flat tire - a few questions
Well, I guess ithad to happen sometime. Had my first flat, right rear. Used the sealant and compressor from the toolbox, fixed it right up. Took about 15 minutes or so, once I was able to understand the instructions, which are long, but simple enough. I'd have to say, after reading all the complaints here about not having a spare in the 997, the sealant worked pretty well. I actually drove the thing to NY from NJ, about 60 miles, highway speeds, stopped and checked it a few times on the way.
So now the bad news, when I saw the flat in the morning (before I fixed it), I was running for a tee time, so since it didn't look "all the way flat" I figured I could drive it to the nearest gas station and pump some air in. Made it no problem, filled it up with air, drove to the course, still okay (stupid, yes, I know, and read on).
After my round, flat again, fixed it proper this time with the sealant, tried to find a shop to fix it asap, couldn't so drove to NY to a tire shop, that I knew was open. Punch line is good and bad news. Good news is they fixed the tire, patched the hole where a huge 3 inch screw was buried in the tread (not sure how that happened) and I was able to use the car all weekend. Bad news is my short drive on the "almost flat" was STUPID STUPID. Turned out it was flat flat, and the rims tore up the inside of the tire, so when they emptied the tire of the sealant gunk, they took out a bunch of rubber shavings and told me the tire needed to be replaced.
I have some questions: 1) How does that sealant work? It's basically a liquid that you pour into the tire. It's not an aerosol or foam like I have seen before at auto part stores. All you have to do is shake it and pour. Anyone know exactly what the deal is? I note that until you drive on it, I would imagine the sealant just pools at the bottom of the tire... 2) How much does a new flat tire sealant package cost? Just curious. 3) Where the heck am I supposed to find a new michelon pilot sport N1 295 30-zr19, tire rack doesn't have it and neither do any other tire websites that I could find, and what's that going to cost (I figure about $450)? 4) Should I have the dealer mount the tire, is there anything special that needs to be done, or can I just use my local tire place, who are pretty good. 5) I assume that the tire, since it says pilot sport is not a pilot sport ps2 (N1), but can someone confirm which is the OE tire for me. And what the heck does the "N1" mean? I have a 2005 997S. 6) Lastly, the car has about 3000 miles on it, do I need to consider buying 2 new rear tires so the wear will be the same, and, relating to my question #4 above, if the dealer does the work, will they be able to do anything to match the tires (and, can anything be done, important or not, should I just quit my bitching and shut up?)
While I write this, I see tire rack has a 295/30-yr19 N1 specified as OE on the 997, and while it is a ps2, the picture doesn't show that "ps2" appears anywhere on the sidewall, I'm betting that this is my tire...ahh, but wait, there does appear to be a teeny tiny "ps2" under the word sport, I guess I answered some of my own questions, but could still use advice on the others.
Thanks for any info.
So now the bad news, when I saw the flat in the morning (before I fixed it), I was running for a tee time, so since it didn't look "all the way flat" I figured I could drive it to the nearest gas station and pump some air in. Made it no problem, filled it up with air, drove to the course, still okay (stupid, yes, I know, and read on).
After my round, flat again, fixed it proper this time with the sealant, tried to find a shop to fix it asap, couldn't so drove to NY to a tire shop, that I knew was open. Punch line is good and bad news. Good news is they fixed the tire, patched the hole where a huge 3 inch screw was buried in the tread (not sure how that happened) and I was able to use the car all weekend. Bad news is my short drive on the "almost flat" was STUPID STUPID. Turned out it was flat flat, and the rims tore up the inside of the tire, so when they emptied the tire of the sealant gunk, they took out a bunch of rubber shavings and told me the tire needed to be replaced.
I have some questions: 1) How does that sealant work? It's basically a liquid that you pour into the tire. It's not an aerosol or foam like I have seen before at auto part stores. All you have to do is shake it and pour. Anyone know exactly what the deal is? I note that until you drive on it, I would imagine the sealant just pools at the bottom of the tire... 2) How much does a new flat tire sealant package cost? Just curious. 3) Where the heck am I supposed to find a new michelon pilot sport N1 295 30-zr19, tire rack doesn't have it and neither do any other tire websites that I could find, and what's that going to cost (I figure about $450)? 4) Should I have the dealer mount the tire, is there anything special that needs to be done, or can I just use my local tire place, who are pretty good. 5) I assume that the tire, since it says pilot sport is not a pilot sport ps2 (N1), but can someone confirm which is the OE tire for me. And what the heck does the "N1" mean? I have a 2005 997S. 6) Lastly, the car has about 3000 miles on it, do I need to consider buying 2 new rear tires so the wear will be the same, and, relating to my question #4 above, if the dealer does the work, will they be able to do anything to match the tires (and, can anything be done, important or not, should I just quit my bitching and shut up?)
While I write this, I see tire rack has a 295/30-yr19 N1 specified as OE on the 997, and while it is a ps2, the picture doesn't show that "ps2" appears anywhere on the sidewall, I'm betting that this is my tire...ahh, but wait, there does appear to be a teeny tiny "ps2" under the word sport, I guess I answered some of my own questions, but could still use advice on the others.
Thanks for any info.
