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Post by slowjoe on Sept 12, 2023 22:09:14 GMT
My 2015 and 2017 Toyota Siennas do not have a spare tire or a place to put them. The car came with run flats but because of the additional expense and increased frequency of replacing them, we replaced them with normal tires. We travel a fair amount and I have never worried about it. One time, I had a flat tire at work. We could have called roadside assistance, but dh just came, picked up the tire, took it to a repair place and brought it back. Not a big deal. I have a 2014. I've had the vehicle for 80K miles now and have had to buy all-new tires all around twice already. The run flats don't have great treadwear. But I hesitate to replace them with normal tires because: - It's my wife's vehicle, and I hate the idea of her getting a flat tire that would make vehicle undriveable.
- My understanding is that the suspension from the factory is set to accommodate the harder ride of run flats, and if you replace them with normal tires the ride gets too "floaty".
- If I get a flat, I'd much rather know about it via a dash light--still being able to drive--than through a suddenly dangerous to drive vehicle.
So what's your experience been since switching?
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Post by Zee on Sept 12, 2023 23:03:12 GMT
I’m really surprised at how many people have had to change tires, let alone repeatedly. In the 30 years that I’ve been driving, I’ve never had a flat tire. I didn’t think very many new cars even come with spare tires anymore. I honestly don’t know if my Explorer has one, but I know the Corvette I used to drive didn’t. Wow, I don’t know how that’s even possible! We need to have a tire patched or replaced at least once a year due to some stupid nail or screw or something similar lodging itself in the tire. Thank god for Les Schwab’s warranty. Thankfully, since TPMS became a thing, we get early warning and can take it it before it’s ever flat but in the old days - definitely plenty of flat tires. There is a lot of construction all over the Atlanta metro area and that means lots of construction shrapnel falling off trucks or whatever. Since moving here I've had a flat 3x in 5 years! And none could be repaired, and a fix-a-flat wouldn't have worked. Once I hit a piece of metal on the road in just the right way that it pierced the entire rim and I had to have the whole wheel replaced. Expensive, and certainly could have been deadly on a motorcycle. 😳 |
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,001 
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Post by TXMary on Sept 13, 2023 0:53:12 GMT
I'm 61, been driving since I was 16 and I have never had a flat tire either. I did get a warning from Onstar once that my tire was low. I took it to a tire store and they fixed it for free. It had a nail in it. DH has had one flat tire in our 37 years of marriage. We were pulling an RV and the flat was on the truck. That was many years ago. My Traverse and his truck both have spares and we have AAA.
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Post by chaosisapony on Sept 13, 2023 1:19:35 GMT
I think a spare is important for me. At least I can call AAA and have them change the tire and then l’ll drive to the car repair shop. Otherwise, they would have to tow it and cost me more money. I wouldn’t know how to use a tire repair kit. I know how to change a tire, but getting the bolts off might be difficult for me. Exactly this for me. There have been plenty of times in the last few years where AAA has had to put my spare on so that I can drive my tire to the tire shop to be repaired or replaced. I have no interest in having to have my car towed there. I will always choose a car that includes a spare tire. |
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Post by scrappersue on Sept 14, 2023 16:14:53 GMT
My 2015 and 2017 Toyota Siennas do not have a spare tire or a place to put them. The car came with run flats but because of the additional expense and increased frequency of replacing them, we replaced them with normal tires. We travel a fair amount and I have never worried about it. One time, I had a flat tire at work. We could have called roadside assistance, but dh just came, picked up the tire, took it to a repair place and brought it back. Not a big deal. I have a 2014. I've had the vehicle for 80K miles now and have had to buy all-new tires all around twice already. The run flats don't have great treadwear. But I hesitate to replace them with normal tires because: - It's my wife's vehicle, and I hate the idea of her getting a flat tire that would make vehicle undriveable.
- My understanding is that the suspension from the factory is set to accommodate the harder ride of run flats, and if you replace them with normal tires the ride gets too "floaty".
- If I get a flat, I'd much rather know about it via a dash light--still being able to drive--than through a suddenly dangerous to drive vehicle.
So what's your experience been since switching?
I have a 2006 Sienna Van that originally had run flats. I replaced them years ago (probably a couple times now) with regular tires. I have had not issues. My brother drives a Sienna and drives to ski resorts all over the place so he carries a full size spare in the back on his trips. I also have 2 friends who have the same 2006 van as me and they also carry a spare but just one trips - I think one will fit in the well if the 3rd row is up. But know that my 2006 with 155,000 miles on it still runs great. I bought a 2020 Honda CRV for everyday use, but man I love driving the Sienna and we use it for family vacations and such. If I wasn't a single empty nester I would probably buy another Sienna! |
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,907
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Sept 16, 2023 23:33:16 GMT
I've used my spare tyre a couple of times. I had to get help to get the wretched nuts off the wheel after breaking the spider by standing on it, but yes, I have used it. I am an AA member.
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gina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,322
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Post by gina on Sept 16, 2023 23:49:06 GMT
I've never had a complete flat (I run over nails all the time. lol But I take the car to the mechanic 5 min away to fix). I wouldn't even know what to do with a spare tire in my car.
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Post by mollycoddle on Sept 17, 2023 1:14:38 GMT
I'm 61, been driving since I was 16 and I have never had a flat tire either. I did get a warning from Onstar once that my tire was low. I took it to a tire store and they fixed it for free. It had a nail in it. DH has had one flat tire in our 37 years of marriage. We were pulling an RV and the flat was on the truck. That was many years ago. My Traverse and his truck both have spares and we have AAA. Wow. Now that’s lucky. I think that I have had 3 flats over the years. None while driving though. |
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Post by aj2hall on Sept 17, 2023 1:54:15 GMT
My 2015 and 2017 Toyota Siennas do not have a spare tire or a place to put them. The car came with run flats but because of the additional expense and increased frequency of replacing them, we replaced them with normal tires. We travel a fair amount and I have never worried about it. One time, I had a flat tire at work. We could have called roadside assistance, but dh just came, picked up the tire, took it to a repair place and brought it back. Not a big deal. I have a 2014. I've had the vehicle for 80K miles now and have had to buy all-new tires all around twice already. The run flats don't have great treadwear. But I hesitate to replace them with normal tires because: - It's my wife's vehicle, and I hate the idea of her getting a flat tire that would make vehicle undriveable.
- My understanding is that the suspension from the factory is set to accommodate the harder ride of run flats, and if you replace them with normal tires the ride gets too "floaty".
- If I get a flat, I'd much rather know about it via a dash light--still being able to drive--than through a suddenly dangerous to drive vehicle.
So what's your experience been since switching?
Sorry, just saw your post. We only had the 2015 for 2 years before it was totaled. But, no problems with regular tires. The dealership replaced the tires once for us and we've had a local garage replace them a couple of times. The only time I had a flat, it was a slow leak. Something felt a little off on my short drive to work. When I got there, I realized it was losing air but it wasn't completely flat. I think we only got 20 -25,000 miles on the run flats. I live in southern NH and most of the time, I'm never far from a tow truck and repair shop. We do have roadside assistance through our insurance, but we've never had to use it. Hope that helps! |
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Post by freecharlie on Sept 17, 2023 14:42:40 GMT
My new car (RAV4 Prime) is my first one ever that only has a small-size spare. Even that gives me the heebie-jeebies. I’d never buy a car with no spare at all. totally off topic, but how do you like it...what trim did you get? |
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Post by lucyg on Sept 17, 2023 19:15:05 GMT
My new car (RAV4 Prime) is my first one ever that only has a small-size spare. Even that gives me the heebie-jeebies. I’d never buy a car with no spare at all. totally off topic, but how do you like it...what trim did you get? oh, I really like it for what it is. My only (ridiculous) problem with it is that I’m coming off a Lexus SUV and this doesn’t have that same luxury feel. It feels a little more truck-like. But my Lexus is super-old, and I LOVE all the new technology and features on the RAV4. I got the SXE and all the options except the package that includes the full glass roof. I didn’t WANT a full glass roof, but I’m missing some of the other little things that come with that package a bit. OH WELL. I’d already spent more than enough money as it was.  color warning: I got the color called Blueprint. A very dark sparkly navy. It is lovely in the sunshine, but so dark that it looks black unless the sun is shining directly on it. Just be aware, if you care. |
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Marina
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,522
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Post by Marina on Sept 17, 2023 22:38:09 GMT
Our cars all have the little donut spare tire. That is my minimum. DS broke down in Los Angeles in a very unsafe area and his tire shredded. That repair kit would not do the trick. AAA came out and changed the tire and he could drive home and get it replaced the following day.
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Post by gorgeouskid on Sept 17, 2023 23:31:43 GMT
I know this is a bit behind, but a work friend had a flat in our garage but had to pick up her daughter imminently. While she was on the phone with the dealer (she had JUST been at the dealership with a low tire light the day before), I changed her tire to her spare (she didn't have the time to wait for AAA). Last time I changed a tire was maybe 30 years ago (in the snow on a ski trip).
I hope that the next car I buy also has a spare (and might even nix one that doesn't).
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Post by lucyg on Sept 18, 2023 1:33:19 GMT
I’m really impressed with those of you who change your own tires. I wouldn’t know where to start. AAA is my friend!
Someone taught my son how to change tires back when he first started driving (probably my BIL) and he always does it himself, refuses to wait for AAA. I guess we have bad roads because we seem to have semi-frequent flats.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 18, 2023 3:45:14 GMT
I had my first flat in my uncle's driveway at the age of 17. He asked if I knew how to change it.. well he taught me. He told me that we often drove to his house down the shore on dark roads late at night, and that we would be safer changing the tire and moving on. Even if I was unable to, holding a tire iron would deter most people who would threaten me. Others would stop to help.
This of course was long before cell phones and few pay phones on lonely roads.
I changed many flat tires using a bumper jack, which it itself was dangerous.
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