Spiked tyre? what're the options

[NightFlight]

Hi,

Bought my favourite model of the Rolla Seca a few weeks ago. A 1991 liftback. The AE92.

Used to drive one as my company vehicle on lease in a really great job & fell in love with the model.

This is in fact the FIRST car I've actually owned. So apart from some reading, and knowing what I like in a car I am not at all experienced in their maintenance.

The car's in great condition (thanks in part to the rustproof armouring throughout and low Kms).

However some S#^%%$##H**! mhhm, bent the aerial back on itself a few days ago at a shopping centre and also did something to the rear right hand tyre. Something to do with the local idea of Christmas cheer or whatever <_< ....

Anyway the aerial is one thing, but that tyre now loses pressure from the 235 KPa (pressure the back pair have been on) down to about 120 KPa (34 to 16 PSI) cold.

These are the pressures the tyres came at, so the ideal pressures are another matter.

This tyre was fine for the ten days up till this incident, I didn’t see what the unmentionable did to it as all I saw was the figure running away, but now it drops after reinflation within an hour or so.

The tyre hasn’t a mark on it, and looks fine with plenty of tread and no obvious wear, just like it’s left hand twin.

The two back tyres are Firestone Firehawk TZ100s.

What I’d like to know are what are my options here. Obviously the tyre needs to be fixed / replaced ASAP.

But is there any hope of fixing a tyre like this? Can a puncture hole be found and fixed or is it just a matter of replacing it?

[SuperDave]

Drop the wheel and tyre off at a tyre shop and let them find the hole and fix it. There are some locations on the tyre, eg. the sidewall, where a puncture cannot be fixed and you'll then be up for a new one.

[NightFlight]

Drop the wheel and tyre off at a tyre shop and let them find the hole and fix it. There are some locations on the tyre, eg. the sidewall, where a puncture cannot be fixed and you'll then be up for a new one.

Thanks for that SuperDave.

If the tyre needs replacing, I guess it's important to get the same brand and similar model tyre to have a complimentary tread pattern with its left hand twin?

Edited December 29, 2008 by NightFlight

[NightFlight]

Actually this could not have happened at a worst time or time of year!

The rego is due on the 5th Jan & I was just about to take the car into have a Pink Slip check done before that at the nearest Toyota authorised dealer (in Brookvale, Nthn Beaches, Sydney).

(BTW what are the board policies on mentioning / recommending actual mechanics & service dealers? Honest reviews & accounts of them would be really helpful at this stage.)

In any case I am wondering now

1) Does the tyre problem need to be fixed before the pink slip can be issued?

2) Would I be better off going to a specialised Tyre service centre for that or hand it all over to the Toyota Service Centre?

I am working on a tight budget with a severe physical disability. How much do mechanics usually charge to change over to your spare wheel anyway?

[Keisari]

Actually this could not have happened at a worst time or time of year!

The rego is due on the 5th Jan & I was just about to take the car into have a Pink Slip check done before that at the nearest Toyota authorised dealer (in Brookvale, Nthn Beaches, Sydney).

(BTW what are the board policies on mentioning / recommending actual mechanics & service dealers? Honest reviews & accounts of them would be really helpful at this stage.)

In any case I am wondering now

1) Does the tyre problem need to be fixed before the pink slip can be issued?

2) Would I be better off going to a specialised Tyre service centre for that or hand it all over to the Toyota Service Centre?

I am working on a tight budget with a severe physical disability. How much do mechanics usually charge to change over to your spare wheel anyway?

By pink slip, do you mean roadworthy? Sorry about my ignorance!

You don't need to take it to Toyota for a roadworthy. They will go right through the car, indeed, but you will probably pay a 100%+ premium for their time. If all you need is a roadworthy, just take it to a decent auto shop. There's really nothing that even a crappy auto shop can't handle.

To answer your questions:

1) Yes, but they probably won't notice. I would fix it anyway, it won't be too expensive.

2) Tire shop.

3) AFAIK, you are free to post your experiences with various dealers and recommend services, so long as you are not obviously trying to defame or sell something you have commercial interest in. Othres will probably thank you for it! Check out the general discussion forum.

[SuperDave]

If you have Toyota repair the damaged tyre; all they most likely will do is take it up the road to a tyre shop and have them fix it and then charge you extra money for the privilege. I think KMart charges something like $20 if it is repairable. If you need to replace it then it is recommended that you replace it with the same/similar tyre, it isn't law, but make sure the sizes are at least the same. This is so that the car wont pull to one side under brakes, or in rain etc.

[NightFlight]

I'm not suggesting taking this 1991 Seca back to Toyota ;)

I'm talking about going to a “Toyota approved” place on the basis that they at least might have more experience with this type of car and be able to source parts -

(though for the AE92 models I have a sense Ebay is the best source there,

any other suggestions for parts for these early 1990s models?).

I've called around for quotes on getting the Pinkslip (yes that’s what the roadworthiness certificate is called in NSW) and everyone large and small seems to be charging a flat rate of $31.70 for the test.

Then it's a matter of paying the registration renewal to the RTA and getting the CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance from one of the insurers that provide that (I'm thinking of NRMA & them as well for the Comprehensive Insurance).

BTW which one of those is the "Green Slip" the rego paid to the RTA or the CTP paid to the insurer? The terms are thrown around as if synonomous.

They're not the same thing are they?

This may all sound very basic, but remember I've been using Company Cars until now, & the info is always useful to other 1st car buyers.

The “Toyota approved” place I was thinking of going to is Bill Buckle Toyota at Brookvale (Nthn Beaches, Sydney), which is handy to me. I spose one has to start a relationship with a mechanic shop sometime and see if they are any good.

The other nearest place is in Mosman (lower North Shore Sydney). But they quoted twice the price for fixing a minor problem with the Auto Transmission indicator plate (misaligned) which I ended up doing myself.

Edited December 29, 2008 by NightFlight

[Rolla Boy]

I want your wheels haha...

Trying to find a set at the moment...

Bill Buckle and Mosman Toyota are the more expensive of the two dealers around the North Shore/Beaches area...

I work at Chatswood Toyota and we're always good with prices, even through the tough economic times where the other dealers upped their costs...

We can repair your puncture and do the pink slip...

In regards to the different slips:

Pink slip is a rego check

Green slip is your compulsary 3rd party insurance - cheapest is always NRMA...

Get your pink slip done, then go and get your green slip, then take both papers to the RTA and pay your registration... Must be done in this order...

[NightFlight]

Thanks for that info Rolla Boy.

[greg05rolla]

mate if you cant find the puncture feel for a leak out of the valve. you can loosen the valve so it leaks the air out. there have been some people in the US letting peoples tyres down in carparks waiting for the drivers to get out and look at their flat then they jump in and drive off! well back to the point try feel for a leak from the valve or maybe put some water with detergent in it on the valve and see if it bubbles. good luck with it!!

[NightFlight]

mate if you cant find the puncture feel for a leak out of the valve. you can loosen the valve so it leaks the air out. there have been some people in the US letting peoples tyres down in carparks waiting for the drivers to get out and look at their flat then they jump in and drive off! well back to the point try feel for a leak from the valve or maybe put some water with detergent in it on the valve and see if it bubbles. good luck with it!!

Worth a try, I'm darned if I can find any sign of a puncture in the tread or side wall (though the tread is very hard to check while on the vehicle).

I'll give the suds a try.

I've managed to get the car to a service station that has normal, useful, air hoses that have the pressure gauges right at the nozzle, as opposed to some computer readout at the pump and 5 KPa units for inflation only. I hate those pumps like over userfriendly/controlling Microsoft sw.

Anyway the the tyre is going down about 10 KPa an hour.

[NightFlight]

OK the tyre's fixed.

In the end took it to Beaurepaires as it was nearest to the latest appointment I had.

They found a previous "service station patch" had come out and fixed the tyre for $35.

Nice service.

As for the Rego, which was complicated by being due right in the Silly Season, don't ask. All I'll say is I took it to the nearest approved Toyota dealer and they completely crapped up the entire operation.

I should have gone to Chatswood Toyota as Rolla Boy suggested (just they were closed on the day I needed it).

The very well known place I did go do MISdirected me to their own Service Department (actually gave me the wrong cross streets), but most importantly didn't tell me their computers had gone down that day.

It took another week and a return visit to get the Pink slip converted to the electronic form & sent to the RTA as I needed.

Check the place's computers are running before getting your pink slip. A written one is useless if you want to renew online.

Anyway THANKS to everyone who's contributed to this thread.

Edited January 10, 2009 by NightFlight