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Flat Tire in your Eco?

18083 Views 35 Replies 19 Participants Last post by  money_man, 
Matt585
Ok guys so heres a quick little write up/review of my experience with my Cruze Eco- with a flat tire. As us Eco owners are aware... there is no spare tire, jack, or wrench given with the vehicle as stock. But what does come with the Eco is a inflation kit, with slime like - fix a flat.
I woke up early yesterday morning to go to work. I go out to my garage start up my car, and get some dash reads saying tire pressure low - reading a 1psi... i got out and took a look and low and behold, sitting on the rim- tire completely flat. After calling every tire shop in the local area, i couldnt find my Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max 215/55/17 tire.

I was really hesitant in using the slime kit, knowing that in the past the fixaflat substance makes it nearly impossible to repair the tire after it is used inside the tire. I originally tried just to use the inflator without the sealant. But would only hold a 20 psi rating, and i could hear a constant hiss. With my tire covered in snow, i couldnt exactly identify where the hole, or puncture was. I decided to go for it and use the sealant slime in the stock kit. Its a one time use slime kit for one tire, just enough to temp. repair one tire.. a replacement sealant kit costs 30$ at the GM Dealership.

Ok so here we go, i hooked up the hose to my stem, and turned her on... Right away it simultaneously filled up my tire, while pumping the sealant in, after a good 10 minutes my tire was sitting pretty at 38psi. i turned the unit off and still heard the hiss. The owners manual states to drive the vehicle immediately after a successful use of the repair kit - to effectively spread out the compound slime to find the puncture. (manual states drive 5 miles and recheck tire) I drove roughly the 5 miles and hopped out and no hiss whatsoever, i continued my 30 mile drive to the nearest tire shop- while monitoring my tire pressure via the onboard dash. Throughout my trip the tire pressure remained at 38psi and i safely made it to the shop. Got right in and had the tire cleaned up and a simple repair to the tread was all i needed, a 30$ fix, plus 30$ for a refill sealant canister. Not too bad considering- Luckily it wasnt my sidewall- because i couldnt get that tire locally for "5-7 days"... I was given the run around by tire shops saying that tire is no longer made, etc. Which is a load of $#!+.

Anyway, i see a lot of people on here being worried that their not given a spare tire, and only that inflation repair kit. But try not to be too worried, the kit worked wonders better then i thought it would, its made with a type of material that still makes the tire repairable, and doesnt mess up the pressure sensors whatsoever. The only thing is its a one time fill kit, that needs to be replaced w the refill canister ($30), and if its sidewall damage it wont be repairable with the kit and a tow is the only real option. So i can say that the only need for a spare tire is for sidewall damage where the tire is irreparable even temporarily. Here's an article i also found regarding the disappearance of spare tires in newer vehicles and their replacements. http://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/the-disappearing-spare-tire.html
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Chevyderek72
Thanks for the info, definitely makes me feel better knowing that for one it works, and for 2 it isn't going to ruin the sensors and be removable and repairable.

I also came out to my car a few weeks ago to 9psi on my right rear. I filled it back up to 40 and drove about 20 miles to a discount tire where my dad could swap me cars so I could get to work. Thankfully it stayed at 40psi, and they were able to fix it at no charge. Just a nail in the tread.

But like I said its good to know I won't have a problem if it happens again.

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H
Glad you got it taken care of for a reasonable price. And good find on the canister replacement ill nees to pick one up.

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S
5
Here some blurry photos of the Eco's tire compressor/inflator. My good camera went MIA, so the crappy iDevice camera will have to do.

Here is the little inflator/compressor:


Laid down to the left when the can of slime is facing away from you, we see the tire chuck used to put air only into the tires:


Flip up the lever and gently wiggle the chuck off the can of goo to get the air-only hose off the compressor.


The hose is free, and waiting to be used:


Here's the hose that needs to be used with the can of goo:


If you're a Eco owner and haven't looked at your compressor/inflator, please get it out and get familiar with it. It sure beats figuring out how to use it when a flat happens. Most folks won't get flats. Some will. If you're one of the people with a flat, knowing how to operate the tools available will make the whole process go much more smoothly.

And, if you're a Eco AT owner with a spare, please check your spare tire's air pressure regularly! That spare is useless if it's flat too.
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obermd
I'm glad it worked. Tread damage wasn't my concern for getting the spare. It was the sidewall damage. I've seen a lot of nails over the years go into the side of the tire. This is why, even though I have the spare, that I still carry the pump and fix-a-flat goo. I have actually had to use my air pump in the back country.
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Matt585
heres a quick link also to the sealant replacement - looks like 30$ msrp, and 17$ online price... pretty good deal actually.. GMPartsDirect.com - Find a Item

"
Container TIRE INFLATOR, tire sealant

MSRPOnline Price
$29.38$17.41
"
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Blue Angel
Great write up, thanks a bunch! I will definitely check out the stock inflator/repair kit just to see how things work!

Matt585 said:
With my tire covered in snow, i couldnt exactly identify where the hole, or puncture was. I decided to go for it and use the sealant slime in the stock kit.
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This was the BEST part of your review - it confirms that the "slime" is still liquid and functional at low temperatures, which is the one concern I've had about having this instead of a spare in a car that's winter driven. What was the temperature when you used it?
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Blue Angel said:
Great write up, thanks a bunch! I will definitely check out the stock inflator/repair kit just to see how things work!



This was the BEST part of your review - it confirms that the "slime" is still liquid and functional at low temperatures, which is the one concern I've had about having this instead of a spare in a car that's winter driven. What was the temperature when you used it?
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It was about 18-20*F outside. Matt contacted me to bounce ideas off of when he couldn't locate a new tire, and I ran outside to get my kit. The thermometer was glanced at on the way out.
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H
sciphi said:
It was about 18-20*F outside. Matt contacted me to bounce ideas off of when he couldn't locate a new tire, and I ran outside to get my kit. The thermometer was glanced at on the way out.
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He called you too.

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Matt585
sciphi said:
It was about 18-20*F outside. Matt contacted me to bounce ideas off of when he couldn't locate a new tire, and I ran outside to get my kit. The thermometer was glanced at on the way out.
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ya it was cold cold out, and the kit worked flawlessly, no delay at all- no slush like substance. just good all around yeah around 15-20F so well below freezing.
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Matt585
H3LLON3ARTH said:
He called you too.

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haha! gotta cross my t's and dot my i's. Thank for the help Hellonearth, and Sciphi - CT is wonderful. Still couldnt find that **** tire, and american tire told me they dont sell to public but wanted to boast that they had a hundred of my tire locally- which pissed me off haha, and KOST tire told me they dont make that tire anymore... retards
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C
I'm not a big fan of TPMS in general, but I have to give GM kudos for doing it well. I had a nail in my left rear tire last week. I wouldn't have noticed by looking at the tire that it was low. The TPMS told me which tire to check and I was able to pump it up and take it in for a patch with no drama.
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titan2782
Nice. I've had a pin hole leak for several weeks now and been debating on using the slime. I just keep pumping up the tire every few days.
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titan2782 said:
Nice. I've had a pin hole leak for several weeks now and been debating on using the slime. I just keep pumping up the tire every few days.
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The slime is only temporary and its tpms safe.

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NYCruze2012
titan2782 said:
Nice. I've had a pin hole leak for several weeks now and been debating on using the slime. I just keep pumping up the tire every few days.
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OMG! Me too! My left rear tire. Except I lose 2lbs per week! I've been putting it off because I'm getting new tires soon.

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titan2782
NYCruze2012 said:
OMG! Me too! My left rear tire. Except I lose 2lbs per week! I've been putting it off because I'm getting new tires soon.

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LOL! Mine is in the rear right and I too have been putting it off since new tires will be here in the summer.
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B
Quick question, how did you get a flat in your cruze? Aren't the tires on it and not in it?



Yes, I am an official smarta**. I have the registration card here somewhere.:1poke:
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Blue Angel
titan2782 said:
Nice. I've had a pin hole leak for several weeks now and been debating on using the slime. I just keep pumping up the tire every few days.
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There's no guarantee that your slow leak is in the tread surface, it could be in the sidewall or around the bead where it seats to the wheel. Using the slime will most likely NOT fix a slow leak that is not in the tread, as gravity and centrifugal force when the tire is spinning will keep the slime from effectively coating anything other than the inside of the tread surface.

I'm not saying it won't work, but I'd find out where that leak is before attempting to slime it.
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Chevy Customer Care
@chrisholland03, thank you for the feedback. We’re happy to read how this feature was able to help you.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service
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H
I checked discount tire and they will ship to anywere.

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