SilverHokie

iTrader: (1)

Been trying to sell mine for like a year now. Ridiculous.

onephatguy

Don't get one. If your car is that bad off that the kit can't take care of it, then have it towed. No reason for the weight.

midlifer

Where in New England are you? It sounds like the dealer you went to doesn't know to much about the car. Your salesman was kinda right when he said it does not come with one. It is a dealer option and he should have known that. Good luck with it and welcome!

Bob

lone_wolf025

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but IIRC once you've used the fix-a-flat goo, you can't repair the tire?

ken-x8

That's correct. I believe that the owner's manual says that after you use it you should visit your Mazda dealer for a new tire.

onephatguy's comment about getting a tow makes sense. Use the kit and you're looking at a couple of hundred dollars - new tire, balance, plus a replacement can of glop. Someone mentioned run-flats. My understanding is that once you use a run-flat, it needs to be replaced. Run-flats and donut spares are only good for 50 miles or so.

IMHO, the thing to do is keep the repair kit, because it has a pump, and also carry a tire plug kit (under $10 at most auto parts stores) and the phone number for Mazda roadside assistance or AAA.

Ken

midlifer

^ +1. I carry a plug kit and a pair of needle nose pliers also. Best 10 bucks you'll spend if you run over a nail, screw or anything like that.

Bob

cogsNsprockets

if pull out a nail, you will lose pressure that much faster. If its just in the "meat" of the tread, you will be ok.

Get both, the spare and the tire. Keep the spare out unless you go on a long trip, On a long trip, you will have both incase you get two flats. Don't laugh, its happened more than you think.

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

As cited, they don't come standard. I bought one from a member here, carried it for awhile (velcroed the spare's cover to the trunk floor mat instead of the bar system), and then took it out to save weight. For a long trip I would probably throw it back in, but ask yourself when was the last time you had to change a tire? And if you do get a flat it's probably better not to do it yourself anymore on our ever-more-crowded/treacherous highways.
The can of goop Mazda gives you, along with the 12 vdc compressor, will work but effectively ruins the tire.
I have had one slow leak, but was easily able to patch that with the typical ream & glue kit.

Blackmobile R3

Good advice, thank you. WHat exactly is a "ream and glue kit" though? Like a tire plug kit?

Huey52

iTrader: (2)

LOL Yep, a tire plug kit.

btw: enjoy your R3. Really sweet.

CyberPitz

This thread is making me want to take my spare out! :O

ken-x8

Right. You only pull the nail out when you're going to plug it.

Tubless tires are self-sealing. A nail that would flatten a tube tire will very often cause just a slow leak. The handful of flats I've had over the past 20 or 30 years were like that: tire soft, was able to drive to a gas station to get it fixed. I've only had to change a tire roadside twice in that time. Both times were when the driver (not me) clipped a sharp curb and sliced the sidewall.

Ken

moby1325

excuse me but is your car smiling an evil little smile? It looks like a blue meanie about to bite! for those who don't know the blue meanie was a vilian in the Beatles yellow submarine movie. Art Deco to the max.

moby1325

check out the garage pics everyone, the R3 model's air dam makes the '09 model look like a sports car again.

Blackmobile R3

Yea that sounds like a plan. Id hate to get a nail that causes a slow leak and use the mazda foam crap and ruin the tire when I could just plug it and save it. Thanks!