Flat tire repair vs weigth savings techiques

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I was getting stuck a bit in the snow as it was, so I was hesitant to put the donut on, though that skinny tire probably would have done better now that I think about it.

IIRC at the WRC the snow tyres are narrower. Even narrower than the all-terrains which used to be fitted to some European and Asian econoboxes from the '90s.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

IIRC at the WRC the snow tyres are narrower. Even narrower than the all-terrains which used to be fitted to some European and Asian econoboxes from the '90s.

I think I mostly wanted to show the group how to properly repair a tire in the field. That, and I hate screw jacks. Didn't know how the donut would fair over the miles of logging road, snow, and then freeway with the trailer. The car is AWD, so that would mess with the diff too.

Probably 6 in one, half a dozen the other.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

The car is AWD, so that would mess with the diff too.

Is it also lower than the normal tyres or just narrower? Otherwise, I see no reason for the donut spare to mess with the differentials.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Is it also lower than the normal tyres or just narrower? Otherwise, I see no reason for the donut spare to mess with the differentials.

Usually donuts are smaller diameter. I didn't measure, but it looks smaller.

[oil pan 4]

Passed a car on the side of the road sitting on 3 tires and a screw jack. Don't be that person.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Passed a car on the side of the road sitting on 3 tires as a screw jack. Don't be that person.

I once alternated putting chains on various wheels with a screw jack while high-centered on snow. Probably took on and off chains a dozen times while alternately digging out the car. Took 5 hours. When you get stuck going downhill in AWD, you're really stuck.

Was on my way with friends to Bagby Hotsprings from Detroit (Oregon). freebeard surely knows.

[oil pan 4]

If there is that much snow, I'm staying home and rolling coal.

[SDMCF]

One issue not covered so far is temperature. I am thinking of 2 things here.

First, the obvious one is that if it is a nice warm summer day it might not be convenient to be stranded with a flat but you won't freeze to death. In the depths of winter, in some locations, being stuck with no way to fix/replace a flat can be life-threatening.

The other issue is whether goop can operate at low temperatures. I had one car which was supplied with goop and a compressor rather than a spare. The blurb on the goop bottle gave the operating temperature of the goop and it regularly gets below that where I live, so when I would need it most it could be no good.

I always carry a spare of some sort. Exactly what depends on the car. It may be a get-you-home emergency job. It might be a full-size spare. If I don't have a matching spare then in summer I carry one of the winter set of wheels and in winter I carry one of the summer set. Better than nothing.

Having said all that, punctures are very rare in my experience. Perhaps I am just lucky.

[oil pan 4]

Once you put "fix a flat" goop in a tire a competent tire shop won't patch or plug it.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Usually donuts are smaller diameter. I didn't measure, but it looks smaller.

Most of the ones I have seen had the same diameter of the other tyres, I don't even remember seeing one with a smaller diameter than what it was supposed to serve as a temporary replacement.