Had my tire blowout tonight. I was driving home and heard a loud pop/thump. The car was behaving normal so I assumed I just rolled over something. Stopped at Walgreens and on the way driving off, heard the noise and felt the pull. I got lucky as I was driving 90 or so on the way to Walgreens. Called Porsche roadside and they showed up within 80 minutes. Car will be stored tonight and sent to the dealership in the morning. I have the road hazard program, so that one should get replaced for free. I'll have to replace the other side, as it was close to the wear bars as is. I've driven 27000 miles on these tires!!! Question for ya'll. Since the tires shouldn't be more than 30% different in tread, shouldn't the road hazard cover the other side too?

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"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

Glad it turned out as well as it has - sounds like you need to read the small print on the policy - what we think makes no difference - what the small print says makes all the difference.

brad

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21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

While you're checking the fine print, check to see if there is a minimum tread depth limitation on hazard warranty coverage. The free tire may not be free if you're at the end of tread life. Hope I'm wrong.

Regards,

Don

Curious; Did you have any warning from TPMS? You were lucky you weren't on some deserted highway on your way to Rt #66 (or wherever on vacation), so you were able get assistance. Since this event could not have been taken care of temporarily with the can of goo, and inflater, you were also lucky Porsche provides roadside assistance, (which expires after 4 yr. from date of purchase). Now you get to wait it out driving another car while Porsche tries get a replacement (or 2), but good luck since the tires for this car are in short supply or not available.

Would it not have been better if you could have jacked up you car on the spot, put on a spare tire like Porsche provides in other countries to Cayman owners (but not as an option for US Cayman owners), put the flat in a plastic cover, put it in the front seat or in the hatch area held down with a tie down (since the flat fits nowhere else), or leave it at Walgreens for pickup later, and then be on your way??

Here is what is available outside the US.





For a solution to the problem of no spare, please search this forum for getting a spare (either inflatable or old Boxster doughnut type spares).

I myself have one of each, (currently carrying the inflatable spare), and have emailed numerous Porsche places around the world for a cover to match the one in the photos (to no avail).

Don't you just love the answers to the question "Why doesn't Porsche provide a spare?" 1. Saves weight so improves the cars performance 2. You have a can of goo and an inflater, so no spare necassary 3. You have roadside assistance 4. It saves space so deleted on that basis 4. No space for flat so why have a spare? At BMW you get 5. But you have run flats, so no spare needed. (assumes blowouts never happen with run flats)

All true statements, to a degree I suppose, but now you are where you are now. I would rather have a spare.

Am I correct in understanding that the temp. spare pictured above is only good for 50 miles?

I don't know as I have not had to use it yet? But I think you are correct which is one drawback of the inflatable spare, since the entire wheel and tire must be replaced as a unit and since replacement tires are not available for the wheel. As I understand the doughnut Boxster 986 spare tire is replaceable. There must be a recommended mileage and speed limitation on the tire/wheel (not over 50 MPH as I recall)

It is a Vredestein tire. Vredestein

That is why I have a spare spare (986 Boxster spare).

Santa Fe, that is the spacemaster tire that you cannot buy from a reseller in the US, only via a dealer. And your looking at $800 or so just for the tire (not including the jack, etc.) I doubt its only for 50 miles, I think its much like any donut. Probably reusable, if you can squish it back down to size but I'm sure they say dont drive over 50. I've seen people driving far faster than 50 on donuts (not that its safe). I drove on a donut from Laughlin to Vegas, not fun driving at 50 in the desert

I bought the following from Sunset Porsche Sunset Imports Porsche Audi Sales, Parts and Service.

996 362 020 04 $559.22 Vredestein Inflatable spare/wheel
996 722 101 00 $36.08 Foam Wheel Insert (for holding jack)
996 721 211 00 $139.60 Scissors Jack
996 361 521 00 $2.50 Tire Boot (white vinyl sleeve for carrying flat)
996 361 411 00 $14.61 Belt for securing wheel (requires attachment pt. in trunk)
Total $752.01

Shipping $26.92
Grand total $778.93

One still needs a lug wrench to remove wheel. Tool kits can be found on EBAY

This will produce a setup that looks like this (a la mpollard)



Not as expensive as reported. Aahhh, feel more secure already. (No thanks to Porsche, AG)

Thank you. This has been discussed extensively in the past. Suncoast, one of our vendors sells for ~ the same prices. The ~$800 was the list price. I had called the Vredestein HQ in NJ and they said only via dealers.

Nice find on Sunset. I'm still deciding on when to buy this. I will before we take a long trip. No way I want to get a flat in the desert, miles from anyone. Been there, done that, not fun.

The only problem that has been discussed endless is where to stick the tire you take off the car. I dont think my wife will like it in her lap for 100 miles

*** Update ***

So the service advisor called today. The right wheel is shot. He went to feel the tread depth on the left wheel and got cut by something sticking out of the tire!!! He said the warranty people are going to check it out tomorrow. One will definitely be covered. The other is a ? We'll see tomorrow when they come out. He ordered the 2 tires since I needed them both anyway. The cost for the tire, overnight shipping, mounting, and balancing is $400. That isn't too bad all things considered. We'll see if I have to pay tomorrow.

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"The Cayman doesn't need any more toys." -- My wife

What denomination bill did nail to the other tire??? Pretty neat trick.