Flat tire repair for 450's

[BeSmart]

This is a question for the 450 Owners: What do you do for flat tires? Heaven forbid you should have one! Are you carrying a can of aerosol tire inflator? Or are you using the breakdown kit Smart supplies? The aerosol can has freaky warnings not to carry in the passenger compartment. (I have not found the trunk on the smart yet. And not in hot weather due to risk of explosion. The Green Car Company, in Seattle, WA, says they supply only the aerosol. I guess they have not had any explosions yet. What are the rest of you grey smart owners doing? Would a bicycle pump work? Thanks for the assistance.

[ASmartMan]

B.S.

I carry a can of "FixaFlat" this was what the dealer gave me.

I bought a set of snow tires and rims for my Smart and will plan on using one of the front tires as a "Ride With" spare.

There are some SMALL bottle jacks as well as small breaker bars in that lug size. On the foam above the battery, I plan to cut out pockets to fit the jack and the lug wrench.

Spare placement, I'm still working on that, BUT (because my wife is only 5'1" and likes to sit beside me) the spare will most likely go behind the Pass. seat.

Heck they also make VERY small 12 volt compressors (could be stored under the seat) rather than a bike pump.

Hope it helped

ASM

[idahosmart]

I have a 12V air compressor and a bottle of slime that I picked up at Autozone, and it was even branded as a "smart" flat repair kit. It fits perfectly in the styrofoam cutouts over the battery where the OEM compressor and slime go. Essentially the same kit for 1/4 the price.

I have also jointly purchased a front and rear tire with another local smart owner to have in case of major tire damage. Since tire dealers in the US did not stock these tires over a year ago when we bought our cars, we planned ahead and ordered spares from Canada.

If we planned to go on any long trips, we would mount the new spare front tire on a steelie rim and store it behind the driver or passenger to have along for a spare. At this time, we have only been using the smart for a local commuter car, with our longest trips being about 200 miles, so we have not worried about hauling a real spare tire along.

Tom

[smartie yank]

I travel with the 12 volt compressor, tire slime, and some tire repair wicks. I've been to Arizona once and So. Calif. three times without a problem. If I have a problem, I guess I'll grab a motel and have a new tire overnighted from Canada. To me an extra day or two is not the end of the world.

[BeSmart]

Thanks very much for the tire repair advice. Looks like I'll be hunting for a 12v compressor and goop. Right now it sounds best. Have had lots of experience repairing bicycle tires, so...

[24-42]

Had a flat tire the other day, NBD (No big deal)

I had previously found a small compressor at Harbor Freight that fits perfectly in the space provided in the passenger footwell.

One time awhile ago I had tried the tire repair wick without success. The wick broke on either insertion or extraction. This time I applied a little Armorall at the puncture hole before insertiion, worked perfect.

BTW this little compressor with built-in 0-350lb pressure gauge is less than $10.00 at Harbor Freight. The wick tool w/with wicks is available there also.

I also, with the above two items, have a small pair of pliers (To remove the nail ,screw or what have you) in the compressor compartment. Result.... NO WORRIES !

<www.harborfreightusa.com> item #4077 (C0mpressor)
Cheers
Do the "Smart' thing
Donald LaFavor

[24-42]

Is CA & WA, Calif. & Washington, or Canada & Washington ?

Don

[BeSmart]

Originally Posted by 24-42

Is CA & WA, Calif. & Washington, or Canada & Washington ?

Don

CA=Ventura County, California and WA=Kitsap county. 6mos here , 6mos there. Best of both worlds. The smartie lives in WA. Though it's very tempting to drive or tow it to CA for the winter. Thanks again for the pump info.

[ASmartMan]

Greetings


Hopefully the pending 451 owners are reading this too, the 451 does not come with a spare or even the room for one.

Because I could NOT come up with a suitable way to always carry my spare, I too bought a mini A/C as well as the tire plugs. If I plan to do over 200 miles I will bite the bullet and put the spare front tire in the car with a bottle jack.

ASM

[SmartBob]

A previous discussion concluded that one could keep the spare behind a seat with a cute little "smiley" or "Hello Kitty" cover on it. Some of us said that we got a flat so infrequently that a spare was unnecessary.