[BillTinVT]

Regretting purchasing my 2017 Volt today after learning that something as simple as a flat tire can cause me to be without transportation for five days.

Got a flat while out on the road yesterday. Tried to repair and inflate the tire with the standard Chevy Volt compressor and sealant. After letting the compressor run for over 30 minutes without any success, I shut it off and proceeded to disconnect the hose from the tire. As I did, the hose, under pressure sprayed tire sealant all over me and the tire that I had been trying to repair. Fortunately, I was returning from a trip and had bottled water and a bar of soap with me to was the stuff off of my face and hands and a clean shirt to change into.


Contacted roadside assistance through my chevy app to request a tow. After dealing with them on the phone for 15 minutes they finally told me that a local towing service would be out in an hour. When I called the dealer later to ask when they would be able to fix the flat tire, the service department told me they were booked until next week but might try to look at it sooner if they had some free time. A couple hours later the Chevy dealer called me back and to tell me that they did look at in and found that I need a new tire but they wouldn't be able to get one until mid morning next Monday.

I understood when I purchased the car that it didn't have a spare tire. I did not expect that it would take five days to have a flat tire replaced.

 

[Steverino]

Discount Tire. They fix flats free (assuming they are not sidewall, etc.), and do it quick. I've never taken a tire to a dealer.

I also have a donut spare tire at home that I can run on if I need to wait for a new tire. In addition, I have a set of mounted snow tires I could use instead. So one way or the other (Discount, spare, winter wheels), a flat will not sideline my car for more than a few hours.

 

[fotomoto1]

I understood when I purchased the car that it didn't have a spare tire. I did not expect that it would take five days to have a flat tire replaced.

I had a similar experience in my Energi due to a ripped sidewall but with a 7 day replacement span due to tire delivery issues; however, I keep a used mini-spare in the garage (and take on long trips) so I didn't need a rental and could continue to use my car.

 

[jcanoe]

Regretting purchasing my 2017 Volt today after learning that something as simple as a flat tire can cause me to be without transportation for five days.

Got a flat while out on the road yesterday. Tried to repair and inflate the tire with the standard Chevy Volt compressor and sealant. After letting the compressor run for over 30 minutes without any success, I shut it off and proceeded to disconnect the hose from the tire. As I did, the hose, under pressure sprayed tire sealant all over me and the tire that I had been trying to repair. Fortunately, I was returning from a trip and had bottled water and a bar of soap with me to was the stuff off of my face and hands and a clean shirt to change into.


Contacted roadside assistance through my chevy app to request a tow. After dealing with them on the phone for 15 minutes they finally told me that a local towing service would be out in an hour. When I called the dealer later to ask when they would be able to fix the flat tire, the service department told me they were booked until next week but might try to look at it sooner if they had some free time. A couple hours later the Chevy dealer called me back and to tell me that they did look at in and found that I need a new tire but they wouldn't be able to get one until mid morning next Monday.

I understood when I purchased the car that it didn't have a spare tire. I did not expect that it would take five days to have a flat tire replaced.

Sorry for your flat tire. Most here on the forum have read owner reports of torn sidewalls and other failures of the Michelin EnergySaver A/S tires that are original equipment on the Gen 2 Volt. There are many accounts of how the inflator pump and sealant have worked and perhaps as many accounts where the tire inflator and sealant was an epic failure for the stranded driver.

There is a saved thread on how to acquire a used and inexpensive space saver spare tire and tire changing tools for the Volt. Others have minimized the risk of being stranded by ordering a full-size wheel and tire or having a set of snow tires that can be used if needed. Run flat tires are an option and there is now a version of the EnergySaver A/S tire in size 215/50R17 91H, the same size and load rating as the Volt OE tire, that has Michelin's SelfSeal technology.

 

[JRRF]

Just about any gas station can repair a flat, or at worst have another tire delivered in a day.

 

[BillTinVT]

I agree, any gas station should be able to repair a flat tire. Years ago, when I had a part time job at a local gas station that was among my responsibilities. That's why I am disappointed that my dealer has not offered me better service. My mistake was in relying on the road side assistance service that came with the vehicle. I expected more assistance and better service.

 

[jcanoe]

A puncture of the Michelin EnergySaver A/S tire may not be able to be repaired, a damaged sidewall is not repairable. You need to have a backup plan that includes a spare tire, even if you only carry the spare tire on longer distance trips.

 

[Raymondjram]

Until the perfect tire and hub arrives, we will be depending on this very ancient (over 120 years old) technology*. So for any vehicle, ICE or EV, keep them in good conditions, watch the pressure, and if necessary, carry a spare. My Equinox still has a steel-wheel spare under the trunk cover, but I also carry a "Slime" preset tire inflator (preset at 32 PSI so my wife can use it without worries of correct pressure) and two cans of "Fix-A-Flat" (we have used it twice in previous cars). It may be a hassle to carry all that (the stuff takes up some trunk space), but it is much better than having a flat and no way to get the car running unless it is towed.

Here is the Slime preset inflator (available at Walmart): https://shop.slime.com/collections/...igital-tire-inflator-gen2?variant=45205945800
"With Slime's Inflate Right Technology, simply set your desired pressure on the display, turn on the inflator, and walk away!"

Actually you have to walk back and disconnect the hose when done!
Newer cars have inflators in the trunk but few are preset to the needed pressure, so I recommend it.


* In 1895, André Michelin and his brother, Edouard, were first to use pneumatic tires on a horseless carriage.

 

[stevenwm]

I had a similar experience, but was only mad at myself.

Only 3 days after having bought the car I hit a MASSIVE pot hole while turning into a parking lot. I did attempt to use the inflator, but it didn't do the job. Roadside service arrived within 25 minutes after putting in the onstar call and took the car to the GM dealer down the road, but this was on a Saturday night. So I had to wait until Monday before they could get to it.

Sure I could have fixed the tire somewhere else, but I wanted the dealer to check the suspension for damage as it was quite a hard hit. I was positive at the time I had positive at the time something else would be wrong.

In the end, the only damage was my wallet having to order a new matching tire. Was quite surprised the rim or something else wasn't damaged. The way that I hit the pothole sliced a 4 inch tear right in the center of the tire tread. The tear was so big you could fit 4 fingers through it. No surprise the inflator didn't work!

 

[Off Oil]

Most cars are coming minus a spare tire these days to save weight, so this isn't a Volt specific item. Most flats can also be temporarily patched by the driver. In addition to the GM kit, I keep the Victor screw in plugs along with some small tools to use if needed. These are non-destructive unlike the string style kits.
https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/victor-plug-go-tire-repair-kit-assorted-22-5-60204-8/10294836-P

Any tire place should be able to order the tire if needed and have it in within 24 hours. If your dealer is busy just use a tire place. I picked up a roofing nail in the shoulder of my tire during the last hurricane. I temporarily patched it with the Victor kit, ordered a replacement tire, and had it installed the next day.

 

[Dutch]

While I'm sorry that the OP had a flat tire, I'm baffled at the lack of knowledge he is showing about something as basic as getting a tire repaired. Allowing a car to be sidelined for 5 days over a flat tire isn't a Volt issue, it is an owner issue.

 

[HKPDW]

I bought a donut because I knew that fix-a-flat inflator is a BS way to address the problem.

Take your car to (one of a billion) tire shops and get the flat fixed.

 

[jcanoe]

While I'm sorry that the OP had a flat tire, I'm baffled at the lack of knowledge he is showing about something as basic as getting a tire repaired. Allowing a car to be sidelined for 5 days over a flat tire isn't a Volt issue, it is an owner issue.

Unless the owner believes that the tire failed due to a manufacturing defect, not a puncture or other abuse. The GM new vehicle warranty should cover full replacement of an OE tires that fails with less 15,000 miles. Also, the vehicle was towed to the closest Chevy dealer by GM roadside assistance as that is the only option.

 

[JRRF]

Unless the owner believes that the tire failed due to a manufacturing defect, not a puncture or other abuse. The GM new vehicle warranty should cover full replacement of an OE tires that fails with less 15,000 miles.

I believe tires are only covered by the tire manufacturers warranty. The dealer can process that, but they are not the best place to do it.

 

[jcanoe]

If the op had a space saver spare or a full sized spare tire in the Volt when the flat tire occurred then GM Roadside Assistance could have changed the tire and the op would have be able to go on his way. Then he could deal with the repair or replacement of the damaged tire at the Chevy dealer or a tire dealer at a later time.

 

[pinballlooking]

A couple days after getting our 2018 Volt there was something on the road my wife could not avoid.
It messed up side wall discount tire had a tire the same size but no one had the exact tire. I took the wheel off took it to discount tire they mounted the tire and we were back on the road 2 hours later.
I ordered the correct tire and bought a used Volt wheel off eBay. When the volt’s new tire came in I had the temp tire put on my spare wheel for a full-size spare.
Now Volt has all OEM tires again. Yes, I could have stretched it out for days waiting on the OEM tire but now I have a great spare tire.

 

[Cord]

ROAD-SIDE-SERVICE

I have 3 and a also a friend with a tow-service

1. Onstar- I have been told is limited where they can take you if a quick fix is not possible.
2. my local NTB does have tires for a VOLT
3. The other services have taken me home to get my extra tire

After putting the extra tire in the back of the Volt 4 years ago - I have had no more flats ?

don't forget to replace in glue can in the air pump and place the switch in the AIR ONLY position.

 

[Don M]

. . . . and on the opposite end of the scale

I hit a chunk of asphalt that fell out of a dump truck right in front of me and blew a front tire on one of our little Mitsu EV's. Very unusual front tire size - 145/65R15 which are scarce as hens teeth. We only knew of one manufacturer who made an LRR tire in that size and that's Dunlop who make the OE tires that came on the car

I was on a long bridge when I hit it and before I made it to the end, my TPMS told me I had a low tire. It was a hole in the sidewall, so I pulled over and stuck a stick in the hole, pumped up the tire with the little compressor that came with the car, limped about 3 blocks to the closest tire store and crossed my fingers

We're in a small town and oddball sizes can be hard to come by, but the owner of the store made a couple of phone calls and found someone with a Continental tire in the correct size. I told him to get me a pair and they were delivered from New Orleans within 2 hours and he had me back up and running less than 3 hours from when I blew the tire

I just can't imagine having to wait 5 days for a tire as common as the size used on the Volt, but I suppose much of that depends on how helpful (or not) the dealer you're having to deal with chooses to be

Don

 

[Steverino]

There is a saved thread on how to acquire a used and inexpensive space saver spare tire and tire changing tools for the Volt.

Here is the sticky thread: https://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48058-Volt-Spare-Tire-Guide

 

[O'Dell]

And this was the Volt's fault because -----.

Maybe the poster has now learned that the dealer is about the last place to get a tire repaired.