Flat Tire Lesson: carry a can of fix-a-flat

[Enviroguy]

I had an unpleasant experience last week when I hit a pothole in the dark on a back road and blew out the front left tire. I was aware there was no spare, and spent a half hour trying to figure out how to inflate the tire using the provided "goo" and the dollar-store compressor provided with my 2022 base Taycan. No way, no how. Pulling the valve stem is no easy task, and then you can imagine having to put it back in with the goo oozing out of the tire. It wasn't going to work, especially in the dark, I had to have the car towed to the dealer (nearly an hour away), which took until the next day. I then discovered the dealer doesn't stock any tires! None! They had to order from a distributor, who apparently also didn't have them in stock, so three days in all were shot. So, my advice to anyone who ends up with a flat, is carry a can of fix-a-flat! It doesn't void the tire/wheel warranty I had purchased (thankfully) and will save a lot of time and effort compared to having the car towed. Even if you use the provided joke of a fix, unless you can get the tire up to 30 psi you can't drive it at highway speed anyway. At least if I'd had some fix-a-flat with me I could have limped up to the dealer, left it, and gotten a loaner for the time it took to do the replacement. Seriously, a $100,000 car ought to have a better option than is offered.

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[lcarron]

I had an unpleasant experience last week when I hit a pothole in the dark on a back road and blew out the front left tire. I was aware there was no spare, and spent a half hour trying to figure out how to inflate the tire using the provided "goo" and the dollar-store compressor provided with my 2022 base Taycan. No way, no how. Pulling the valve stem is no easy task, and then you can imagine having to put it back in with the goo oozing out of the tire. It wasn't going to work, especially in the dark, I had to have the car towed to the dealer (nearly an hour away), which took until the next day. I then discovered the dealer doesn't stock any tires! None! They had to order from a distributor, who apparently also didn't have them in stock, so three days in all were shot. So, my advice to anyone who ends up with a flat, is carry a can of fix-a-flat! It doesn't void the tire/wheel warranty I had purchased (thankfully) and will save a lot of time and effort compared to having the car towed. Even if you use the provided joke of a fix, unless you can get the tire up to 30 psi you can't drive it at highway speed anyway. At least if I'd had some fix-a-flat with me I could have limped up to the dealer, left it, and gotten a loaner for the time it took to do the replacement. Seriously, a $100,000 car ought to have a better option than is offered.

If you hit a pot hole the tIre is shot and a fix-a-flat is not going to repair it. It only fix a nail or screw but never a ripped tire. Not have a spare is an issue but a lot of car manufacturers toss the spare tire. Even a donut tire can save you the day but not the goo or a can. This is unfortunate.

 

[Archimedes]

I’ve used the Porsche goo and compressor in a Cayman once and was surprised how easy it was to use. But it was a mail in tire situation, not a full blowout.

 

[Mike in CA]

@lcarron is right. If you hit a pothole hard enough to flatten a tire, fix-a-flat won't do you any good because you will almost certainly have a tear in the sidewall. This happened to me recently and while I carry a bottle of the Porsche tire sealant as well as a plug kit it was immediately obvious that both would be useless and a flatbed tow was the only option.

 

[Ross]

Unlucky my friend?
Just asking what size the wheels were?
Wondering if you are a victim of the seemingly fragile 21’ wheels with watch straps instead of tires?
I had 20’ inch on my 4S and clumsily THUMPED a curb and got away with.
Getting 21’ wheels on GTS expecting delivery between May 2022 and fifth quarter 2025.
I am mildly worried. All wheel/tyre/tire disaster stories on this forum seem to be with the 21s!

 

[ciaranob]

EDIT - just did a quick search and there are Porsche compact spares but need to see what might work for the Taycan!

I had an OEM M4 BMW ‘dinner plate’ spare tire kit that had a jack, a spacer and specific bolts that allowed me to use it in an emergency front or back (on same 265/305 tire setup).

I also had plug kits etc - fortunately in 8 years never once had to use them (had 2 flats but slow leaks and got home to swap out with full sized wheels myself).

Have not checked yet but does Porsche offer something similar - would be a potential lifesaver on long road trips if stranded - realize may be addl issues re car weight, car jack capability etc but I’ll def go look at what I had before.

In regards 21” wheels above comments are way over the top - hit many potholes on horrendous roads in Houston and handled no differently than my 19’s on the M4 - not infallible of course but certainly not as fragile as suggested.

 

[Enviroguy]

I had an unpleasant experience last week when I hit a pothole in the dark on a back road and blew out the front left tire. I was aware there was no spare, and spent a half hour trying to figure out how to inflate the tire using the provided "goo" and the dollar-store compressor provided with my 2022 base Taycan. No way, no how. Pulling the valve stem is no easy task, and then you can imagine having to put it back in with the goo oozing out of the tire. It wasn't going to work, especially in the dark, I had to have the car towed to the dealer (nearly an hour away), which took until the next day. I then discovered the dealer doesn't stock any tires! None! They had to order from a distributor, who apparently also didn't have them in stock, so three days in all were shot. So, my advice to anyone who ends up with a flat, is carry a can of fix-a-flat! It doesn't void the tire/wheel warranty I had purchased (thankfully) and will save a lot of time and effort compared to having the car towed. Even if you use the provided joke of a fix, unless you can get the tire up to 30 psi you can't drive it at highway speed anyway. At least if I'd had some fix-a-flat with me I could have limped up to the dealer, left it, and gotten a loaner for the time it took to do the replacement. Seriously, a $100,000 car ought to have a better option than is offered.

Some additional notes - I do have the 21' tires. And while I see the point about sidewall tears, the fix a flat will work AS WELL AS the system provided - so a lot faster and less hassle to at least see if you can get inflation. I admit I could have given the provided system more effort, but after dark on a lonely road you would probably make the faster choice before calling for a tow.

 

[jkoya]

Some additional notes - I do have the 21' tires.

Any damage to the wheel at all ?

 

[Enviroguy]

No damage to the wheel, fortunately, though I had sprung for the tire/wheel warranty. Worthwhile as it turns out....

 

[tbinmd]

I carry a plug kit. I to use the plug kit once in the GT3. But have also used the goo/compressor. Both solutions worked without issue. The goo/compressor is a bit easier than the plug kit.

 

[kort]

does anyone know of a donut spare that fits the car?

 

[ciaranob]

does anyone know of a donut spare that fits the car?

See #6 above

There are def options and although some not specific to the Taycan I can see how you could potentially use one in an emergency (understand loads, etc etc differences).

Meant to just ask the guys at Suncoast and will do unless someone beats me to it

 

[kort]

See #6 above

There are def options and although some not specific to the Taycan I can see how you could potentially use one in an emergency (understand loads, etc etc differences).

Meant to just ask the guys at Suncoast and will do unless someone beats me to it

maybe I missed it, where is the reference to a donut for a taycan mentions, my bad, not specifying 20 inch wheel

 

[ciaranob]

maybe I missed it, where is the reference to a donut for a taycan mentions, my bad, not specifying 20 inch wheel

Your 'donu't is my 'dinner plate' ref - referring to same thing - had one for the M4 as also mentioned

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