So Im on the Garden State Parkway and my tire pressure light goes on. A minute later I can tell I have a flat. So I pull over and get out the fix a flat. Sure enough, I fill the tire with that white crap and what do you know, it doesnt hold air. So I call roadside and they tell me that only the parkway authority can tow me and I have to pay for it. So the parkway gets their tow guy there about 1 hour later. Keep in mind that I just drank a large coffee from D&D and I really have to take a shit. The tow guy says that he will only drop me off at the next exit and I will have to call another tow truck from there, because thats the way it works. So he said I should just back up to the previous exit (only a couple hundred yards back) and drive off the parkway and call a tow. So I do that and then I called Mazda roadside again. It takes the tow truck two and a half hours to get there. I had to go to the bathroom so bad I was about to bend over in the middle of the street. So I got towed to the nearest mazda dealership and paid 600$ for two continental tires. It took Maxxon Mazda about an hour to see if they even had the tires, and then a day and a half to put them on. FIX A FLAT SUCKS

The tire repair in the car is not like the Fix-a-Flat in a can, there are specific step-by-step procedures you have to follow for this to work, did you follow them? Also if the hole was in the sidewall this will not work. As for the Parkway’s towing policy been that way for decade$. To avoid that from happening again you should pick up a spare, they can be found on this board from time to time.

Yea, followed all the steps. the hole was on the tread, but it was pretty big, so I guess that is why it didnt work. Anyway, I should have my head examined for driving around without a spare.

Mazda gets pretty chincy sometimes

You might want to put Ride On in your new tires to prevent future flat tires , here's the web site. http://www.ride-on.com/motorcycle.htm

um you are the chincy one- you had and still have the option of buying a spare. you chose not to.

I don't want a spare tire taking up good trunk space. I have enough trouble fitting things in there as it is!

I do carry a good quality puncture repair kit. You know... T-handle reamer, glue, cloth plugs, and T-handle needle.

Between that and the 'fix-a-flat', I should be OK for 70% of the typical flat tyres.

I use something similar to Ride-On called Slime, or something, in my ATV tires. Good stuff.

that's why i bought the spare and keep it in the trunk!! with the back seats, there's plenty of room...

I don't want a spare tire taking up good trunk space. I have enough trouble fitting things in there as it is! (snip) I've taken three fairly long trips in my 8 since I bought it 14 months ago and on all three trips I had occasional thoughts about the fact that I didn't have a spare tire on board. So now I'm thinking I might buy a spare and only toss it in the trunk when going on long trips. For local trips, I often need the trunk space to carry some of my radio control model gear.

1.3L

...now I'm thinking I might buy a spare...1.3L

Same here.

Not having a spare unnerves me.

Or go get a Tire plug kit and keep a pair of pliers and tin snips in the car. I think they are like $6 from Walmart.
1) Use pliers to pull out the nail, screw, etc;
2) Use the poker file thingy to rough up the edges
3) Use the plug thingy to plug the hole
4) Cut excess plug from the hole with tin snips
5) Use air compress to fill tire

Then drive somewhere and get the tire replaced, or patched correctly.

BTW, does anyone know how much Mazda's spare tire kit weighs?

1.3L

I just drank a large coffee from D&D and I really have to take a shit.
Aughhh! TMI!!

BTW, does anyone know how much Mazda's spare tire kit weighs?

1.3L

25lbs i think.

So Im on the Garden State Parkway and my tire pressure light goes on. A minute later I can tell I have a flat. So I pull over and get out the fix a flat. Sure enough, I fill the tire with that white crap and what do you know, it doesnt hold air. So I call roadside and they tell me that only the parkway authority can tow me and I have to pay for it. So the parkway gets their tow guy there about 1 hour later. Keep in mind that I just drank a large coffee from D&D and I really have to take a shit....

This is why I always argue for buckling down and getting the spare tire kit. Situations can easily conspire to make you REALLY wish you had a working spare tire. There's just no substitute.

No, there's no substitute for having room in the trunk. Long trips are when you'd most want the spare tire, but that's also when I need to fill the trunk with luggage. I bought the car with the understanding in my own mind that once or twice over the time I own the thing, I'll have to get a tow for a tire. Worthwhile tradeoff in my mind.

What DOES suck, that I never knew about, is the Parkway's tow policy! Do other roads have that kind of policy?

Krankor
05 Shinka 6MT

This is why I always argue for buckling down and getting the spare tire kit. Situations can easily conspire to make you REALLY wish you had a working spare tire. There's just no substitute.

Yes, just imagine if you are driving in the mountains with no cell service. My situation was bad, butit could get worse. I will be buying the spare kit soon, if I keep the car.

How about run flats as replacements? I don't have any experience with them, but a lot of cars come with them now.

I had a flat once at home. I tried to temporarly use the plug. I had a hell of a time trying to use the T-handle and the plug to go through the hole. The rubber on the 8 is stiff (no pun intended). After an hour of no success, I threw the tire in the truck and drove the tire to get fixed.

i have a bmw 120d (rx-8 on order expected in jan).It came stock with runflats and i had to take them off.It is more comfortable to drive around handing off your back bumper tearing your face along the road as you go than driving on runflats.There not cheap and are screwed if u get a punture cos ur not really supposed to replace them.
Stay away, stay far away.

What I would suggest, and I have never tried it before but would image it works. Get a tow truck through your insurance or find one in a phone book and have your insurance pay for it, get the car towed to a tire place or service station and get it taken care of for much cheaper than the dealership.

How about run flats as replacements? I don't have any experience with them, but a lot of cars come with them now.


I've got run flats for snow tires which is fine for winter but run flats are not a good choice for a sportscar in summer. They are heavy and do not handle well. They would detract from the fun and excellent handling of the 8.

What DOES suck, that I never knew about, is the Parkway's tow policy! Do other roads have that kind of policy?

The Garden State Parkway & NJ Turnpike want to clean up wreck’s / breakdowns ASAP. So in exchange for exclusive tow rights based on area they put out for bids to be the exclusive towing service. The highway gets 24/7 towing the company gets steady income with no competition. I am also sure based on NJ history a “gift” from the towing company to the right official also helps secure the deal.

The Garden State Parkway & NJ Turnpike want to clean up wreck’s / breakdowns ASAP. So in exchange for exclusive tow rights based on area they put out for bids to be the exclusive towing service. The highway gets 24/7 towing the company gets steady income with no competition. I am also sure based on NJ history a “gift” from the towing company to the right official also helps secure the deal.

Damn. And here I was thinking "gee, maybe from now on I'll skip the Parkway and just take the Turnpike. :-S

Thanks for the info. Anybody know if any other states have setups like this?

You backed up on a highway?

You backed up on a highway?

it's NJ.. who doesn't?

You backed up on a highway?

from the way he described, roter rooter could not have saved him in that time of need :tightass:

I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare! I have the spare!

Yes, just imagine if you are driving in the mountains with no cell service. My situation was bad, butit could get worse. I will be buying the spare kit soon, if I keep the car.

ah,
now we get down to the truth, this is another of the if i keep the car threads by someone starting there first thread.



beers

Hello first time on this forum or any forum at all actually. I need to know where to get another one of the tire repair kits, already used the one that came with the car. I guess I just need some more of that goo. Is that a standard supply at most auto-repair shops. Certainly don't want to go to the dealership.

just get a tire repair kit (the one that uses the strips to plug holes)... i use them for ATV tires all the time, and occasionally when any of my friends tires get a hole - i'll fix them up "temporarily" so they dont have to buy new tires.

Hello first time on this forum or any forum at all actually. I need to know where to get another one of the tire repair kits, already used the one that came with the car. I guess I just need some more of that goo. Is that a standard supply at most auto-repair shops. Certainly don't want to go to the dealership.

Yes it is

Doesn't the goo ruin the tire pressure sensors? I know Corvette said not to use them for that reason.

I have AAA with the "Plus" membership. They'll tow up to 100 miles. I do a lot of mechanical work on my cars, but I'm not inclined to change a tire on the side of the road anymore. Too many stories of people getting hit.

What they typically do is find a towing company in your area and will cover the costs of towing. I've had various cars towed for repair from AAA and one time it was a AAA tow vehicle (local) and the other time it was some other company when I wanted it towed to a shop 60 miles away.

I have no spare tire.

I am at a point in my life where nothing is so urgent i can't get stuck by the side of the road for a couple hours.

If i have to take a shit, well theres the woods and the napkins i keep in the car.... :uhh:

I have a complete tire repair kit and AAA. Not going to carry a spare tire... just not enough room.

what an awesome story.. why the hell did shit have to make it in?

banned already? That didn't take long...

rofl banned.

OP posted this in 2005. He got banned somewhere in there.

To David Atkins, welcome to the forum, and good job searching.

If you want the goo that came with the car, I think that you have to go to Mazda. I don't know how much it would cost so call the parts department and ask. Personally, I have a tire repair kit with a reamer and plugs for this, as well as a spare. You can buy those repair kits at an auto supply store. Best of luck.

Does anyone have a good set of instructions on what needs to be done if you get a basic puncture flat (i.e. run over a nail or a rock)? I haven't even opened that little black briefcase in the trunk...

I've taken three fairly long trips in my 8 since I bought it 14 months ago and on all three trips I had occasional thoughts about the fact that I didn't have a spare tire on board. So now I'm thinking I might buy a spare and only toss it in the trunk when going on long trips. For local trips, I often need the trunk space to carry some of my radio control model gear.

1.3L

For me, long trips are exactly when I need the trunk space.

I have a complete tire repair kit and AAA. Not going to carry a spare tire... just not enough room.

Will AAA perform a tire repair, or do they just tow and replace spares. I'm assuming that if you asked them to use your tire kit they'd tell you to pound sand.

They will install your spare (not an option in my case) or haul you to the nearest station to repair it. I'm hoping if I ever need to use them, it will be for the towing. A repairable tire should be no problem on the road. (knocks on the wood desk)

Does anyone have a good set of instructions on what needs to be done if you get a basic puncture flat (i.e. run over a nail or a rock)? I haven't even opened that little black briefcase in the trunk...

The owner's manual describes how to use it.

Once you use the stuff, the tire is gone, even if the original puncture was repairable. Just like a run-flat tire. IMHO, carrying a plug kit like champi0n suggests, seems like a good idea. The pump itself is great to have, since an awful lot of flats are slow leaks. Tubless tires are self sealing. Not perfect, but not bad. Most of the tubeless flats I've had (and it's only been a handful, spread across up to three family cars, various rentals, and over 40 years of driving) did not require changing a tire. Just pumping it up enough to get to a gas station for a plug.

Yeah, I've probably jinxed myself and tomorrow I'll get standed for hours with a shredded blowout, but I've opted for trunk space and no spare.

Ken

banned already? That didn't take long...

It was the darkside.

Come over Luke.... Come over.................

You know, I've seen my tires get plugged multiple times and I always thought, 'damn that looks really easy - why am I paying $12 for this when a kit costs $6?'. Thanks for the suggestion - I'd rather plug that use the gunk that Mazda gave us. Gotta head to Autozone today to get a tire plug kit and see if this $0.99 Royal Purple thing is really true.

Oh and in the winter I drive on the Dunlop M3 run-flats. I prefer run flats in the winter because I do not want to be stuck on the side of a highway during a storm or in the cold mountains where I snowboard. The ride quality is okay because on 17s I have a higher profile sidewall compared to summer. I have used run-flat summer tires (Pirelli Euf@ria / Mini Copper S) and they are just okay. I'll stick with UHP summer stock without the runflat tech and just plug when 'screwed'.