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Flat tire

Driving into work this morning I took a shortcut I take every morning (for locals: Corkstown Road from Moodie Road to March Road, instead of the 417). About halfway along the road is a level crossing
which isn’t very level; you can usually take most of Corkstown at 120-130 but you want to slow down to 90-100 for the crossing or you’ll bottom out your springs on the other side.

Going over that this morning, I must have gone over hard enough to get a bite in my front left tire, because another quarter mile down the road it was flat.

Luckily I had a good (compact) spare, and it was a cool and cloudy morning, so I got the spare on fine and made my way the rest of the way to work. (I was pleased to see that Saab helpfully includes
a pair of work gloves in with the spare and jack. That plus a moving blanket I keep in the car meant that I didn’t get the least bit dirty while changing a tire.

But now I need a new tire, and I have questions for those of you who know such things. If the tire isn’t repairable (and I don’t think it is, I’m pretty sure it’s a sidewall bite), the options I seem to have
for replacement are:

  • Replace the bad tire with a used tire.
  • Replace the bad tire with a new tire shaved to match the
    others.

  • Replace both front tires.
  • Replace all four tires.

It’s a front-wheel-drive car. Also, if any of you have recommendations for tire shops in the west end of Ottawa, please share.

Edit: One other option that occurred to me: Buy used or cheap or repair for now, then buy snows for winter, then buy a new set of performance tires (I’m running all-seasons now) in the spring.

Another edit: Just went out to take a look at the remaining tires, and there is no question that I’m replacing all four. Four new all-seasons it is, then. Anyone have favorites?

Rich

10 responses to “Flat tire”

  2. Well, I suppose it boils down to economics: if you don’t want to (or can’t) spend the money on more than one tire, using a used or shaved tire isn’t going to kill you.

    But come on, you’re driving a Saab. ;)
    There’s not much point in driving the Saab if you’re not going to do right, ya know? I vote for both front tires at the least. I dunno how old your back tires are, if they’re more than a few (2 or 3?) years old and you feel like being spendy, go for all four, but that’s not strictly necessary.

    Tire shops in the west end?
    Hmmm….might have to think about that one, it’s been a while.

  3. I’m assuming winters are fairly bad there, and I know that if I were still living in NH, I’d opt for the last option. Good snow tires are wonderful things. Of course, that requires dumping out a significant amount more cash than just replacing your front two or even replacing all of them, but if you can spend the money, yummy snow tires. And yummy performance tires, too.

    I’d at least replace your front two, though.

  4. Like fweebles also mentioned, it depends on economics and the state of your current tires. If you’ve got decent tread left on your remaining tires, then just change the front two. If not, you might as well get new tires now.

    I got the best price for tires from Gary’s Automotive, on Edgewater (Kanata, behind East Side Mario’s on Terry Fox). But it does depend on what kind of tires you’re looking to get.

  5. Trying to fly to work again were you :) Good thing you weren’t going the other way.

    Feel like coffee at Bridgehead tomorrow morning?

    Peter

  6. It’s been a long enough (exam) week for Candice that I don’t want to interrupt the usual weekend routine. Also I think I might minimize my driving this weekend. :-) We should grab one some weekday morning if you get up that early.

    Also, if you want an account on here, give me a shout, I’ve got a spare code.