Finally decided to add tire sealant

[Harleyduo]

Having never owned and driven a car with no spare, I have never felt easy about getting too far away from home with my smart car. I was even worrying about this issue before I received my little car and consequently after doing much research, ordered some Ride-On Tire Protection System from Inovex Industries long before my car arrrived. Upon receiving my car, I read that Daimler did not endorse any kind of tire sealant to be used with their newly required tire monitoring system.

However, it seemed ironic that they would include a tire sealant to use for emergencies if I did get a flat. Having used tire sealants in my motorcycle and bicycle wheels for years, I had a hard time understanding why they would cause any damage if they were not 'caustic'. Upon asking plenty more questions of Inovex, I finally decided that I was going to go ahead and install their sealant.

I realize that no sealant is going to panacea, especially if a large item somehow penetrates my tire, but I also know what a hassle it would be to come out in the dead of winter to find my tired had leaked down due to a small nail or screw, especially if I was off on a trip or nowhere near a smart dealership.

I followed their directions exclusively for amounts and such and was able to get by with three 16 oz. bottles for a cost of $44.85 ($14.95 per bottle). Even though they warned me that it may have a rough ride for the first 20 miles or so, I was almost beginning to panic when it didn't seem to be smoothing out after the first four or five miles. However, now it's back to riding just as smooth as it ever did, and maybe even smoother. I've put several hundred miles on the tires since I added the sealant and I'm happy to say that everything seems to be working just fine. I'm off to Chicago this weekend and I feel much better with the knowledge that I have one more bit of protection against road hazards I might encounter and potholes that jar my tires and often can't be avoided due to traffic.

I thought I'd post this just in case there are others like me out there that finding a flat tire unexpectedly would really mess up their day.

[chieftmc]

Used Ride-On in ALL my 2 wheelers since 1995 when they started !

Great product

[jefferios]

Thanks for the info. What I am confused is...lets say you get a puncture in your tire...sure the sealant will prevent you from getting a flat tire. But what about like in 3 months when the sealant fails, and your tire is flat in your driveway? Isn't it delaying the inevitable?

[blackbeagle]

Originally Posted by jefferios

Thanks for the info. What I am confused is...lets say you get a puncture in your tire...sure the sealant will prevent you from getting a flat tire. But what about like in 3 months when the sealant fails, and your tire is flat in your driveway? Isn't it delaying the inevitable?

Jeff-

Tire manufacturer recommends that you don't use sealant at all in any tires. If you do, as soon as you're able to get it to a tire shop, you get that crud removed and patch the hole (don't plug) right away. Sealant over time will harden and pry off causing balance issues with the tires. It's meant to be a short term fix. If the hole is near the sidewall, then throw away the tire. There's no fix for that. If it's in the tread, then you can patch it.

[RussBarnes]

Yesterday going down the Interstate in my main ride ('04 Excursion) I ran over some metal part that had fallen off a truck and by the time I saw it there was no avoiding it. Well I got maybe 1/2 mile down the road and heard a "POP" and the right front dropped and pulled me to the shoulder rapidly. Being big and heavy that wasn't a nuisance, but changing the tire with the "big rip" in mid 20 degree weather wasn't fun - however as I did I thought; "I sure am glad I carry a spare in my smart since there is no goo, sealant, magic bullet or product that would have saved that tire."

I think manufacturers that don't provide spares are doing a major injustice to buyers, and perhaps even a legal lack of responsibility, but that is just my opinion. So in my book there is no other way for smart owners than to buy a spare of some form or fashion.

[jwight]

Just lucky so far, but if one of the smart's tires bites the big one it's a call to AAA for us.

[RussBarnes]

My experience with AAA was when the wife's car quit one morning on the way to work. Diesel Jetta, cold morning, water in fuel. I picked her up and gave her my car and I waited and waited and waited for AAA. Finally after about 7 hours the guy got there. Now it was a busy day since it was cold, he was nice but in the ride to the dealer I learned that the towing company gets paid a low flat rate by AAA and a regular call in gets triple the money. As I sat in the car and got madder and madder at AAA I called them several times as to the status and where where they and got the same answer - he's coming. I then called my insurance company and for $75 a year got a coverage that if I need it I call the towing company, pay by cc and my insurance will reimburse me. Once I learned how AAA worked I dropped them, but I also learned that I would rather be self sufficient than wait for some wrecker driver - so I have a spare.

[rawlus®]

almost 10K on the smart - driven it all over the place. no spare and not terribly concerned about it. i have AAA, i have the OEM sealer/pump. if the tragic happens i'll figure something out. carrying a spare and the tools to go with it is entirely not practical for me. the odds are with me - i've had maybe 2 flats in 27+ years of driving.

[Duckhunter]

Have not had a major blow out in more than 20 years. I have picked up the odd roofing nail in my truck but checking air pressure regularly, I found them quickly. My 99 dodge truck still has its original spare tire that has never seen the ground. Pretty much a wasted tire as now it is ten years old and I would not run that tire very long if I had to use it. Until it happens I do not miss the spare at all.

[SubSlr88]

I've often thought that the sealant would be a great protection against flats. I've had three flats in the past two years - no great number, but one was a huge spike that no sealant could have stopped. The last was a small sheet metal crew in the corner of the sidewall - not repairable; so it cost me about $180 for a new tire (Goodyear Eagle LS - 17")
For the smart, I've gotten a Nealy plug kit, a jack for an Audi A4 (fits perfectly), a breaker bar w/ 15mm socket, a chunk of 2 X 4 and a couple of wheel chocks. All that fits into the tailgate storage, wrapped in an old blanket. If I can't get a plug into the tire, at least I can remove it and maybe find a nice soul to stop and give me a ride to the nearest station to get it repaired. I'm toying with getting a can of Fix-a-flat to add, too.
Hopefully, it'll all stay back there and never be needed.
But, better safe than stuck alongside the road somewhere.