Mercedes SLK World banner
HPL
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

first flat tire - sigh - check your spare and inflator!

Jump to Latest
627 views 31 replies 12 participants last post by  Avel Du  
E
#1 ·
I had my first ever away-from-home flat tire in an SLK this afternoon. fortunately I was close to civilization, but unfortunately my spare and my inflation device were both defective. just as a heads up, you might want to check yours so that you can avoid my fate. My spare is 18 years old and would not hold air at all. My inflator did not work at all - no noise, no air, nada.

An Uber ride and a few phone calls to tire shops got me back on the road after a few hours wait, but I was disappointed.

Can the spare tire be repaired?
 
E
#4 ·
Windinmyhair said:
Anything beyond ten years for an unused spare it is time to throw away. As for the inflator, there are inexpensive examples available as is tyre goop.
Were you alone in the car? If not you would have had the issue of where to stow the flat.
Click to expand...
I was alone in the car, but the boot was empty and the flat fit in there just fine.
 
#3 ·
350 spare was toast too.
Switched her to goop.

Will do same for 55 this year.

Will put a toolkit and spare inflator in to add some weight. Plus baling wire, gaffer tape and puncture repair.
Though most of my punctures have been too close to the edge, or even in the sidewall.
 
#7 ·
Some years ago, you could buy a liquid (thick consistency) that you put in the tyre before a puncture - I.e. from new. I had some in a Smart Car tyres as it didn't have a spare. It was blue in colour and had fibres in it. Trouble was, if you didn't use the car for a few days, the thick liquid would settle at the bottom of the tyre and you would get a very unbalanced tyre for a few hundred meters which was "interesting" and felt like you were driving a clowns circus car.
 
E
#14 ·
I'll add this: the wheel chock that is included in the tool kit is made of Swiss cheese. My car ended up on a very slight grade, nose down, and I was using the chock while changing the tires. I didnt think it necessary to set the handbrake since the chock was in place - wrong! As soon as I raised one rear corner and the diff was no longer resisting gravity, the chock bent flat and the car started rolling downhill. Fortunately no harm was done but jeez.

Takeaway: don't rely on the chock.
 
#16 ·
230d has no spare, just a big adblue tank!

I joined Nationwide banking premium service at £17 a month and it gives mobile phone cover, travel insurance ( up to age 80) and AA cover for any car I'm in as driver or passenger.

I broke the screen on my iPhone 17 and it was replaced by Nationwide so I've also got the years premium back. My last travel insurance policy was circa. £1,000 annually but Nationwide covered me fully for an additional £80 premium to include all the health issues, so already ££££ saving.

At the end of the day, I can go on holiday in the car knowing I'm covered for health or car breakdown and not worrying about punctures, gloop or other issues anywhere in Europe, or worldwide for the health cover

😎 😁

By the way, there is a trick to stop you getting punctures - if you have ever been to the Isle of Man, there is a bridge you go over and if you say "hello faeries" then you won't get a puncture. I've extended this to any road crossing water and it's worked for me - cheap solution, don't know if I've been lucky or if it works, who knows?
 
#22 ·
In a taxi on the IOM last year, after going over the fairy bridge, I asked the taxi driver "have you ever NOT said hello to the fairies"??? He said "NO"😆

I don't want the "goop", so plumb for the (as used by the RAC) "Rema Tip-Top" tubeless motorcycle repair. which works fine on SLK R171 tyres. Having the slk tyre compressor/inflator is also required.
 
E
#23 ·
efair said:
I had my first ever away-from-home flat tire in an SLK this afternoon. fortunately I
Tread Synthetic rubber Tire Care Temperature Still life photography

Automotive Tire Synthetic rubber Tread Automotive Wheel System Tire Care

was close to civilization, but unfortunately my spare and my inflation device were both defective. just as a heads up, you might want to check yours so that you can avoid my fate. My spare is 18 years old and would not hold air at all. My inflator did not work at all - no noise, no air, nada.

An Uber ride and a few phone calls to tire shops got me back on the road after a few hours wait, but I was disappointed.

Can the spare tire be repaired?
Click to expand...
I feel for you. I had my first ever tire flat as well. Luckily, my pump and spare were good. Unfortunately, whoever put the tires on previously tightened the bejesus out of the bolts. Even standing on the wrench was damn near impossible.
 
R
#24 ·
I don't know whose tyres these are, they didn't appear in the first post. These tyres can't be repaired as they are shot. The tread is down to the wear indicators and should not be used. In addition to which the cars tracking needs adjustment for as the shoulders are ripping. If you want to know why you got a puncture, you've just shown us. Worn tyres puncture more easily. These are past worn.
 
A
#25 ·
Neither my 2009 SLK nor 2022 GLA have a spare. Just the inflator and tire sealant kit came in the SLK, The GLA came with horrible run flats which came off within 4 months of ownership for All Weathers. I got an inflator sealant kit for it on line as NOS from Germany. They both expire in 2029 so hopefully if needed they will do the trick.
 
#29 ·
I've seen a vid where the tyre fitter used a suction cup to remove them. My new hubs I fitted had a spring/ring but the ones coming off didn't. Someone had tried to steal them using a screwdriver, they didn't succeed but did damage the hubs and scratched the wheel.
 
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.

Is this your car?

Your experience is better when members know exactly what vehicle you drive

Save and join 89K members
Log in with Google button Log in with Google Log in with OpenPass
Mercedes SLK World
posts
1.4M
members
89K
Since
2006
A forum community dedicated to Mercedes SLK owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about your R170/R171/R172 SLK, or AMG performance, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
New Member Introductions R171-SLK General Discussion R170-SLK General Discussion R172-SLK/SLC General Discussion General SLK/SLC Discussions
Advertise with us