For you seasoned veterans

[1stMerc]

Had my first flat tire on the MM today. Why did the air compressor not come on when sitting on the flat and even with donut on? Also with that little donut on didn't have any problems with traction control, "04", even when going around corners. Isn't that wheel and tire small enough to cause problems?

FYI.. if you have not done so, take those wheels off periodically and remove the rust that accumalates between the wheel and hub. Don't find out the hard way.

[gilby04]

I had my first flat this past Sunday. Luckily it was not totally deflated and was able to limp home. I had to have my 270 pound brother smack the tire several times to break the wheel loose from the hub, so I know what you're talking about regarding the corrosion in the registration hole. Most, if not all, of the cars I've owned having aluminum wheels had the identical corrosion problem.
With regard to the traction control issue, or lack thereof, I think if you did not exceed 40-45 mph, the traction control feature is not in the feedback loop.

[1stMerc]

I had my first flat this past Sunday. Luckily it was not totally deflated and was able to limp home. I had to have my 270 pound brother smack the tire several times to break the wheel loose from the hub, so I know what you're talking about regarding the corrosion in the registration hole. Most, if not all, of the cars I've owned having aluminum wheels had the identical corrosion problem.
With regard to the traction control issue, or lack thereof, I think if you did not exceed 40-45 mph, the traction control feature is not in the feedback loop.

I did get up to about 50 for a spell but no issue with the TC. Avoided the highway. Did your air compressor come on when you started the car? The scissors jack sucks, but i guess it beats carrying around a floor jack.

Anyone ever run these tires with a plug?

[Mike M]

The comperssor did not come on because as far as the level sensor was concerened it was still level. It doesn't measure level to the ground, it measure how far the suspension is compressed (3 people sitting in rear etc.).

[gilby04]

No, my compressor did not kick in upon start-up.
Yes, the scissors jack is time consuming to operate, but very functional, nonetheless.
Regarding the durability of a plugged tire, I picked up a #10 flathead wood screw about 1 1/2 years ago in my right front, plugged it myself, and no issues after 7,000 miles. The tire never went flat , just a slow leak that I discovered during my weekly maintenance check...tire pressure check, engine oil dipstick check, etc, etc.




I did get up to about 50 for a spell but no issue with the TC. Avoided the highway. Did your air compressor come on when you started the car? The scissors jack sucks, but i guess it beats carrying around a floor jack.

Anyone ever run these tires with a plug?

[magindat]

I have successfully plugged the BFG stockers while on the road. I later took the tire to be professionally patched and still no probs.

PS, I don't carry a spare. I carry a plug kit and CO2 inflators.

[fastblackmerc]

When you remove the rear wheels clean off the registration hole and rotor hub with steel wool and apply a thin coating of antiseize on the inside of the registration hole.... no more stuck wheels!

An easy way to get the rears unstuck....... backoff all the lugs 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn, power brake the car just so the rear wheels break loose (may have to do it 2 or 3 times).

[sweetair]

I've found that a few kicks with the heel of the foot will break the rear tires loose pretty easily. Plus it is also a nice stress release.

[metroplex]

Use anti-sieze on the mounting surfaces between the wheel and the axle flange / rotor hub. Ford uses it on the Crown Vics to prevent the rotors from galling to the axle flange/hubs. Just a TINY smear will suffice.

[mtnh]

From early technical sharing by Brian, an engineer from STAP, I believe, he told us that the doughnut spare was calibrated into the ABS/TC processor, which knew how from the wheel speed sensors that the spare was in use, which inhibited error reporting. If 3 other wheels are at their correct speed, and one is at the speed the doughnut spins at in relation to the other 3, no fault condition is flagged. If you had 2 doughnuts loaded onto the car, you would see at least a check traction control and possibly a check abs light. Ditto if you used a tire that was not stock and not the doughnut's size as one single mis-sized tire with the other 3 tires at the correct size.

Keep in mind also that if you use a doughnut on the rear axle, that your limited slip rear diff will be using clutch friction material to resolve the two differently-sized tires running at different rotational speeds, and that you should minimize distance traveled to as little as possible, lest your rear end is no longer functioning as a limited slip model.

[04MRADR]

Dear MTNH: That rust between the spokes is driving me up a wall! The Mercury people say these are polished wheels. I have been using Maguirer's classic gold on the car and am very happy with it. I bought the mother's power ball that Chip Foose advertises and removed the wheels from the car and polished with the Maguiar's wax and power ball but no luck. I am frustrated. Chrome polish will dmage the rims I've been told. I find it really odd that only the portion of the rim behind the spokes seems to have this problem. I would love to know how to fix the problem of cleaning up the area behind the rims without damaging them. Anybody in the club have any luck with this?