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Topic: Flat tire, anyone?

in Forum: C4 General Discussion


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Flat tire, anyone? (1/9)
 4/8/17 1:39am
katanaman
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Ocean Park, WA - USA

Vette(s):
2001 Coupe, 1988 35th Anniversary Coupe currently used to own 1987 Coupe and 1998 Coupe


Joined: 9/30/2016
Posts: 66

  There was a massive storm today and I couldn't do much, so I tinkered in the heated garage on my new (to me) Corvette.  I decided to go through the procedure of dealing with a flat. In the past I have had only 2 and both were on trips well away from home.  Both were fixed for free, while I drank free coffee.  So...  I found that all of the tools were intact, indeed never used, and stowed just exactly where they were supposed to be.  And I learned that GM put factory locking lugs on those wheels, another thing I was happy to see today.  I removed the tray and cleaned everything up (I really got into all of this because I was cutting the left muffler off and everything kind of fit together to do all of this).  Then I found that the dorky emergency tire was not carrying its 60 psi.  I washed the wheel, then brought it inside and pumped it up to 55 or so (my gauge only goes up to 55!).  I sprayed the tire with a special cleaner, and that's when I noticed that the rear rim was happily bubbling the cleaner pretty much the whole way around.  And...  I know that tire people tell everybody to replace tires that are a decade old.  This tire is 3 times that old.
  I like how the car is so intact, but my inclination is to take all of the (now) dead weight off, and put a can of that goop / filler in the bay behind the seats and call it good.  Even my 2016 Kia Optima has no spare -- it has a can of the goop and a small cigar lighter powered compressor.  I probably will price those weird spare tires just for giggles, but what would you do at this point?
 
  One more thing...  I really didn't expect this, and I understand that the Z51 option on later than 1984 Corvettes was supposed to be less stiff, but after I jacked the car up on the left rear, I noticed that I had jacked the whole rear of the car up.  That's one stiff suspension!
 
 
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Re: Flat tire, anyone? (2/9)
 4/9/17 12:38am
katanaman
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Ocean Park, WA - USA

Vette(s):
2001 Coupe, 1988 35th Anniversary Coupe currently used to own 1987 Coupe and 1998 Coupe


Joined: 9/30/2016
Posts: 66

  I think I will be going the goop in a can route.  A call to a tire store today confirmed that these tires are expensive and are not available in tire stores -- you have to go to a Chevrolet dealership.  And now I have matching mufflers and one bright cherry red brake caliper!
Re: Flat tire, anyone? (3/9)
 4/9/17 3:11am
1994 Vette
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Magna, UT - USA

Vette(s):
1994 Sting Ray, Dk. Red, Auto, 5,7 L.


Joined: 6/14/2016
Posts: 5

Flat Tire, It's always a good idea to check your spare tire to make sure it's ok. Years ago I ran into the same problem because I didn't check my spare and tools, I had a flat and a flat donut spare. My 94 Vette has that odd donut spare but I'm going to buy a regular size rim and tire for my spare. A friend of mine bought a new 2016 car and had a flat and like you she discovered all she had was the can of goop and a pump. After her AAA came out and helped her she went to the car dealer and bought a rim and tire to use for her spare....by the way the salesman never told her about the goop and pump when she bought her new car.....

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Re: Flat tire, anyone? (4/9)
 4/12/17 2:44am
Hot Rod Roy
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Mission Viejo, CA - USA

Vette(s):
Yellow '84 Coupe


Joined: 3/18/2015
Posts: 74

1994 Vette said:  I'm going to buy a regular size rim and tire for my spare.


I can guarantee you will regret this!   A full sized tire will fit in the space, but you will need to lower the tray to get it into that carrier, and the tire will be VERY visible (and ugly).   Best to use one of your existing tires in the space to see how you like it, before making a decision.


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Re: Flat tire, anyone? (5/9)
 4/13/17 10:57am
aldocar
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Joined: 12/3/2016
Posts: 92

I just got a 1988 convertible there was no spare I just purchased a green slime set up it pumps slime and it is a air kit cost 40 bucks I saw this as some cars new have this system. To purchase a rim and tire would have cost a lot more.
Good luck and enjoy your ride.  

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Re: Flat tire, anyone? (6/9)
 4/19/17 3:21pm
Fred in Alabama
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Montgomery, AL - USA

Vette(s):
1986 Gray/Blue Z-51 Coupe & 1998 Pewter Coupe


Joined: 4/19/2012
Posts: 47

Am I missing something?

I threw out the doughnut tire/rim (it was dry rotted anway) and and picked up a steel rim at 
the junkyard and put on the best of my take offs. Cheap, easy and the car handles normally 
on the spare. 

Personally, I would not use Goop unless it was absolutely the last resort. 

Fred in Alabama
Re: Flat tire, anyone? (7/9)
 4/20/17 10:44pm
Bobyjo
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Port Orange, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1994 Polo Green Convert Hard Top/Soft Top


Joined: 3/19/2017
Posts: 2

Hi Guys and Gals,
Just bought a 94 C4, Polo Green, Hard Top/Soft Top. I see the discussion is about our rotted out Temporary T155/70R17 Spare Tires. Here is what I found while looking for a huge rattle at the rear of the car. No surprise to you Senior Owners................flat spare! OK, I pulled it out and did what all of you have done...........aired the puppy up to 60 psi and watched it leak around the bead. I called all over, Tire Rack, Discount, and Chevy Dealer. Are you ready for this? MAXXIS CANADA has the EXACT size for our cars for $139.00 INCLUDING SHIPPING.Here is the phone number 905-789-0876. If you look at the MAXXIS (US) website it lists our size but the T155 is not available in the US. We gotta call Canada to get the exact part.
I hope this helps you keep your Corvette original.


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Re: Flat tire, anyone? (8/9)
 4/25/17 12:49am
katanaman
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Ocean Park, WA - USA

Vette(s):
2001 Coupe, 1988 35th Anniversary Coupe currently used to own 1987 Coupe and 1998 Coupe


Joined: 9/30/2016
Posts: 66

  Now I am thinking about trying to get the rim of the wheel cleaned up and the bead to seal with some kind of wet solution shops use, and then getting 60 psi in and calling it good, but using the cigar lighter pump and Fix-a-Flat if I need to, leaving the big fat tires where they are supposed to be.  Redundancy.   What are you flying in your avatar?
Re: Flat tire, anyone? (9/9)
 4/25/17 6:51pm
Bobyjo
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Port Orange, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1994 Polo Green Convert Hard Top/Soft Top


Joined: 3/19/2017
Posts: 2

Hi Katana,

Judging by the o2 mask I would say the old B727. The 757/767 masks were not in view. I retired from American Airlines a few back. I see you are Washington State. I flew B737's for AirCal into SEATAC in the '80's. 

Back to the tire. I agree with the Slim/Pump as a solution. I just came out of Corvette Masters (Maitland, FL) having the original fuel, trans filters changed along with a brake fluid transfusion. Robby has been around these cars for decades and knows these cars. He thought it good to have the T155 spare in case of catastrophic tire failure but also suggested the slim idea just for a simple puncture. I told him my plan is to visit Route 66 again and he suggested AAA as the ultimate backup. I will do everything he suggested. Have a look at Rogers Corvettes website to appreciate the level of service I have within 40 miles.

Happy Motoring.

Bob Johnston

BTW.............I went to register and get a vanity plate in Florida. I came up with about six different variations of 94 C4. Got my first choice!




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