If I Didn't Have Bad Luck...

How does the saying go? If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have
any luck at all?

Here's the story.

Just about a month ago, while driving my GT, I started hearing this
whack whack, whack, whack... I quickly stopped the car to take a
look. I didn't see anything, so I started again, slowly. The noise
started again, so I stopped the car again. Upon closer inspection I
noticed a bent thick-gauge wire stuck in my rear tire. I nipped off
the excess, and because my car has the optional 19" wheels/Brembo
brakes, I used the supply of fix-a-flat that comes with the car (no
spare is supplied when you get the Brembo package). I then drive my
car to my local Ford dealer to get the tire repaired. The good news:
The tire was punctured in the fixable tread area. The bad news: Once
you use fix-a-flat the tire sensor in the tire is ruined. Tire sensor
replacement cost? 80 bucks. Ouch! Okay, but at least it saved me
the price of a tow, and the tire was able to be fixed. Whew!

Fast forward 30 days. This morning I start to pull the car out of the
garage. I'm thinking why does the car feel so strange? Like the
emergency brake is on. As I get to the end of the driveway I look at
my gauges. "Low tire pressure" is illuminated. I stop and look at my
tires. Yep, the driver's side rear tire is flat. Damn! I pull the
tire off and take it to my local Ford dealer again. At least this
time I won't have to buy a replacement tire sensor. The Ford tech
leaves me to inspect the tire. He returns a few minutes later. "Bad
news: The nail we found in your tire hit the tread area, but,
unfortunately, it's too close to the sidewall of the tire. So we can't
warranty the repair = we're not allowed to fix it".

Now the more bad news: OEM tire replacement cost = $392.56, from the
Tire Rack (includes shipping). So now I'll have one brand new tire
and three others with 12,000 miles (and one with a plug in it.)

Here's my plan. When it comes time to replace my other three tires
I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
keep it for a spare, just in case. At least right now that's the
plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
flat>

Patrick

In article
>,
" > wrote:

> How does the saying go? If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have
> any luck at all?
>
> Here's the story.
>
> Just about a month ago, while driving my GT, I started hearing this
> whack whack, whack, whack... I quickly stopped the car to take a
> look. I didn't see anything, so I started again, slowly. The noise
> started again, so I stopped the car again. Upon closer inspection I
> noticed a bent thick-gauge wire stuck in my rear tire. I nipped off
> the excess, and because my car has the optional 19" wheels/Brembo
> brakes, I used the supply of fix-a-flat that comes with the car (no
> spare is supplied when you get the Brembo package). I then drive my
> car to my local Ford dealer to get the tire repaired. The good news:
> The tire was punctured in the fixable tread area. The bad news: Once
> you use fix-a-flat the tire sensor in the tire is ruined. Tire sensor
> replacement cost? 80 bucks. Ouch! Okay, but at least it saved me
> the price of a tow, and the tire was able to be fixed. Whew!
>
> Fast forward 30 days. This morning I start to pull the car out of the
> garage. I'm thinking why does the car feel so strange? Like the
> emergency brake is on. As I get to the end of the driveway I look at
> my gauges. "Low tire pressure" is illuminated. I stop and look at my
> tires. Yep, the driver's side rear tire is flat. Damn! I pull the
> tire off and take it to my local Ford dealer again. At least this
> time I won't have to buy a replacement tire sensor. The Ford tech
> leaves me to inspect the tire. He returns a few minutes later. "Bad
> news: The nail we found in your tire hit the tread area, but,
> unfortunately, it's too close to the sidewall of the tire. So we can't
> warranty the repair = we're not allowed to fix it".
>
> Now the more bad news: OEM tire replacement cost = $392.56, from the
> Tire Rack (includes shipping). So now I'll have one brand new tire
> and three others with 12,000 miles (and one with a plug in it.)
>
> Here's my plan. When it comes time to replace my other three tires
> I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
> keep it for a spare, just in case. At least right now that's the
> plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
> flat>
>
> Patrick

Damn! Sorry to hear that. A buddy of mine had a similar experience with
those TRX wheels and tires. I think they were called "TRX", some sort of
metric wheel that is compatible with NOTHING! You had ONE choice of
tire.

So when it came to replacing the other three, he bought new wheels and
tires, and saved a fortune. I wonder if they even make those damn things
any more.

--
Not sent through any particular network from any pompous smart phone.

On 2011-08-25, > wrote:

> Here's my plan. When it comes time to replace my other three tires
> I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
> keep it for a spare, just in case. At least right now that's the
> plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
> flat>

I've been researching the spare tire situation and visiting various
forums to see what others have come up with. This is the most helpful
thread that I've found:

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...ull-spare.html

Of everything I've read or thought of I think the 18" DR-31 drag wheel
with the narrow tire will work the best for me. If not that, my idea was
to get the drag-pack wheel from FRP (same as the brembo brake wheel but
a different color) and a new tire but that thread shows how that idea
turns out. The tire sticks up pretty high. My '97 has more vertical
trunk space so the intrusion of a full size 17" wheel and tire didn't
bother me much when I made my own custom trunk mat. In the '12 I'd
rather not have that much intrusion. Sadly the 18x8 wheel still stands
above the floor so I'll probably be making another trunk mat. I think
this time I'll buy some trunk mat carpet and do something that's more
simple. (the fabric I used in the '97 I sewed so that it was snug around
the tire) Maybe make a new mat for the '97 too.

For a jack I think I'll just go to the U-pull and get one from an SN95.
Maybe a spare OEM mat while I'm there.

" > wrote in message
...
> How does the saying go? If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have
> any luck at all?
>
> Here's the story.
>
> Just about a month ago, while driving my GT, I started hearing this
> whack whack, whack, whack... I quickly stopped the car to take a
> look. I didn't see anything, so I started again, slowly. The noise
> started again, so I stopped the car again. Upon closer inspection I
> noticed a bent thick-gauge wire stuck in my rear tire. I nipped off
> the excess, and because my car has the optional 19" wheels/Brembo
> brakes, I used the supply of fix-a-flat that comes with the car (no
> spare is supplied when you get the Brembo package). I then drive my
> car to my local Ford dealer to get the tire repaired. The good news:
> The tire was punctured in the fixable tread area. The bad news: Once
> you use fix-a-flat the tire sensor in the tire is ruined. Tire sensor
> replacement cost? 80 bucks. Ouch! Okay, but at least it saved me
> the price of a tow, and the tire was able to be fixed. Whew!
>
> Fast forward 30 days. This morning I start to pull the car out of the
> garage. I'm thinking why does the car feel so strange? Like the
> emergency brake is on. As I get to the end of the driveway I look at
> my gauges. "Low tire pressure" is illuminated. I stop and look at my
> tires. Yep, the driver's side rear tire is flat. Damn! I pull the
> tire off and take it to my local Ford dealer again. At least this
> time I won't have to buy a replacement tire sensor. The Ford tech
> leaves me to inspect the tire. He returns a few minutes later. "Bad
> news: The nail we found in your tire hit the tread area, but,
> unfortunately, it's too close to the sidewall of the tire. So we can't
> warranty the repair = we're not allowed to fix it".
>
> Now the more bad news: OEM tire replacement cost = $392.56, from the
> Tire Rack (includes shipping). So now I'll have one brand new tire
> and three others with 12,000 miles (and one with a plug in it.)
>
> Here's my plan. When it comes time to replace my other three tires
> I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
> keep it for a spare, just in case. At least right now that's the
> plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
> flat>
>

Your story reminds me of a friend who's wife and girl friend were both
pregnant at the same time and he could not have caused either conception.

On 8/25/2011 9:25 PM, twk wrote:
<snip>
>
> Damn! Sorry to hear that. A buddy of mine had a similar experience with
> those TRX wheels and tires. I think they were called "TRX", some sort of
> metric wheel that is compatible with NOTHING! You had ONE choice of
> tire.
>
> So when it came to replacing the other three, he bought new wheels and
> tires, and saved a fortune. I wonder if they even make those damn things
> any more.
>
The TRX wheels with metric Michelin tires are a real pain. I checked on
prices for the tires from a few sources and they're around $380 per
tire. I have the TRX wheels and tires on my 84 Capri, and there's enough
tread left for occasional local drives. I'm still looking for a nice set
of 4-bolt rims that use conventional tires.

Dick

" > wrote in message
...
> How does the saying go? If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have
> any luck at all?
>
>snip story<
>
> Now the more bad news: OEM tire replacement cost = $392.56, from the
> Tire Rack (includes shipping). So now I'll have one brand new tire
> and three others with 12,000 miles (and one with a plug in it.)
>
> Here's my plan. When it comes time to replace my other three tires
> I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
> keep it for a spare, just in case. At least right now that's the
> plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
> flat>
>
> Patrick

OUCH! That's flat-out disgusting. I just paid $120/tire for a new set of
four on CFrog and thought that was a bit much. I can't believe that Ford is
building cars that run on $300 tires.

At 12,000, isn't it almost time to get a new set, anyway? You might think
about going back to those nice 15" wheels of yesteryear, maybe the 10-holes.
I'll be they'd look great on the new GT, and you could use $35.00 PepBoys
specials on 'em.

When I bought TFrog, I was unprepared for the replacement tire cost, myself.
I think the Z-rated Michelins of the day (1994) were about $135.00 each,
when I was used to replacing tires at half that cost. The sticker shock on
my (then) new 5.0 was killer. Since then, I've decided that I don't need
that Z rating, and I've been buying BF Goodrich tires at around $105 to
$120. I'm glad you brought this up (although I feel your pain), since this
is one of those routine maintenance things we don't think about, when we
lust after new rides.

dwight

On Aug 28, 2:14*pm, "dwight" > wrote:
> " > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > How does the saying go? *If I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have
> > any luck at all?
>
> >snip story<
>
> > Now the more bad news: OEM tire replacement cost = $392.56, from the
> > Tire Rack (includes shipping). *So now I'll have one brand new tire
> > and three others with 12,000 miles (and one with a plug in it.)
>
> > Here's my plan. *When it comes time to replace my other three tires
> > I'll replace all of them. And I'll save the tire I just replaced and
> > keep it for a spare, just in case. *At least right now that's the
> > plan. <fingers are crossed and hoping I don't get another
> > flat>

> OUCH! That's flat-out disgusting. I just paid $120/tire for a new set of
> four on CFrog and thought that was a bit much. I can't believe that Ford is
> building cars that run on $300 tires.

That's the cost we pay for demanding more and more capabilities,
sophistication, etc.

> At 12,000, isn't it almost time to get a new set, anyway?

I hope not! Usually, I get nearly 30,000 on a set and here in FL with
more highway driving 30,000 + is the norm... for me.

>You might think
> about going back to those nice 15" wheels of yesteryear, maybe the 10-holes.
> I'll be they'd look great on the new GT, and you could use $35.00 PepBoys
> specials on 'em.

Trust me, dude, I'm thinking about it. :-)

> When I bought TFrog, I was unprepared for the replacement tire cost, myself.
> I think the Z-rated Michelins of the day (1994) were about $135.00 each,
> when I was used to replacing tires at half that cost. The sticker shock on
> my (then) new 5.0 was killer.

My first Gatorback replacements of my old '87 LX, around 1989 were 150
a pop. I nearly had a stroke.

> Since then, I've decided that I don't need
> that Z rating, and I've been buying BF Goodrich tires at around $105 to
> $120. I'm glad you brought this up (although I feel your pain), since this
> is one of those routine maintenance things we don't think about, when we
> lust after new rides.

I'll think about cheaper replacements next time, and I'm hoping for a
price reduction by then -- like the suitable, less-expensive
replacements that came into the market for my old LX and Cobra .

Patrick