You're correct....the post is unwelcome..Why are you even involved in this discussion if you are so content with your situation????
PCARS= PORSCHE???? Porsche speak??
"Porsche shouldn't be dissed due to the lack of a 50 lb donut" I'm assuming you're a minister with all this preaching.

Stop whining!!

 

Spare fit perfectly... front tire fit in passenger side and into back seat... Had a little trouble getting the rear side window open but found out I was not using the correct hammer. I didn't try to fit the rear hoop into the car so that's an unknown.. ( I think I already know the answer to that one)
I'll work on a solution tomorrow.

 

AAA is the way to go.
My wife's M3 had runflats on it, while it was fun to drive the ride was not so fun. Noisy and hard! I knew when I bought my car there was nothing under that hood, tire included. It's all part of the game. Although I love to work on my cars and trucks, I leave the flats to my roadside heros. There are too many roadside memorials here in South Jersey.

 

I'm thinking after reading all these posts that if I get a flat, I'll have the car flat-bedded to my house, and I'll deal with the flat on my own terms.

J

 

AAA is only good, in this situation, if you can call them, and they aren't already out on another call.

I asked this a few posts ago, are there any good runflats for your cars? I'm asking because I've recently chosen runflats as my track tire of choice as well (because of the better performance as a whole). For those of you that think runflats=poor performance, I welcome you to try Dunlop SP600's (I just don't know if they will fit the 997).

 

The perfect solution to a PITA problem... On your own terms..........

 

I think I posted this in another thread, but this worked very well for me: I was following a work truck too close (was rounding a corner way into 2nd gear going to pass him) in the mountains here in AZ when he kicked up an ATV key that just landed on it's fob perfectly pointed up to puncture my right front P0 --DAMN!!). I couldn't avoid it, and the TPMS read "FLAT TIRE" as I could hear the air rushing out the tire. Pulled over and located the puncture-- easy, the damn key was still in it. Got out my trusty, pre-purchase tire repair kit, threaded the sticky plug through the giant needle, generously lubed it with tire repair adhesive, and inserted the mess into the hole and twisted the tool as I removed it. Waited 30 minutes for the sealant to adhere and dry as much as possible, then inserted the Porsche tire pump into the center console power outlet (DON'T do that-- I popped the fuse for that; that is NOT where you are supposed to plug it in-- I should have read the manual!!!), and finally pumped it up to spec pressure and drove 110 miles home at 55mph though 90+ degree heat-- no problem. The plug actually held air for 2 weeks before I finally got a new tire.

I did not use the Prosche supplied goop because I was afraid it would plug up or screw up the TPMS sensors, and to replace it would cost me more than the $3 the tire kit would. Based on this, I am convinced that my system is the cheapest, safest, and best not-carry-a-spare system out there. Except that it requires me to buy a new, very pricey tire and carry tire insurance to boot (Discount tire)-- haven't figured out yet how to beat that....

Food for thought??

 

^ Sounds like the best option yet (for me, anyway). Thanks!

 

....I agree.
If you can call having a flat a great experience, this weekend I had one. I was driving through WV/OH pretty close to nowhere. TPMS went off, FLAT TIRE! I thought I got lucky because 100 yards down the highway was an exit with a National Tire and Battery. Well, no good there because in the small town they did not have the equipment to take a low profile tire off a rim. Not 1 but 2 BMW's sitting on the lot with flats, waiting for a tow to prove it.
I called 1-800-porsche. For free - they flatbedded the car to Sewickley Porsche (after the guys at NTB stayed late at work on a Sunday to watch it safely get on the truck - for no charge and they refused a tip).
So I was 3 hours from home without a car. Some luck - my brother was headed the same place I was a couple of hours behind me. So he picked me up. But I did get the impression from the woman at Porsche that they would have help arrange something to get me home.
Excellent service from everyone.

 

Great experience? Sounds like you had some great luck. I feel I might not be so lucky so I tote around a spare. Don't confuse my statements or actions as whining, I feel that I'm just being practical. No complaints here, other than I wish there was more room in the trunk - but that's just a standard wish, no wining. I guess I wish I could fit a couple of sets of golf clubs in my coupe as well, plus 4 adults comfortably, etc. But then it wouldn't be a 911, right?
I think there were a couple of whiners in this thread, but most ppl were just looking for the most practical solutions, given their driving profiles and risk tolerance. It's often a different solution for each individual, but please don't confuse 'exploring the options' with 'whining'

 

My wife called with a flat on her Boxster the other day, on her way to work. I drove my Land Rover over to where she was, handed her the keys, and sent her on her way. Next, I pulled out the spare kit from frunk and went to work. Nice little kit...spare, jack, lug wrench, all in one place. After a few minutes, I had the doughnut on the car, the flat in the passenger seat, and I drove it home. Called America's Tire for a new tire, and went to work. After work, the tire had come in, and I had it replaced. Getting a flat is an inconvenience for sure, but having the spare/kit made it go smoothly and everyone was able to go about their day. Having a flat in the 911 and having to wait for a flat-bed tow turns a minor inconvenience into an all day event. I'm thinking the spare kit in the frunk of the 911 is a good idea.

J

 

Just a heads up to others who are using their imagination to wonder what having a flat is like; I wanted to document my recent flat and Roadside Assistance "experience"...

3:00pm, gorgeous day (count my blessings: not too hot, and not raining, and not dark, and not Friday - OK)...about 180 miles south of ATL.

Stereo blaring on the Blues XM - sounding great, then...BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP RADAR detector? I just passed a cop - nope, cop is gone and I'm not speeding anyway, just slowed for railroad crossing and then through a speed zone intersection...uh oh... Big Red Circle flashing on the instrument cluster - I immediately pull over...this is not going to be good I am thinking.

But I am prepared - I have the fix-a-flat, tire repair kit, tools, jack - Owner's Manual...OK.

3:30pm, fix-a-flat is in, tire pump is running, 14PSI holding...10minutes...14PSI... , I'm now on the phone with Roadside Assistance as I can see where this is going...they put me on hold to evaluate options....

4:00pm - RA is suggesting Tallahassee FL or Montgomery AL - each about 2 hours away - 4 hours best case before I arrive there. Even with the time change in Alabama, the dealer will be closed by then - and Tallahassee is two hours further from ATL than Mont'y. Not looking good at all.

4:30pm - RA is now suggesting Albany, GA, an hour away but they cannot locate an approved flatbed nor tire - they find a tire that will fit, but it would be a $400 throw-away as it is not an N4 PS2, just a similar size Michelin.

I talk to Greg @ Porsche in Alabama and they can get the correct tire in the morning - they also try to hook me up with a performance car specialist 100 miles away in GA, but cannot reach him.

5:00pm - Confirm with RA to send flatbed from Montgomery to take me to Jack Ingram Porsche - confirm with Jack Ingram that I'll leave the keys in the lock box and they can put the tire on Friday morning.

I'm bored now looking at a two hour wait, so I decide to find out more about the flat...maybe I can fix it...

OK, 1-inch gash in side-wall that I can put a tire tool right through - or my finger. Caused by some road debris (RR tracks maybe , I guess, so probably no fix...


Fix-a-flat has run out onto the ground underneath the car...


6:15pm - figure I've still got an hour to go before the truck arrives...I tried stuffing several tire repair plugs into it - got it to hold 36lbs - :thumbup:


Put the wheel back on and lower the car - it holds air for about 30 seconds, and whoosh - flat again... OK, that was a huge long-shot anyway...

7:00pm - RA calls to see if my issue is resolved...no sign of truck - they'll call me back at 7:30

7:26pm - no truck...

I'm whipped - nothing but a small breakfast and two bottles of water...
I had retrieved two Sam Adams from my home down south - they were past the sell date and I figured I should bring them back to ATL...not going to happen; nothing to do now but pop a "what used to be a cold one a few hours ago" and wait...
More dialog with RA, then a call from the sort-of-lost tow truck (I'm at 82 & 27 - 82 is a straight shot to Montgomery ) He used a GPS without checking to see if it made any sense - add an extra 70 miles to his trip.

8:15pm - finally...something...


10:30pm (9:30 in AL) - arrival at Jack Ingram Porsche, Montgomery, AL..


The wrecker driver, we're ol' friends by now, drops me off at a hotel - there were loads around, but I went cheap for the Motel 6, figuring that whatever God was punishing me for, he should get full measure out of it...
Then ASAP to an Outback Steakhouse across the street which was almost closing - burger and MORE Sam Adams Off to bed after checking some email - yes, Motel 6 had WiFi..

9:00am - call Jack Ingram Porsche - spoke to Greg Stillion - tire was coming, should be there by 10:00am (11:00am in Atlanta )
Off to Waffle House for breakfast - 1 block away...
More email....

11:00am, shuttle from Porsche comes to get me and take me to the dealer - only a mile a way.
Greg Stillion, the Sales Manager, greets me at the door like I had bought the car there. I think my distress had been picked up on.
He's really nice guy and called the Tire and Warranty company, got my replacement tire approved, and we chatted for a while about Porsches...finally, I was calming down after this debacle.
Jack Ingram Porsche was great - really friendly staff and a credit to PCNA for customer service - got my tire on, cleaned up, and I was out of there twenty-two and a half hours after my flat.

Yes, a flat tire can be a 24 hour event - or more. I am so thankful I was not traveling on a Friday - this could have been an all weekend "event".

Things you need when traveling remotely:
1) All contact info for nearby Porsche Dealers.
2) Some sort of flatbed subscription like RA, AAA, etc. - the driver told me my service would have been $800 if I'd have had to pay it!
3) Wheel and tire warranty...in my spare tire story I'll tell you about the nail in the front tire I found while testing out the spare...another new tire coming to me soon...
4) WATER WATER WATER - and snacks would be good, and maybe BEER too :cheers:
5) Pre-arrangements with possible high performance car tire shops in the areas of travel if Porsche service density is low.
6) Flashlight, pen, paper, good cellphone charge.
7) Tire repair Kit - sure, go ahead and tell yourself that's gonna help...
Oh, and Duh!!! 8) a @#*$%@! Spare Tire!!!!

I thought I was prepared for this...but not really. And it kinda sucked. Planning on being lucky is not a workable plan.

What I should have done - buy a spare - I have now done. Wheel & Tire Warranty also a good idea: while testing out my new spare, I found a nail in a front tire - another new tire...

 

Any well-made tire rarely blows-up of its own accord, high-performance or not. I was in the Auto industry for two decades, and have seen much from a fleet maint perspective. Low tire pressures kill a tire via a sidewall blowout. WHY? What happens is, running an under-inflated tire causes what is called a "zipper failure"- a sidewall blowout. The additional heat (way more than normal) created by running with under-inflation severely compromises the sidewall belt integrity. You can run a tire, say, at 15-20 psi, and damage it internally, and it will look fine from the outside.

What are really dangerous are the slow-leak tires, once caught and in-repair. The tire gets pulled off, and okay you had say a small nail that didn't compromise the belts, and externally that tire looks great. But if the sidewall has been damaged from heat, you can see the damage on the inside of the tire carcass (and the mechanic should always be looking for it)... Sometimes the effects are more subtle to the structural integrity of the tire.

If any of you have been running for a decent amt of mileage with a low tire, and then plug it, have it inspected internally as soon as you can for internal sidewall damage from heat. Many injuries and a few deaths have occurred on the machine while inflating a damaged tire like this. Tires that have been run under-inflated for a number of miles before adding air should always be inspected for this. Many times, a sidewall blowout comes from damage like this, and not from an external source.

 

What did you buy, and where did you buy it?

J

 

Here it is.
The I am off to Lowes Saturday morning and it's a beautiful day so I take the Porsche.
Great ride but in the back of my mind I think I should have taken the Suburban because of nails and such in the lot.
This morrning I have to go to the store and the dash lights up like crazy!
A screw in the rear tire with 10lbs of pressure.
As fate will have it I am going in Monday for a short shifter that I booked last week.
Dumb luck? Or bad timing?