997 No spare Wheel (Gulp !!)

[Rioja]

I have bought a 997 GTS (white with aero kit) which was bought after a great deal of research and soul searching as to what model I wanted. No regrets after 3 months of ownership and the car brings a smile every time I drive it. However despite all of my research I missed the fact that the car had no spare wheel. I am upto speed with the 'fix" supplied by Porsche but have an opportunity on the horizon for a road trip and I am hesitating due to the lack of a spare wheel. I have been lucky to date in my 30 years of driving history with only a couple of punctures, but those that I have had have been at high speed and resulted in the tyre being shredded, the Porsche "fix" won't help with this !! I assume the Porsche recovery can collect me, but this is hassle, especially if I am miles from home.

Thoughts appreciated, am I being too sensitive on this subject and should I just get on with it and worry about a puncture when it happens. Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

[DSM2]

Check your tyres regularly for objects in the tread that will work their way in. Punctures normally happen that way and aren't usually the immediate result of running over such an object. Many can be removed without any real damage.

Carry a string/plug repair kit. With a lot of injuries you can carry out a temporary repair, which will be much better, and more feasible, than the Porsche sealant. Just remember that this is TEMPORARY and should only be used to get you home or to a repairer.

Do you have TPMS? If so have it displayed as much as possible and monitor it, it is an invaluable early warning.

Of course you may still get a catastrophic failure that will strand you, but they are normally the result of some neglect and should be very rare.

[Far Cough]

Get one of these http://www.dynaplug.com/

and this combined with your Porsche sludge should see you through any problems. I think your overthinking the risk. Tyres tend to shred at high speed when the owner has not checked the pressures but driven anyhow.

[FarQue]

Is a GTS on centre lock wheels? Once you've punctured you'll need to find a big torque wrench...

We were out in our 997 the other day and had two punctures after finding a big, big pot hole. Destroyed two wheels as well... : (

[DSM2]

FarQue said:

Is a GTS on centre lock wheels? Once you've punctured you'll need to find a big torque wrench...

We were out in our 997 the other day and had two punctures after finding a big, big pot hole. Destroyed two wheels as well... : (

Sorry to hear that. Not so much two punctures as an accident perhaps? Any other damage?

[FarQue]

DSM2 said:

FarQue said:

Is a GTS on centre lock wheels? Once you've punctured you'll need to find a big torque wrench...

We were out in our 997 the other day and had two punctures after finding a big, big pot hole. Destroyed two wheels as well... : (

Sorry to hear that. Not so much two punctures as an accident perhaps? Any other damage?

Two wheels, two tyres and a small dent in the sill. Ride home in a lorry with the nice man from Porsche Assistance. All sorted now, and Lancashire County Council have stumped up to pay the bill. I was't driving... Mrs Farque was not pleased with herself that day!

[breadvan]

Rioja said:

I have bought a 997 GTS (white with aero kit) which was bought after a great deal of research and soul searching as to what model I wanted. No regrets after 3 months of ownership and the car brings a smile every time I drive it. However despite all of my research I missed the fact that the car had no spare wheel. I am upto speed with the 'fix" supplied by Porsche but have an opportunity on the horizon for a road trip and I am hesitating due to the lack of a spare wheel. I have been lucky to date in my 30 years of driving history with only a couple of punctures, but those that I have had have been at high speed and resulted in the tyre being shredded, the Porsche "fix" won't help with this !! I assume the Porsche recovery can collect me, but this is hassle, especially if I am miles from home.

Thoughts appreciated, am I being too sensitive on this subject and should I just get on with it and worry about a puncture when it happens. Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Don't give it a second thought, it's not like your on a motorcycle or anything.........

[rog007]

And if you hang on a bit longer... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-209...

[rlw]

Rioja said:

I have bought a 997 GTS (white with aero kit) which was bought after a great deal of research and soul searching as to what model I wanted. No regrets after 3 months of ownership and the car brings a smile every time I drive it. However despite all of my research I missed the fact that the car had no spare wheel. I am upto speed with the 'fix" supplied by Porsche but have an opportunity on the horizon for a road trip and I am hesitating due to the lack of a spare wheel. I have been lucky to date in my 30 years of driving history with only a couple of punctures, but those that I have had have been at high speed and resulted in the tyre being shredded, the Porsche "fix" won't help with this !! I assume the Porsche recovery can collect me, but this is hassle, especially if I am miles from home.

Thoughts appreciated, am I being too sensitive on this subject and should I just get on with it and worry about a puncture when it happens. Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

I haven't had a spare wheel in a 911 for the past ten years or more, have done countless long trips here and abroad and have only ever had a puncture at home caused by nails and builders. You are worrying too much.

[DSM2]

rog007 said:

And if you hang on a bit longer... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-209...

Thing is, those have been around in prototype form for years but no one has ever overcome the challenges of variable load, high speed and different cornering demands.

I wouldn't expect to see these on road cars in my lifetime.

Unless they finally manage to get us all in small, low performance cars..................

[mollytherocker]

Punctures are pretty rare these days. I really cannot remember the last puncture I had in any of my cars!

Just enjoy and deal with it when it happens!

Regular pressure and visual checks help though.

MTR

[MrTickle]

That Dynaplug looks good though, has anyone actually tried using one?? Is it easy to see where you have to shove the spike in given that my the time a nail goes through the tread it is often bent and at an angle?