Flat tire tale

[columbus]

thanks for the info everyone, i still haven't heard anything from the dealer or smartusa. it would be cheaper to buy two tires than to buy one tire inflation kit.

[Brabus]

Thanks for posting this. I had no idea you had to replace the entire Smart kit after you used it which costs $257. I just assumed you would have to replace the white gooky stuff. I'm going to buy the bottle of Slime for $20 bucks and keep that in my Smart in addition to the Smart stuff, then just use the Slime stuff if I get a flat...seems like it's almost the same stuff as Smart. No?

I'll pick up another plug repair kit just in case too. They don't take up much room and appears it might be worth it (along with a pair of pliers).

I bought the wheel and tire warranty on my Brabus, but it for the wheels more than the tires since my dealer quoted me on the back wheels alone at $755/each. I did some research and it appears that are run-flat tire options for my 17" rears, but there aren't ANY run-flat options for 15" tires (which seems weird).

The spare tire mod that's been floating around seems like a good plan especially if you are driving far from home.

[SuperGeek]

Actually, you don't have to replace the tire kit. The compressor's perfectly fine for several dozen or hundred inflations - the manual states you replace the goop and filler tube only. The fact that a full kit costs $250 is because the dealer is marking up a $60 product to $250 like all dealers do.

You've got to realize this isn't a Smart part - it's made for Continental, the tire manufacturer, and then branded to Smart as a package. Any goop, any method of inflating, will inflate any tire. Remember, the tires aren't specific to the Smart. It's just a tire - and all forms of tire repair and replacement will work.

[The Rigger]

I tossed it. Ain't no way I'm putting that crud in my tires.

I carry a Nealey's kit & the tire pump. Anything that that combo won't cover wouldn't be fixed by the goop anyway.

JMHO, YMMV, HAND, &c.

[breadman]

Originally Posted by SuperGeek

Actually, you don't have to replace the tire kit. The compressor's perfectly fine for several dozen or hundred inflations - the manual states you replace the goop and filler tube only. The fact that a full kit costs $250 is because the dealer is marking up a $60 product to $250 like all dealers do.

Mine isn't the same as the Continental. The Continental kit has a different connection into the pump, it is actually a part of the pump that is turned 90 degrees and the pump is plugged in. My pump has a cap on the side that is removed and the bottle of smart goop is screwed on. The dealer confirmed that once the goop is sent through the pump, the pump doesn't work well after that. But, I like the idea of the $79 replacement instead of the $257.

[deltadart]

Use to be a rural mailcarrier and most of the flat's that I had were from nails or screws. 95% of the time I could fix my tires while still on the car with tire plugs. You can buy tire plug kits at Walmart for less than $10. For air I always bought your basic $20 air compressor that plugged into the cigarette lighter. For all my flats I never had a plug fail.

[columbus]

great info and advice everyone! next time i have a problem with the smart i'll ask for help here before calling road side assistance at 1 800 smart usa

[chieftmc]

Here's the one I use at home: PROFESSIONAL DOUBLE-SEAL TUBELESS TIRE REPAIR GUN KIT - CarParts Quality Discount Parts and Accessories

and on the road:Buy Now: Stop n Go Tire Repair Kits Motorcycle Flat Tire | Pashnit