Flat tire: repair or replace (one or two)?

Ajanta · 2005-06-16T05:44:16+00:00

Lucky me, I have never had a flat tire that I had to deal with myself,until today that is, so please advise: Today, as I drove my 98 Camry, I discovered it had a flat tire. By thenI was in very busy traffic. I do not know if it was already flat when Iparked it yesterday, obviously I hadn't noticed. Today, I probablydrove around 4 city blocks before finding a safe parking spot. It wasrather late, so I decided to deal with it tomorrow.Tomorrow I will face the problem of deciding if I should repair thetire (if it is repairable) or change it. If I change, should I changeone or two? I am driving 300 miles this weekend for Father's Day, so Ineed to make a wise choice.BTW the tires are Goodyear Regata, 205/65/15. Though in good shape,they are probably a few years old (bought it used) and exact match maynot be available.I can drive short distance on the spare. Please advise the best course!

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Ajanta 21 years ago

: I stopped at three different places and got the following opinions : on my tires: : : Sears: Sidewalls look damaged. Could blow. Change soon. : : Pep Boys: Tires are fine. Good for another 1-2 years. : : Walmart: Tires are fine but tread down to 5-7 range (he actually : measured it). Could go 1-2 years but I'd consider changing before : winter. Front ones have more depth. For now, just rotate front and : back.

Since then I have stopped at three local tire dealers. Two dismissed any concern I showed and said the tires are in good shape for now.

The third one said: Tires are ruined and it is because of bad struts. You need new tires and new struts at the same time, $1200.

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Ray O 21 years ago

Send me an e-mail and let me know the general area where you live and work. If you are near the northwest suburbs - Elk Grove Village, Mt. Prospect, Schaumburg, etc., I'd be happy to take a look.

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Newbie 21 years ago

: Send me an e-mail and let me know the general area where you live and work. : If you are near the northwest suburbs - Elk Grove Village, Mt. Prospect, : Schaumburg, etc., I'd be happy to take a look.

Hi Ray. This is Ajanta but posting from a family member's account. Thanks for the offer, but we are in Hyde Park, far from NW burbs. If I come that way, I would contact you. Are you in auto business?

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Ray O 21 years ago

Hyde Park is a bit of a trip from Schaumburg/Hoffman Est.

I am no longer in the auto business although I maintain a strong interest in cars and still do most of the work on our vehicles myself.

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Newbie 21 years ago

: Hyde Park is a bit of a trip from Schaumburg/Hoffman Est.

Yes I ralize that. Once in a while we go to Mitsuwa, Ikea etc. If I have enough notice I would send you email to ask if I could drop by for a few minutes. Otherwise thanks for your offer anyway and I hope you'd continue to offer guidence via these groups. : : I am no longer in the auto business although I maintain a strong : interest in cars and still do most of the work on our vehicles myself.

I suppose there is no point asking you about good service garages, mechanics, etc., in Chicagoland for routine maintenance? :-)

Ajanta (temporarily posting from a family member's account)

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Ray O 21 years ago

I work about 5 minutes away from Mitsuwa and live about 10-15 minutes away from Ikea.

I know some good service facilities but none are convenient to Hyde Park. Sorry I couldn't help you there.

Hope to see you soon!

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Newbie 21 years ago

: I know some good service facilities but none are convenient to Hyde Park. : Sorry I couldn't help you there.

Needn't be in or near Hyde Park, actually I think there's nothing around here.

Except true emergiees, when I have to take what I can get, and oil changes, which seem to be pretty standardized all over the place, I don't mind driving 10-20 miles for sufficiently good service/value for major work.

I go to Devon Avenue (6400 N) once a week, so anywhere northside is always on the way.

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Ray O 21 years ago

I grew up at the corner of Rosemont (6300 N) and Greenview (1500 W). Before people realized that it is not safe to let your kids roam the neighborhoods, we would ride our bikes to HobbyTown at the NE corner of Devon and Western (I think an electronics store is there now) and see movies at the Nortown Theater.

By dad used to work at Brown's Rambler, which used to be on Western Ave. just north of Devon.

My experience with local service places is pretty limited since I moved back to Chicago in 1993. The only places I am familiar with are the Bredemann dealerships in Park Ridge and Glenview; Schaumburg Toyota, and Higgins Marathon in Hoffman Estates. All do excellent work.

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Coyoteboy 21 years ago

I'm with you here Bungalow. Replace it but always try to get the same tread pattern or a close match if poss. If you aint driving a performance car near its limits theres gonna be no harm done.

J

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