Originally Posted by CyberGreg
When you guys are talkin' donut, are you referring to a steel rim with small tire that you can drive safely up to 50 MPH and for like 50 miles? Sometimes refered to as a space saver tire? Would you put it in the back? I'd make sure I had that rear cover installed so no one would see it!
I do understand about the tire pressure monitor but man if someone could make an inner tube that would fit and work in these tires, I'd buy two! I'm sure a tube could be made, so that in an emergency you could drive the car a few hundred miles, or several days. Hopefullly enough time for the replacement tire(s) to arrive. I don't think its a problem for an inner tube to safely function, heck tractor trailers use tubes and I'm sure they see more stress and weight than what a Crossfire would need or use. I do understand the concerns about the rim, I don't think it would be a problem given todays mfg processes and the fact that you have to slide the tire over the sides to install it. I know real "wire" wheels have this problem (all it takes is a rubber band to remedy it) but I don't think "alloy" wheels would.
If its a choice between a donut and the fix-a-flat, I'll take the fix-a-flat and call AAA when and if I have a problem.
Hmmm thinking back to my youth, I think if you packed three or four tire "spoons" (whatever they are called!) you could install the tube yourself and pump up the tire with the air pump!
Cyber:
I think a tube is not the best option because of: 1) If you are carring a spare tube in your car you still have to get to a garage to get it installed. 2) You have to replace your senor with the tube stem as they use the same hole. 3) It will be pretty hard to find a low profile tube to fit 4) If you are thinking of running a tube all the time, it will still get a flat when your tire punchers 5) Again there may be purs on the rim that could cut the tube.
Run flats sound interesting though.