime in my road emergency kit but I hate using that type stuff unless really necessary.
Mechanical breakdown - 1 (required being flat-bedded home)
Most of the tire issues I've had over the years involve a nail or screw and relatively slow leak and didn't involve a roadside repair. I do keep a can of tire slime in my road emergency kit but I hate using that type stuff unless really necessary.
03-04-2015, 08:35 AM
#11
Le Mans Master
My current 64: 2 years, one 450+ mile road trip and regular use, zero flat tires. 1 close call for breakdown with a clogged fuel filter, limped it home.
My 69 ten years ago: owned three years, at least 2-3 trips on a rollback. No flat tires. Timing set jumped, distributor locked, probably another failure I can't recall.
My 69 ten years ago: owned three years, at least 2-3 trips on a rollback. No flat tires. Timing set jumped, distributor locked, probably another failure I can't recall.
03-04-2015, 10:04 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
On the 62 no flats but did have some vapor lock issues about eleven years ago but always got it started.
On the Z28 no flats but did have a starter quit on me last year.
On the Z28 no flats but did have a starter quit on me last year.
03-04-2015, 10:07 AM
#13
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 2005
Location: Hinesville, GA & Oswego, NY
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In my 60 Vette in 35 years and many miles I have had very little trouble, it is still a daily driver, I put about a hundred miles on it yesterday.
Mechanical 3, broke cord in a fan belt, ballast resister, rocker pin fell out of fuel pump.
Flat tires 2, and I still run bias ply tires.
Bill
Mechanical 3, broke cord in a fan belt, ballast resister, rocker pin fell out of fuel pump.
Flat tires 2, and I still run bias ply tires.
Bill
03-04-2015, 11:45 AM
#15
Race Director
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C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
0 flat tire
2 mechanical, carb hickup in Nashville, loose wire near home.
Dennis
2 mechanical, carb hickup in Nashville, loose wire near home.
Dennis
03-04-2015, 01:05 PM
#16
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I know what you mean. I've probably jinxed myself now. 
03-04-2015, 04:10 PM
#17
Racer
On my '67 :
Tires = 0
Mechanical - Depends - Was able to fix both on the road myself - Jammed shift linkage and a thrown fan belt (my fault - an L79 can turn 6000 RPM.)
Tires = 0
Mechanical - Depends - Was able to fix both on the road myself - Jammed shift linkage and a thrown fan belt (my fault - an L79 can turn 6000 RPM.)
03-04-2015, 04:56 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Nov 2000
Location: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
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Below daily drivers (one use of spare tire, and one tow total since 1969):
66 Vette: One flat (took wheel off, and took it to a gas station to repair), zero mechanical in 4 years (no tows).
70 Vette: Zero flats, 3 mechaical failures (ran out of gas when aftermarket fuel filter broke, fixed on the spot), rear spring broke (towed), one electrical (fixed on the spot) in 15 years / 247K miles. Note 2nd rear spring broke in garage (I had a spare), so I did not count that one (I replaced a lot of parts on that Vette).
87 Vette: 3 flats, one replaced with spare, and other 2 was able to fix flats while on the car with a good plug kit, one near miss mechanical when alternator locked up when just pulling into work (if alt. locks up on a serpentine belt drive, the belt gets fried and no water pump) got a replacement, and drove home, in 8 years. No tows.
Non daily drivers Vettes:
62 Vette: One flat, but fixed with plug kit in 16 years. Zero mechanical failures (no tows).
03 Vette: Zero flats, one mechanical failure (shift linkage failure), but happened in garage (no tows) in 6 years.
Plasticman
66 Vette: One flat (took wheel off, and took it to a gas station to repair), zero mechanical in 4 years (no tows).
70 Vette: Zero flats, 3 mechaical failures (ran out of gas when aftermarket fuel filter broke, fixed on the spot), rear spring broke (towed), one electrical (fixed on the spot) in 15 years / 247K miles. Note 2nd rear spring broke in garage (I had a spare), so I did not count that one (I replaced a lot of parts on that Vette).
87 Vette: 3 flats, one replaced with spare, and other 2 was able to fix flats while on the car with a good plug kit, one near miss mechanical when alternator locked up when just pulling into work (if alt. locks up on a serpentine belt drive, the belt gets fried and no water pump) got a replacement, and drove home, in 8 years. No tows.
Non daily drivers Vettes:
62 Vette: One flat, but fixed with plug kit in 16 years. Zero mechanical failures (no tows).
03 Vette: Zero flats, one mechanical failure (shift linkage failure), but happened in garage (no tows) in 6 years.
Plasticman
Last edited by Plasticman; 03-04-2015 at 05:22 PM.
03-04-2015, 10:18 PM
#19
Race Director
Flats = None in 21 Sting Rays since 1968.
Roadside Mechanical Fixes = 10 or 12 times since 1968
Roadside Mechanical Fixes = 10 or 12 times since 1968
