Removed Spare Tire

Well this weekend I took my C4S apart to find the wiring defect in my Passport SRX that caused it to read "Comm Err" (which subsequently caused me to get a ticket, that and speeding) and after fixing the problem I also decided I really didn't need the extra weight of the inflatable spare and tools (probably around 30lbs). Since my 2001 C4 I've never used the inflatable spare, if I get a flat I just call Porsche and have a flatbed take it. Part of the reason for this is the process of putting the old rim and tire in a bag and dropping in the passenger seat - which if you have a passenger is probably not going to work. Am I angering the Porsche gods?

So what are you going to do if you get a flat at 3AM somewhere way up on the Taconic Parkway...?

I thought this was a bodyfat weight-loss thread LOL

Call Porsche Roadside Assistance, that's why it's there. 24/7... last time was a few weeks ago on Rt. 17 in NJ. 30 min later a flat bed came out and picked the car up. And just to clarify for people that haven't owned a C4 or C4S, the spare is collapsed and it comes with a pump you hook to the cigarette lighter and you have to inflate it, it's such a PITA. Now, if I were taking a road trip I would put the spare back in, but for my normal commute to NYC and back, I'm thinking extra trunk space and lighter car may be better.

I also took my spare out and put in a can of fix a flat, 30lbs saved is 30lbs! I leave my spare out all the time for the extra trunk space which is nice on trips and if I ever do get a flat and the fix a flat does not work (ie blow out) then I will call ADAC - USAs AAA and they can pull me off of the Autobahn.

Yeah, working on that too.

Carry fix a flat, a tire plug kit from your local auto place and of course our air inflation kit. A sharp pair of Dykes helps a lot to trim the excess off. Unless that hole is in the sidewall you are on your way in 10-15 minutes tops. Have repaired a number of flats with the tire on the car... Ok the rears do suck since you are practically lying on the ground to do it. (not ideal for a drivers side rear flat!)

On the 993, the spare rim is an integral part of the crash protection scheme ... when my former 95 coupe was totalled in a head-on at 45 mph, you could see where it came in very handy (I walked away). In that car, the spare sits horizontally in the trunk. I'm not sure if the 996's spare, mounted vertically, plays a role in that or not. Does the GT3 come with a spare?

The spare in the 996 is not an integral part of any crash protection for obvious legal reasons.

The spare tire plays no safety role for collisions in the 996.

The way I look at it is that if I am going to hit something hard enough to require the spare tire to protect me, I don't want to survive the crash.

So the C4(S) has a different spare than the C2... interesting, didn't know that. Is Porsche Roadside Assistance available on all Porsches? I'm still under warranty and have a CPO, so can I use them? I'm sure it's somewhere in the , but somehow must have missed it.

Roadside assistance is covered/included in CPO (at least that's what the salesman told me).

Here's link to CPO page - what's covered by CPO http://www.porsche.com/usa/pre-owned...ed/assistance/

I wasn't sure about that, thanks for the link.

Yes, the spare has to inflate to a full size tire because of the AWD.

Rob - like SleepRM3, when I first read the title, I thought maybe you had under gone liposuction or something crazy thing like that!

I'm pretty sure that I have heard dire warning against using any "fix-a-flat" product with these high-speed, high-performance tires. First, the tire technicians hate them because the air/gas mixture tends to be flammible and can actually catch fire when the tire is being worked on but, most importantly, they say that sticky stuff can throw your tire balance off badly and cause the tires to be difficult (or impossible) to high speed balance again. This would tend to ruin your ride.

Being a person who deals with roataing, removing, and balancing tires quite often... Fix-a-flat is ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS....It will get you going and on the way to your next tire, but thats about it...The material sticks to the rim and can throw off balance. In most cases, tire technicians won't make an effort to remove the stuff, and if they do, they dont get all of it... Also, if you use fix a flat, that doesnt mean your tire is good to go...replace the tire... -Keith

My experience has been that fix-a-flat is fine IF you use it correctly. I have used it on dozens of tires that have had a nail or screw in the tread and it was perminant. You have to make sure that you do not use too much and immediately drvie the car for at least 15 minutes, keeping the wheel rotating. I have never had a problem with balance, even on Porsches. If you simply put it in and not drive it, it may cause balancing issues. A hole caused by a nail or screw is not a danger as far as causing weakness to the tires (in the tread area) and fix-a-flat does a great job in fixing the leak. I don't think I have had a car in the last 20 years that has not had fix-a-flat used on at least one tire.

I've haven't used Fix-a-Flat in years, I may be tempted to use it just to patch a slow leak until I ordered another tire, but I most certainly would order a new tire and be done with it. So far though my flat tires have been spectacular - no slow leaks here.

I am not saying fix-a-flat is bad, it definitely works...Just make sure that YOU clean the rim out or tip the tire guy...It is a real PITA... -Keith

Riad, when I had a problem with my former car (a Boxster S), I went by a tire store in Stamford that agreed to use some sort of steel reinforced patch on my tire that had a slow leak caused by a nail puncture. It's more than just a plug; it looks like a plug attached to a steel and rubber mesh webbing. Moreover, the store didn't charge me a dime, figuring that the goodwill would get me to come back and buy some tires....I ultimately did (they matched Tire Rack). If you want the name, just PM me and I'll shoot it over to you.

Plugs work just as good as the patch if installed correctly...Unless you have a huge *** hole!

In just about 6 years of 996 ownership I've had about 4 flats - maybe 5, and all of them were beyond patching. Seems like when they go, they go.

I have been so lucky in my driving. In 35 years of driving, and close to 2 million miles under my belt, I have never, ever had a blowout, track or street. I have had dozens of flats from nails and the like, but never lost a sidewall or had any damage that caused a tire to go flat quickly. Hope my good luck continues to hold.

So after reading this I go out to my car and guess what? A flat!! Thanks Riad!! Long day at work and was in no condition to have it replaced.Luckily I had the pump in the trunk and was able to add enough air to get home. Now I just need to figure out what tires to get?

Get the GT2 front tire delete kit. Very cool.

I know Porsche shuns run flat tire technology due to RFT's heavy weight, but current new BMW owners are raving about Bridgestone's RE050A RFTs and Pirelli's Eurfori RFTs. If I end up buying a 996 for occasional DE use, I'll need to figure out how to stow an extra front and rear inside the car, in case of flats (on the way to or from the DE). I don't have a trailer to haul the 996. The stowage capacity of my '97 E36 M3/4-door is what makes that car so great for DE weekends. I carry two full size 8.5 x 17/235-40-17 spares, in case of a flat (or flats), and I still have plenty of room to spare for tools, luggage--and would-be girlfriends LOL

A few companies make nice tire/tyre tote bags, including Kurgo. What's in the kit?

Well, it is not a kit per se but you order the parts that come with the GT2, which include a foam tray, a cigarette lighter powered inflator, a can of fix a flat, a first-aid kit, etc . . . I made a wooden cover with a hinged lid and covered it with the same black fabric that covers our trunks. With this cover, you have a solid floor and an invisible storage unit. If you take your car to the track, you can simply lift out the entire tray in one fell swoop and you are ready to go.

Nice Todd!

Never had a blowout per se, but gashes in the sidewall, giant holes that could not be patched... just really bad flats, no slow leaks.

Haha, that really sucks dude, but hey it wasn't so bad that you couldn't get home!!