Wish we had a spare tire or doughnut for x-fire.If a tire blows and your in the middle of nowhere it would certainly make me feel more comfortable knowning I had a spare.

Does anyone know if a doughnut is available ?

Has anyone had the chance to use the patch and fill ?

With all the pot holes after a bad winter there is more a chance of a blow-out than a flat.

j monaco

 

i used the compressor and sealant on my first day of ownership. :cry: the hole in my tire was large enough that the sealant didn't work. fortunately, a 24 hr. service company was able to send someone out to plug the tire for me. i was relieved to get back on the road even without any means of patching another flat. 600 miles later i was home. :lol:

i don't know if a doughnut spare is available, but i may look into getting one if there's one that'll fit (the bolt pattern and in the back of the hatch).

 

Yup, the 24 hour 3 yr. / 30,000 free towing can be useful.

 

the chrysler towing in my case was not helpful. they do not do roadside repairs, and they only tow to the nearest chrysler dealership. that would have stranded me for an entire day, provided they actually stocked the tire (doubtful). it also would likely have resulted in a very overpriced new tire because the dealership might not have tried to repair the tire. instead, i paid $102 for an independent service company to send someone 21 miles to fix my tire at a rest stop on i-95. not exactly cheap for a repair, but i was more than happy to pay it to get home. if i ever get another flat that can't be fixed with the repair kit, and if i'm anywhere near home, i'll just get a ride home and take my wheel with me.

 

Rob M

Have you considered looking into a doughnut to keep in the rear area? Does anyone know if one is available ?

I'm going to drop a note to chrysler tomorrow. Will let you in on the outcome j monaco

 

i have thought about it. i was hoping maybe someone has already done it and would reply to your post. i would think that it can be done. all you should need is the correct stud pattern, but maybe there could be some other less obvious issue. i haven't investigated it any further. hopefully, chrysler will answer your question. look forward to learning what you find. thanks.

 

How about MB...do they have a spare in their 320's?

 

Spoke to Chrysler Headquarters re possible compact spare (doughnut) for Crossfire. Nothing is available at this time thru Chrysler or after market .

Buying a car without a spare or the unavailabilty of one is beginning to sound like something I should have given more thought to.

It's certainly something that Chrysler should have considered.

 

too bad the wheels on the luggage aren't a little larger...... :lol:

 

what size would that spare have to be? 19" or 18"? Damn... that's a big spare!

 

Hence, none provided.... I guess you could have a small trailer made and haul it around in that. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wait.... I know!!!! A Continental Kit!!! Yeah, That's the ticket!!! :lol:

 

No towing allowed according to the manual! ;-)

Continental would interfere with the spoiler and affect the airflow....

But seriously folks, wouldn't a smaller wheel would work for a short distance to get you to repair shop without damaging anything on the drive train?

 

How about a smaller wheel with a collapsed tire that you could air up prior to installing. It wouldn't need to be something that would support a cross country drive. We alrady have the compressor.

 

I think our car has the big wheels more for looks than caliper clearance. Therefore as a spare you wouldn't need such a big wheel. I haven't looked at the calipers yet, but I'd imagine that a 17" wheel would clear the brake calipers on our cars. Isn't 17" what the SLK320 has anyway? And I assume the xfire has the same brakes, right?

So a 17 would probably fit, maybe even squeeze on a 16.

 

I can tell you for a fact that the Crossfire does have the same brakes as the 2003 320 SLK. Actually I think you might even have the clearance for as small as a 16 in. wheel.

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmm......doughnut.