Flat tire tale

[columbus]

06/28/09: I ran over a screw which got stuck in my tire. I called 1 800 smart usa for road side assistance. They informed me that tires are not covered under the limited warranty. I told them that I purchased an extended warranty for tires. I asked if I should remove the screw and was told to leave the screw in the tire and to call smart center Easton in Columbus, Ohio. I had to leave a voice mail because their service department is closed on Sunday.
06/29/09: My tire is completely flat. I called 1 800 smart usa for road side assistance. I asked if it was OK to use Fix-a-Flat or if I had to use the tire inflation kit. I was told to follow the owner's manual, to use the tire inflation kit that came with the car and to call the dealer, which I did.
06/30/09: I went to smart center Easton to replace the tire. After an hour and a half the service department told me the tire only needed a plug and it was covered under my extended warranty. HOWEVER, the tire inflation kit needed to be replaced because it was filled with tire sealant and couldn't be used again. The tire inflation kit costs $257.00 and is not covered under the extended tire warranty. The dealer said they would call 1 800 smart usa to see if they would replace the kit for free since I did what I was told. I have not heard back from the dealer. I am now driving without a tire inflation kit. (The dealer did say it is OK to use Fix-a-Flat.)

[Padawan]

If it turns out they won't cover the cost of replacement (which I am almost certain they will), you can find a virtually identical kit at your local Wal-Mart or Target. It's manufactured by Slime and costs about $20. It should even fit in the stock location of the OEM kit.

[columbus]

Thanks! I'll let everyone know if I ever hear anything back.

[jimvw57]

I would have left the screw in and just filled the tire with air (if it would hold it long enough) and taken it to the dealer. not sure the distances involved here but I have installed plugs on the side of the road with no problems. (4wd tires)

I was under the impression that the roadside assistance number was for tire problems too. maybe not????

[John_H]

The can of Smart crud costs WHAT?!?!

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by John_H

The can of Smart crud costs WHAT?!?!

I'm assuming the price he was quoted was for the entire kit, including the pump. Just the can of sealant itself costs somewhere around $70-$80 from smart, if I recall correctly.

[smartmike]

You can also buy just the bottles of Slime at Walmart and other places. I assume this would be a viable replacement for the Smart goop, but I don't know for certain. Would there be any issues with the sensor valves?

I bought one of those Slime kits for my wife's Ford. She also has Fix-a-Flat and a spare tire of course, but the compressor in the Slime kit seems to be a nice thing to have, especially since the Fix-a-Flat bottles never have quite enough air to fully inflate the tire, leaving you with the need to find a service station quickly.

Not having a spare tire is my single greatest worry in driving my Smart. But the tire inflation kit and the plug kit I carry at least gives some peace of mind.

Michael

[Padawan]

Originally Posted by smartmike

You can also buy just the bottles of Slime at Walmart and other places. I assume this would be a viable replacement for the Smart goop, but I don't know for certain. Would there be any issues with the sensor valves? l

Slime will not harm the TPMS sensors, but may cause them to temporarily stop functioning properly (according to the company). Since the product is water soluble, the TMPS sensors can be cleaned out pretty after the tire is permanently repaired.

[SuperGeek]

The Smart tire inflation kit is identical to one by Continental Tire (same as created the tires) and is sold by TireRack.com for about $30-40 as a refill. You can also get a plug kit or a Nealy's Tire Repair Kit online (Nealey Tire Repair Kit) and fix it yourself on the side of the road, provided you have the strength and energy - not a lot, but more than just changing the tire.

I don't think tire warranties are appropriately named -- that implies a full-service replacement of a defective part, when in fact this is a patch/fix for an event beyond the tire maker's control. Everyone gets a screw in their tire at some point, and roadside assistance such as AAA will only help you with the labor, really -- muscle the tire onto the car, drive or tow you wherever so someone else can fix it at your cost. That's not a warranty... it's a service contract.

[jetfuel]

..ours was replaced for free...extended warranty...so get your money back..

..jetfuel...in Naples FL