First Mod I Buy: Spare Tire
 

After my inital shock of not having a spare and only having the flat repair kit to save me, I figured it wasn't a big deal. That was until tonight. Driving from Golden, CO to Boulder, CO there was a 3ftX2ft "boulder" in the middle of the road. Fortunatley I swerved in time to avoid hitting it dead on, but my wheel did not miss. In fact, it broke the wheel, one section of the rim closest to the tire is pretty much gone and it tore the sidewall of the tire. Now I'm not sure exactly how this tire sealent works, but I'm pretty sure it would have been useless even if I'd tried. So, instead of simply changing to the spare, I had to wait on a tow truck and pay $136 to get taken to the nearest Mazda dealership. Oh well, I was going to go to the dealership this weekend anyway for an oil change, the first oil change. I'll post some pics tomorrow when i get a chance.

You're lucky you didn't damage anything else, like your bumper... damn boulders.

wow, i wanted the spare tire kit for safety so i got one, i think the spare tires are a good safety blanket, well it is for me, i'm gonna get the ms rear strut tower and keep the spare tire, but not the mounting bars. well, get it, it makes you feel a lot safer. My first mod was the ms exhaust. haha.

Why did you pay for towing? Mazda will tow your car for free to a mazda dealer.

wow... 136 to tow your car to dealership...

all you needa do it call mazda tow service and just remember to tip them.

sorry about your damage.

Yeah, and charge it to your invoice later. Don't be fooled, nothing is for free. :hahano:

I had my car towed, I didn't pay. The tow wasn't even mentioned in the invoice.

Mazda towing to a dealership is as long as it's under warranty...

Roadside assitance is a word-for-word warranty. Maybe if you use it multiple times it would yeild a deductible...but initially...no.

I called Mazda Roadside, told them what happened, the guy on the line indicated that since I hit a rock Mazda considered it an "accident" and acted like they wouldn't pay'help, I dunno. I hung up immediatley because I didn't feel like arguing wit the guy and waiting longer on the side of a dark highway in the rain. I've got towing insurance on my parents car insurance so I'm pretty sure I wont have to eat all of the cost. Including the extra 30 bucks the guy charged me to use the dolleys.

wait dont all mazda cars come with aaa for 3 years..... or something like that. or is it only if its a lease?

I haven't decided yet if I'll get a spare tire. I might, just for long trips. I have a subwoofer taking up the spot where the tire would be, though, so not sure how I'd handle that. Currently, the subwoofer isn't bolted in, but I'll probably have that done soon (if I decide to keep it). There are always tradeoffs, especially in this type of car.

Yeah I drove from Lake Jackson, TX to Golden, CO, a week after I got it, w/o a spare and after that I figured I was good. Here are some pics of the damage to the wheel.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...id=81058&stc=1
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...id=81059&stc=1
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...id=81060&stc=1

you were being facetious right? about the tire sealant?

??? No.

Mazda Roadside is great for warranty issues. Beyond that, you're on your own. "Roadside service" on my State Farm Policy is 40 cents a month.

I really don't know what to say to that. I mean, if I'd had some duct tape I probably could have sealed the gaping hole enough to use it (the sealant), but I was fresh out. Second Mod I Buy: Duct Tape.





(Lol, yes, I was being "facetious" about the tire sealant. Sarcasm: it helps with the pain)

And about the roadside assitance, the brochure states, and I quote: "...especially as a result of unpredictable factors like road hazards or other drivers....In fact, Mazda Roadside Assistance is designed to quickly take care of you and your vehicle... ...no matter what happens." So I'm going to call them up and find someone to yell at, mabye they'll pay for the tow, probably not.

yeah they will pay for the tow

Good freaking gosh!

Did you have part of yur wheel fall into a black hole or something?!

If that was from a rock alone, that think must have been a BOULDER! :Freak_ani

and if they'd refuse to pay for that tow, i'd ask for the next person up...even if it takes you to the dealership owener. I'm pretty sure you'll get some attention by that time.

Spare tire is definitely good to have. IMHO it is worth the weight. Mazda should have had it standard. I wouldn't want to be stuck in some remote location waiting for the tow.

Never thought I'd take out a spare / jack for a little more hp but I did. For long trips though it's coming with.

I would say hitting that rock was an accident.

Holy hole, Batman.

Spare tires, however, are not without their own problems: keeping the damn thing inflated, bringing jack, and so forth. If you're not going out of the city all that often, count how many times you've had to replace your own flat for any particular well-maintained car you've owned, and figure out how much roadside assistance is going to cost. Then figure out if it's worth it.

I don't have a spare but mine came with a jack under the plastic panel at the back of the trunk (back meaning behind the bumper.)

One of our customers used the tire kit. While he was driving all the sealant came out of the puncture and completely covered the left side of his car (left front tire) and hardened. It took detail two days to remove it. Spare tire, great investment for sure.

I beg to differ.

I'd imagine he plowed into it for a good time.