Constantly picking up nails - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Pee-wee German · 08-23-2009, 04:25 PM

Since owning the smart; the number of car tire punctures in my life have gone from zero in 12 cars to four in this one, my 13th car. Anybody else experiencing this? and is it time to acknowledge 4 strikes is not a "coincidence" anymore?

**jwight** · 08-23-2009, 04:27 PM

Two smarts, nearly two years, zero nails so far. I'm sure Bob Diaz is researching this as we post...

fpage77 · 08-23-2009, 04:30 PM

I got my first and only nail ever while on my smart. I think your wheels must have some magnetic properties or the smart haters in front of you are dumping boxes of nails out the their windows.

tvengineer · 08-23-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smartacus

Since owning the smart; the number of car tire punctures in my life have gone from zero in 12 cars to four in this one, my 13th car. Anybody else experiencing this? and is it time to acknowledge 4 strikes is not a "coincidence" anymore?

Don't know where Longwood is....

But you should have been in post Katrina New Orleans...

NAILS NAILS NAILS...
I still pick one up every now and again (not in the smart yet)

I keep plugs and an air pump with me..
I had one tyre on the miata with 12 plugs..

after 4 years ... you would think that all the nails would be gone..
but we bought a set of new tyres for my wifes car back in February and I have put 3 plugs in them already... :-(

Big Panda · 08-23-2009, 04:41 PM

I know this sounds weird, but the same happened to me years ago. Just purchased the wife (an "EX" now) a new Chevy Cavalier Z24. It came with Goodyear Eagle GT's. Within the first month, I replaced TWO tires due to nails in the sidewalls and during the first year, a total of SIX.

Then she curbed it racing some idiot (as it turns out she was an idiot too), taking out a tire, lower control arm, alloy wheel and knuckle. Since the car was going to be down for a couple days, I ordered a set of 4 Goodyear Eagle ST's. After that, she didn't get a flat for the next 2 years we owned that car.

WEIRD but TRUE!!

Pee-wee German · 08-23-2009, 04:52 PM

OK within 5 short minutes of my posting; i already got one reply posted by another smartist who suffered their very first nail puncture while in a smart. So then there IS something going on here.

Carl242 · 08-23-2009, 05:01 PM

I got a screw so far, that was easily repaired by the dealer by using a patch kit. In my previous car, I used to pick up a lot of glass in my tyres.

Dan1776 · 08-23-2009, 05:04 PM

I doubt seriously that the Smart is any more prone to picking up nails than any other car out there. Nothing more than bad luck.
Dan

Pee-wee German · 08-23-2009, 05:10 PM

Then the evidence is not pointing towards the smart car but the Continental tires.

nprsmart · 08-23-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Panda

I know this sounds weird, but the same happened to me years ago. Just purchased the wife (an "EX" now) a new Chevy Cavalier Z24. It came with Goodyear Eagle GT's. Within the first month, I replaced TWO tires due to nails in the sidewalls and during the first year, a total of SIX.

I had Eagle GT's on my Firebird. It picked up nails on a regular basis. I haven't had any issues with the smart so far, but then again, the construction business has dropped off around here the last year.