Flat tire repair for 450's

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by 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.

Without a spare, why isn't Smart fitting the cars with runflats?

[SmartBob]

Someone here wrote that they are heavy? Also, aren't they expensive?

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by SmartBob

Someone here wrote that they are heavy? Also, aren't they expensive?

Yes they are a bit heavier, but not enough to significantly affect fuel economy. And yes, they are costlier too, but they should be offered as an option. The added safety of not having to deal with a flat in the middle of the road is well worth it.

[Old smart]

How long does it take to tell if a run-flat is running flat? Can they be repaired once breached?

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by fishrdnc

How long does it take to tell if a run-flat is running flat? Can they be repaired once breached?

The only way you can tell if they are going flat is if the car is pulling a little to one side or the car has an on-board tire pressure detection system. (usually the stability control sensors are used to detect if a wheel is turning faster than the others). You can usually sense the tire going flat from the pulling before the onboard pressure monitoring system goes into alarm. The run flat capabilities are usually specified at no more than 50 miles at less than 50 mph.

[SmartBob]

OK, so if you get a "flat" on one of these do you use the Smart repair kit and fill it with goop? Maybe just get to a service station and get it repaired?

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by SmartBob

OK, so if you get a "flat" on one of these do you use the Smart repair kit and fill it with goop? Maybe just get to a service station and get it repaired?

If you are referring to the runflats, just find a service station or tire shop within 50 or so miles and get it repaired. The only time I've gotten a flat with a runflat was when I hit a 6 inch deep pothole and lost the seal around the bead. No repair need. Just filled it up with air again. The rubber is so thick on these tires that they are almost bullet proof. They do make for a harsher ride, but have outstanding lateral stiffness.

[SmartBob]

Mmmmmkay....I looked up some prices and found most namebrands are in the $60/tire ballpark. Not bad at all really. Funny, I rarely travel more than 50 miles anyway. hehehe

Do you think a dealer could sell you the car with runflats already installed?

[lhoboy]

Originally Posted by SmartBob

Mmmmmkay....I looked up some prices and found most namebrands are in the $60/tire ballpark. Not bad at all really. Funny, I rarely travel more than 50 miles anyway. hehehe

Do you think a dealer could sell you the car with runflats already installed?

Yes, for $240 plus mounting and balancing. But then you can turn around and sell the new take-offs on eBay.

[rgaus]

Hi Folks,

You may or may not have heard of Ultraseal. It is a pre-flat preventative injected into the tires, usually when new. The tires must be balanced prior to the addition of Ultraseal. This product not only prevents flat tires from punctures up to 1/4", but also eliminate slow leaks and adds life to the tires. I discovered this product from favorable comments on the Evilution web site in England (www.evilution.co.uk). The key to this product is to use the exact amount required for the size of the tire. For the 145 & 175 size tires, 8 oz and 10 oz of Ultraseal is required in each tire. That's only 36 oz total of the 128, so there is plenty for another car you may have. Total cost of the gallon is $49 plus freight. This product is used by the Federal government for all Postal Service vehicles in the US. A higher strength version is used for the army in Humvees. That product prevents flats even if a bullet pierces both sides of the tire. It's just another option if anyone is interested. We did this research about 6 months ago when we thought there should be an alternative to the "no spare" problem.

Ron Gaus, aSmartCar.com