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i just put a Nealey Tire Repair kit into the rear hatch cargo area...since the smartmobile has an onboard air compressor, i figured that the Nealey Kit would suffice except in the most catostrophic of failures...in that case, I'm going to need a tow in order to check out the rims and suspension...
I didn't like the tire noise, the puny fronts and no spare so I sold one front tire/rim/tps assembly and kept one. Bought a $15 GM Goodwench from WalMart and a 1/2" breaker and 15 mm socket from Autozone, put them all in a custom bag from The Bag Lady and put it behind my seat. I bought two new rear rims from the smart vendor in TX, two TPS units from Tire Rack and four Michelin 185/60-15 tires. I have been a Michelin fan for years and years, always smooth, quiet, handle OK and fair life. They really work on the smart, but the 4% larger diameter has hurt the bottom end acceleration and I had to put my foot in it and the mpg suffered - until I put the Doug Thorley system on with more low end torque and it accelerated, and mpg back into mid 40's. They corner great, and do all I wanted. Of course smart will void warranty on hubs, brakes, driveline, suspension and probably trans if I break anything. If I could have found a good brand at say 180/60 or 185/55 that might have been a better choice. HOWEVER don't go by the general charts that cross reference sizes by the listed numbers. For example the front Conti's calculate smaller than the rears but in truth measure larger. P. S. I use circumference measurements, not diameter so there is more accuracy. And the good news is now the speedo is accurate (by radar board and GPS) and the odometer is off by 5.6% , so for accurate mpg readings I have to multiply odometer by 1.056 to get real miles.....but do it your way.....put 17's on and jar your kidneys or try larger 15's and get good ride, full wheel wells and better cornering.
Has anyone seen Run Flat tires for the Smart? I've had them on my BMW and just wondering if that would be a good alternative...
Haven't seen them and probably won't. However, it raises the question of why smart went the tire goo and air pump route when they could have just put runflats on the car.
PS - ordered the Nealy kit; thanks redbluff and tgwtln.
I think that the answer to about any why question is MONEY.
The runflats are pricier and heavier.
Yeah, had the same thought except there aren't any runflats for the smart to check so we don't really know. Also, they'd delete the cost and weight of the air pump and tire goo so that would even it out a little. Just a thought.
I picked up a nail in one of my fronts last week and I had to use the compressor and that bottle of latex glue. It was not pretty, first the bottle did not seat well at the compressor and was bubbling and spitting everywhere and second I also got similar results from the valve stem. The glue was everywhere when all said and done including my car. I was not happy. I will never use the compressor or the glue again unless I have no other choice and even then I will not even use the glue.
I have had the unlucky/lucky experience of using the Nealey kit. This stuff really works. It is not a plug with glue that is temporary. It is a silicone rubber product that seals. When the tire gets hit it seals even more. Really hard after it cures I punctured a rear tire with a Nail. Used the Nealey kit. Tire was still on the car. Filled the tire with the air pump. That was 1,000 miles ago.
I didn't like the tire noise, the puny fronts and no spare so I sold one front tire/rim/tps assembly and kept one. Bought a $15 GM Goodwench from WalMart and a 1/2" breaker and 15 mm socket from Autozone, put them all in a custom bag from The Bag Lady and put it behind my seat. I bought two new rear rims from the smart vendor in TX, two TPS units from Tire Rack and four Michelin 185/60-15 tires. I have been a Michelin fan for years and years, always smooth, quiet, handle OK and fair life. They really work on the smart, but the 4% larger diameter has hurt the bottom end acceleration and I had to put my foot in it and the mpg suffered - until I put the Doug Thorley system on with more low end torque and it accelerated, and mpg back into mid 40's. They corner great, and do all I wanted. Of course smart will void warranty on hubs, brakes, driveline, suspension and probably trans if I break anything. If I could have found a good brand at say 180/60 or 185/55 that might have been a better choice. HOWEVER don't go by the general charts that cross reference sizes by the listed numbers. For example the front Conti's calculate smaller than the rears but in truth measure larger. P. S. I use circumference measurements, not diameter so there is more accuracy. And the good news is now the speedo is accurate (by radar board and GPS) and the odometer is off by 5.6% , so for accurate mpg readings I have to multiply odometer by 1.056 to get real miles.....but do it your way.....put 17's on and jar your kidneys or try larger 15's and get good ride, full wheel wells and better cornering.
so...where do you keep your spare? behind the seat with the tool bag?
inquiring minds would like to know...
Today
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