Here’s the money quote from that good cite:
Here’s an isolated bit of data: Since the car I bought in 2002, no car I’ve owned has had a spare, full size or compact. Just Fix a Flat and maybe a compressor. In that time, the only tire issue I’ve had that actually stopped me from driving (more than a slow leak) was when I ran over a metal object in the road and got TWO flat tires.
So my only incident where I couldn’t plan a trip to the tire shop was one that a spare wouldn’t have fixed either.
My last 4 cars haven’t had spares. Two had run-flats and two had compressor + goop.
Frankly I’d rather have run-flats than goop despite the expense. But they’re not available in every form factor and performance level.
Although perhaps coincidentally, my two run-flat cars seemed to be real road debris magnets and the goop cars drive the same roads with no problems.
Out here in SoCal, there are places that will do it for $20, or sell you a fairly new used tire for about $100.
Places that sell high performance tires get drivers coming in with a new car and wanting better tires all the time. The used tires sell cheap. I get all my tires that way.
Yep. I had one that was leaking maybe 1-2 psi per week. My local mechanic plugged it for me during an oil change.
About right.
After their tread separation scandal, I wouldn’t take a Firestone tire for free. My brother had one separate on him at speed and was damn lucky he didn’t roll over.
So after management firings, plant closures, and 25 years’ passage of time you’re sure nothing has changed? And that equivalent management / design problems don’t exist in the other brands you do trust?
I realize your family’s involved here with all that entails. There may be objective reasons in 2024 to dislike Firestone’s products. But IMO that now-ancient event is not one of them.
My issue wasn’t related to bad product (which, if I remember correctly was partially attributed to Ford for instructing the tires to be underinflated), it was an outright dirty business tactic, bait-&-switch.
I found a good deal for Firehawk’s on their website; called the local store & explained what I found & asked it they would match it; they said yes but to bring in a printout of the deal. When I dropped off my car, there were notes that they needed the ‘coupon’ from me; I had it, the clerk looked it over & said all was good.
The next day I get a call that my car was done, buuutt they couldn’t honor it for [some bu!!$#!t, hair-splitting reason] & that it would cost me $300 more. Ummm, no! He said he’d check w the manager (except I thought it was the manager) & get back to me. Second phone call, they’ll ‘split’ it with me, $100 less (wouldn’t splitting it be $150?) but I have to pay w/ a Firestone CC, which means they get credit for opening a new acct, I now have an extra, CC that I don’t want or need, along with the corresponding couple of point ding to my credit score. I told them no again. Before I could get it out he said they’d reinstall my original tires
Since it was already in for tires, I had them do the state inspection. I was nice, I could have told them that I wasn’t paying for anything & to take the new stickers off & give me my old ones back or I could have reported them for passing an inspection of tires that shouldn’t have passed & gotten them in trouble with the state. Instead, I just picked it up & when somewhere else & got a set of Goodyears.
For that, & the above (post #110) where they tried to sell me 4 new tires instead of a plug, their tires will never grace one of my vehicles ever again. They make used car salesmen look like upstanding members of society!
Drop by for a beer. You know where the Buckee’s is?
There are reasons for that. None of them good.
Windsor is the fastest growing city in Colorado. Pretty much first-time home buyers are priced out. Can’t buy in WINDSOR ffs.
No I don’t, but it will be a long wait. Probably 2 years or so.
We are trying to be cautious with our money. We are not rich but I would consider ourselves well off. I’m considering renting an apartment from my cousin that owns a small apartment building so that I can help take care of her. she is having some health issues. I can be close and take her to Dr. appointments and such.
She does not, and I don’t think, she should, put a lease on that apartment. She would have to kick another out when it sells. She’s very kind hearted.
It’s a long story, but she is trying to sell the place. I only need good internet and what I call a ‘nest’ and I can work from anywhere. A hotel does not work because I’m not gonna drag computers around. A laptop won’t do it.
WOW. We are way of the subject.
There’s an Integrity Tires in west Loveland. Speaking of that, west Loveland is a great spot and the 34 is right there to head to Estes. Between that and the Longmont route via the 36 I much prefer the northern route.
INT. Q’s LABORATORY
Camera pans along the sharp and luxurious length of an iconic and unmistakeable Aston Martin V12 Vanquish
(V.O.) Q
James, we have equipped your Aston Martin with the Laser Assessment Road Diagrammer and Surface Setter (L.A.R.D.A.S.S.)
WIDE ROOM
(Q speaking to JAMES BOND)
Q (cont’d)
Simply put, its technology assesses and realigns the road before you to give all your tyres puncture-proof and maximum traction regardless of road surface
BOND
(agasp!)
Incredible!! Even black ice, floods, oil slicks? … (pauses, thoughtfully, and adds) even molten lava?
Q
(sounding somewhat miffed at being questioned, replies curtly)
All. Road surfaces.
Of course an Aston Martin is a beautiful, sexy, total POS as a car.
Lovely to drool over, and you will look Mahvelous sitting in it. Just don’t try to drive it because it probably won’t.
A DB12 was on my “long list” for my most recent buy. Until I did my due diligence. They should each come w a Camry to use while it’s broke.
It’s approaching MOT time again. Last year I had re-bolted the seats into place yet didn’t hook up the seatbelts. A few days ago, I had some suds and pulled the seatbelts out and gave them a good wash & dry. No idea why they get “gummed up” out of non-use, yet you were exactly right: They retracted almost fully with little help. Another sudsing round and I’d say now they are fairly normal. I will give them one or two cleanings before November and use a different garage, yet they’re mentioned on last year’s MOT record, so certainly any garage would check retractability.
I spent a couple of hours today un-bolting the thick 14mm bolts that anchor the belts to seat level, and from there they pivot to meet the short belt locks. I had to use quite a bit of WD-40 (an equivalent) and my half-meter pry bar I bought to replace the useless lever thing that comes with the car. It has a half-inch nub (?) like a ratchet and finally I was able to break the torque. There was only a small amount of lubricant on the bolts so I kept lubricating and was only able to use a regular wrench for the last few turns. Oiled them up and after putting the latches through them they went back on like butter. Only needed the pry-bar for the last couple torquing turns.
So not only did this car shop guy omit saying it was just the back seats and they can be removed, his “quote” was I dunno eBay will want about £200 each, and I’d estimate, even if I had my Makita (living in storage), this is an hour-plus labor. They certainly put these screws back on with something pneumatic. It probably wouldn’t matter, yet I haven’t had anyone in my back seats since my 1973 Monte Carlo. And I could barely get out of the back seats of this car so the “someone will die in a fiery crash” this guy said could happen might be true yet it won’t have anything to do with seatbelts. Nobody is riding back there as the front seats would have to be moved up and that ain’t happening on the driver side.
In short, thanks @Crafter Man!
fyi, Crafter and Crafter_man are2 different members !
So let’s page the correct person: Hey @Crafter_Man 
A while back I had a low tire warning on my dash – figured it was due to lower temperatures.
I filled all my tires. I think the indicator went away
I noticed the warning again last night. But I also notice the indicator blinks and then stays on – I thought the 2016 Prius used the ABS system and not actual pressure sensors (but I could be wrong)
I manually checked all tires and the left front was a bit lower that the others (33 vs 37) I filled it again and will check in the morning. I also found a video on how to reset the TPMS which I will do if the tire is OK
Brian
Well, 35.5 PSI this morning (vs 37.5 yesterday-- it is a bit cooler, but that seems like a slow leak to me. Scheduled an appointment at a tire shop.
Brian
They couldn’t find anything with the front tire, but put in a new valve stem and something else. Oddly enough the passenger rear (opposite corner) sensor is dead which explains my blinking TPMS.
Brian
That sounds like the jack that came with my ancient Opal Kadet station wagon. You looked at it wondered where the rest of it was.
The jack may function yet bring some planks of wood to make a base for it.
I bought a 30" breaker bard and 17 mm nut to undo the lugs. Only had to do undo and redo it once and I wish it had a torque counter on it yet at some point you reach the point, “any more will strip it”.
I used it again on the 19mm (!) nut to remove my steering wheel to replace the left control stalk, and I tightened it to the point I don’t think the steering wheel will be coming off.
I have a Makita drill yet you can’t just wait till it groans to assume you’ve got enough torque. The breaker bar has a feel.
I’m doing everything I can for a clean pass (on the MOT / inspection). Yet even though there’s only 3000 miles on it since last year, I am afraid of exhaust system, and/or catalytic / fails the CO test. I’m going to the other garage in town and they did my clutch and I’m about at the original cost of a 2008 Toyota Aygo two years ago already with fixes. Nothing I can do with the motor or exhaust so hope they pass.