Gravel roads

[dbatch1715]

Does anyone drive their smart on gravel roads? My car is due soon and I occasionally have to drive about six miles on a gravel road. I'm kind of wary because of the lack of a spare tire. Are the tires too hard for gravel? Any comments or help are welcome. Thanks, Darrell

[rawlus®]

how often do you get flats in your current vehicles?

[Dunerunner]

Originally Posted by dbatch1715

Does anyone drive their smart on gravel roads? My car is due soon and I occasionally have to drive about six miles on a gravel road. I'm kind of wary because of the lack of a spare tire. Are the tires too hard for gravel? Any comments or help are welcome. Thanks, Darrell

If you haven't had problems with your BMW or Nissan, you shouldn't with the smart. I plan to eventually replace the wheels with an aftermarket style (don't know what yet) and add a fifth for a spare. So far, the least expencive option I've found is Tire Rack: Rail rims 15X6 all around, with Yokohama s-Drive 195/50X15 tires at about $1060 + mounting and balancing. Your shop may also charge to remove and remount the TPM (tire pressure monitors) and you will have to buy one for the spare if you decide on that option.

[WhiteNBlack08]

I've only had one occasion to drive on a gravel road so far, it handled the road well, biggest issue is that the flat back side collects road dust like you wouldn't believe. Other than that, no issues.

[wdw412]

I would be more worried about the dings in the body panels from throwing rocks more so than a flat tire.

[Westfield 11]

The body panels are plastic so won't dent. They might shatter though, wonder what happens if a rock gets flung up on an icy winter morning when the plastic is brittle. I suspect that this was all worked out in the extensive testing that went on before production.

My worry would be rocks hitting the front of the car when following another car or being passed, there is no fender liner to prevent breakage for the outside of the fenders.

[Kermit]

I drive mine down a gravel road daily, one miles worth then I switch to 3 miles of dirt (sandy clay). On the gravel...when it is not maintained and gets the washboard effect the ESC warning light comes on for a brief moment. No worries - it is just telling you all the wheels aren't all getting the same amount of traction, at least that is what the owners manual states. The gravel also beats the living daylight out of me but my tire pressure is jacked up, the factory recommended pressure really does absorb quite a bit on the severely bumpy roads. Once again - the county doesn't take the best care of the road.

I also get the same results from the dirt road I travel on. They graded it all today and I can tell you everyone else was doing about 60-70mph down it - idiots.

[Smart by Design]

Take it slow at first and just build from there...

[hampyoung]

Gravel roads are just bumpier than in a 'regular' car. Its the short wheel base.
And the dust -- really collects on the back.

[SuperGeek]

Originally Posted by Westfield 11

The body panels are plastic so won't dent. They might shatter though, wonder what happens if a rock gets flung up on an icy winter morning when the plastic is brittle. I suspect that this was all worked out in the extensive testing that went on before production.

My worry would be rocks hitting the front of the car when following another car or being passed, there is no fender liner to prevent breakage for the outside of the fenders.

I can tell you from experience that a smart with just 50 miles on the odometer will deflect things just nicely. At 65mph. I need new paint, but the plastic just flexed and flung the metal rod right back into traffic. The temperature was a balmy 75 degrees; I don't know whether zero degree winter would be any different, but the plastic seems like the kind that won't be brittle in the cold