Flat Tire!

[Tmac]

Hello Gang

Flat tire tonite on ride home

Made it home in time but it is pretty flat now.
No obvious nail that I can see

Just bought the car 3 weeks ago

Not sure if this is a tire failure or Nail I cannot see at this point

I know tires are not warrantied but jeez I put only a few hundred miles on the tires.

Its a bit cold wet and dark so I did not want to bother with the inflation system
I am having ONSTAR tow it in the am to the dealer as I needed to get a few things fixed as well.

Any ideas re
1) Replacement Tire Responsibility mine vs theirs??

BTW
I may look into having a spare tire added with a jack!!!!!


Peace Tom

[black88mx6]

It happens, and has happened to me. There is something different between these high millage tires and others, and I think it makes them a bit more prone to puncture and damage.

[Steverino]

Any ideas re
1) Replacement Tire Responsibility mine vs theirs??

Yes, any tire puncture you experience while driving is GM's fault.

Here is a more complete list of things that are GM's fault:

• Damage caused to the wheels when you rub a curb.
• Dents in your door after parking in a lot.
• Windshield stars, chips, and cracks caused by gravel hitting your windshield.
• Hitting a skunk within 1 mile of leaving the dealership.

Don't forget that when new models of the Volt come out, GM is also required to retrofit your car to make it the same as the new car. :-)

All the above kidding aside, stuff happens when you drive a car. Rocks, nails, potholes, curbs, ice, stopped traffic, all can damage your car, whether the same day you pick it up or some time later. I feel bad for the flat Tmac, no one wants one.

P.S. I recommend getting a spare donut (doughnut?) tire at the junk yard, and a sissors jack with a notch in the top that fits the Volt underside. I picked up both for $20 total and keep them in my garage for this reason. That allows me to ride on the spare while TireRack.com delivers a new tire. Don't be at the dealer's mercy. Search the threads for "spare tire" and you'll find the details on rim size, suitable donor cars, etc.

P.S.S. I also carry a needle nose pliers, light, and tire repair kit (Walmart, Autozone) just in case. Also, get out that air compressor and get familiar with how it works. One setting blows air, the other blows goo. I even marked mine so I know where to set the knob.

[mikeg3]

Yes, any tire puncture you experience while driving is GM's fault.

Here is a more complete list of things that are GM's fault:

• Damage caused to the wheels when you rub a curb.
• Dents in your door after parking in a lot.
• Windshield stars, chips, and cracks caused by gravel hitting your windshield.
• Hitting a skunk within 1 mile of leaving the dealership.

Don't forget that when new models of the Volt come out, GM is also required to retrofit your car to make it the same as the new car. :-)

All the above kidding aside, stuff happens when you drive a car. Rocks, nails, potholes, curbs, ice, stopped traffic, all can damage your car, whether the same day you pick it up or some time later. I feel bad for the flat Tmac, no one wants one.

I have had tires that came with a road hazard warranty so Tmac's question is valid. As x01rider pointed out, you can buy a road hazard warranty from Discount Tire.

I also agree with the suggestions that there is something different about these high efficiency tires. They need regular re-inflation. I never saw that before. They also have high road noise, very noticeable when everything else whispers. However, I won't give up EV miles to fix that.

As for retrofitting, when GM and the dealers realize that new car sales are near wholesale and retrofitting is retail, they may rethink this.

[MTN Ranger]

If anyone needs a spare, eBay always seems to have CTS spare tires: Link


This aluminum spare is from a 1st Gen CTS and works excellently according to a couple of members on this site. There is only one on eBay and it's not a bad price. The compact steel CTS spares don't work since they don't have enough clearance around the brakes.

and jacks:
Link

[TheProgrammerGuy]

Have no fear, flats can be fixed. If it was a nail, they will put a 'plug' in and it will be as good as new.

[Cord]

I would think using the glue would be less than a tow- Plus you may as well get some testing with the air pump at home and not out in the sticks.

[MsKitty4]

I brushed a curb while parking last week and it turned into an expensive adventure. I was going slowly, did not hit that hard. Heard the rim scrape and thought "crud." Got out of the car and heard the tire going "sssssssssssss." Knowing that if I tried to use the foam injector I'd likely end up covered in foam and the car would be covered in foam and I'd still have a flat tire, I called OnStar. Within an hour, they had a flatbed truck out to take me to the dealer about 20 miles away. I called ahead to let service know I was coming in, found out they do not stock tires so I'd be Volt-less overnight. They checked the car and said I'd taken a chip out of the wheel and it would need to be replaced as well, so ended up spending almost $600 for a new tire and a new wheel.

Upside: I was given a loaner (not a rental) Malibu and treated well throughout (kudos to OnStar and Jim McKay Chevrolet). The service guy agreed that the foam thing is not a great solution, the sales guy told me the tires used on the Volt and other hybrids are more delicate that real tires, so they are more susceptible to damage from minor impact. My husband and I plan to replace all 4 tires with something more durable when the next emergency happens or when these tires wear out. The Malibu was a pooch - made me realize how nice the Volt really is.

[montgom626]

If anyone needs a spare, eBay always seems to have CTS spare tires: Link


This aluminum spare is from a 1st Gen CTS and works excellently according to a couple of members on this site. There is only one on eBay and it's not a bad price. The compact steel CTS spares don't work since they don't have enough clearance around the brakes.

and jacks:
Link

I got this exact spare based upon the advice of the folks here at GM Volt.