Tire repair time!

[hitchhiker]

I was filling up this morning and noticed the dreaded metal object in my right front tire. It looked like the head of a bolt. :(

I opened the truck and took out my SOG tool my Army bud gave me and wiggled it a bit. Sure enough it was stuck in there good and hissed a little when deflected side to side.

I immediately went to the tire store, here in Woodland, where I have recently bought sets of GT Qualifiers for my Rancheros.

They sold me a very good 'Road Hazard Warranty' for my BFG's and then proceeded to repair my tire with a special patch that fills the hole and adhears to the inside of the tire.

I was told that these 'sticky' soft compound tires (BFG's) pick up a lot of damage on the road.

While the car was being worked on, I rode over with the manager to a friends of his who is restoring a 1966 S-55 Merc. Marauder. He has done a good job so far. It has the 'FE' motor, a 428., power windows, A/C and tilt wheel. Nice options for a 1966 car! This manager, Fred, has built several nice cars and is one of the sponsors of the summer car and hot rod show here at the fairgrounds in Woodland.

Upon return to the shop there was no damage to the rim; I looked. Afterward Fred, the manager, put my MM up on the rack to inspect the other tires and give me the chance to inspect the underneath for any signs of leaks or trouble. No problems! For a Chevy guy, he really liked my MM. :up:

It is truly a pleasure to have good 'car guys' to work on your car instead of corporate low wage slaves.

They will continue to have my business. A set of GT qualifiers will go on my 71 Torino next week. I am beginning to study replacement tire options for my MM when the time comes. I would appreciate any recommendations from my MM brothers here on www.mercurymarauder.net (http://www.mercurymarauder.net) on tire replacement options!

Watch your tires, these BFG's attract road hazards like a magnet!

:beer:

Best Regards,

David

[Paul T. Casey]

Glad you have a good tire man. All too often, these stores forget the customer in customer service, but you got a winner. Your tire choices are going to be limited. The BFG's and I think Nitto, and that's about it as far as I know. I just worry in a few years we may run out of choices.

[merc406]

Check your driveway and the garage floor for lose bolts rollin around, got a couple their myself.

[FordNut]

Every time I have installed new tires on the MMs, I have picked up a screw within a week! Maybe I should just run them until you can see the air through the tread instead of putting on new ones?

[Ross]

After a lot of research and a long talk with Mac, I went with the Pirellei P Zero Assymetrico, same size all around. Expensive, but very good ride and great traction.

[jgc61sr2002]

Removing the tire from the rim and patching it from the inside is the only way to go.

[FordNut]

Removing the tire from the rim and patching it from the inside is the only way to go.
I've always just used plugs. Seem to work fine.

[Donny Carlson]

Every time I have installed new tires on the MMs, I have picked up a screw within a week!
Wow! :pimp:

I gotta get me some of THEM tires!!!:banana:

[merc406]

Wow! :pimp:

I gotta get me some of THEM tires!!!:banana:



He He....No comment... :lol: :lol:

[junehhan]

From what I understood, I thought BFG was the only company to make a tire in the 245/55/18 size for the rear? As far as the front goes, there are plenty of options available. Is there a Pirelli P-Zero available in that funky rear size?

[Ross]

Junehan, I went with a little bit wider tires in the Pirellis. I think the combination of wider tires, plus the tread pattern and different "hardness" (or whatever the proper term is) of the rubber gives me the better traction.

[one50npump]

4 days ago I went out to the garage to find a rear tire flat.. Put the air to it and immediately heard the air coming out so im thinkin this will be a doosy.. I jack the car up, remove the tire and find a razor blade stuck all the way through the tire. So I run it up to the tire shop and they say its too big and in a bad spot to patch, so i'll need a new tire. Not in stock (of course) but they can have it in 5-7 days and it will be $169 mounted/balanced. I thought that was kinda high. Anyway, tirerack.com had the tire for $104, + $16 fed ex 2 day air. Back on the road in 3 days instead of 5-7.

[Slowpoke]

I've had TWO flats since taking delivery 17 months and 7,500 miles ago. Both times had it repaired the same way - removing the tire from the rim, plugging it from the inside out. Was $25 at Cassidy Tires in Chicago. Fast and friendly service.

[gonzo50]

I've always just used plugs. Seem to work fine.
FordNut, most high performance tires with a speed rating of 130 plus mph should get patched up from the inside, not plugs.
Where I go to get my tires serviced if needed, they won't plug high performance tires, only patch. They say it's due to the safety factor and speed rating that the plugs will fail.
Better safe than sorry, IMHO.

[jgc61sr2002]

I've always just used plugs. Seem to work fine.



You can also damage the steel belts by using a plug.

[FordNut]

FordNut, most high performance tires with a speed rating of 130 plus mph should get patched up from the inside, not plugs.
Where I go to get my tires serviced if needed, they won't plug high performance tires, only patch. They say it's due to the safety factor and speed rating that the plugs will fail.
Better safe than sorry, IMHO.
Most shops won't plug a tire anymore no matter what the speed rating. I plug them myself, in the driveway, without even loosening a lug nut. Been doing it for years without any problems.

Been holding up fine for 6 months, had a few 100+ excursions.

[hitchhiker]

Car was steering sluggishly this morning and I got out to look at the front tires...

The right front, which was just repaired was half flat! :alone:

Turn's out that the repair shop boy shaved the inside of the tire down to the
cord before applying the patch! :shake:

They are putting a new BFG on the right front tomorrow.

Still a great tire shop though.

They owned up to the mistake and are making good on it. ;)

The Tire boy will probably be getting a new nickname after tomorrow.

We had a 'rim shot' at the shop where I worked part time in high school. He
left the lug nuts loose on a volvo which sank to the ground just up the street!

:lol:

Life has its lessons and there's nothing like a new nickname in the shop
to make sure a lesson is learned.

There is a certain MM enthusiast here who could be given the nickname of twinkle toes, but that's another story!

By the way, my handle is a nickname given to me by an uncle when I was 14 years old. Anybody want to guess why?

:lol:

Best Regards,

David

[MM03MOK]

By the way, my handle is a nickname given to me by an uncle when I was 14 years old. Anybody want to guess why?
<TABLE borderColor=#ffffff cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=95 bgColor=#ffffff borderColorLight=#000000 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=middle>hitchhiker</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cus/e_1_37.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001) Your preferred mode of transportation was your thumb? ;)

[hitchhiker]

<TABLE borderColor=#ffffff cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=95 bgColor=#ffffff borderColorLight=#000000 border=1><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=middle>hitchhiker</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cus/e_1_37.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001) Your preferred mode of transportation was your thumb? ;)

No Sorry.

[merc406]

You drove a Fix Or Repair Daily car. :D

[Mad1]

FordNut, most high performance tires with a speed rating of 130 plus mph should get patched up from the inside, not plugs.

Now you tell me!

I had a slow leak in a rear tire, took it in and they pulled a nail and plugged. It still went flat ... took it back and they found a nail with its head gone. (The real leak.) Two plugs in one tire ... it's practically a death trap now.

Most time, I've just left the screws, nails, bolts and whatever in ... unless they caused the tire to go flat.

Oh well, I'll replace them right after the wedding ... both tires are practically slicks now anyway. ;)

Mad1
Jeremy :cry:

[Mad1]

Oh well, I'll replace them right after the wedding ...

I caught another *&%*#$ screw in the same tire. This time it went flat in about 10 minutes. (You could hear the air gushing out.) On the positive side, I know exactly where I picked them up now. But, I don't have any alternative route to go around the "construction waste landfill" on my way to work.
:mad2:

Thank goodness for the full-sized spare. (You all have one right. :fire: Just kiddding.)

I guess I'll have to spring for new tires right before the wedding after all.

Jeremy
Mad1