GT-PE Tire Replacement Experience

[Rhndrsn]

Afternoon, Y’all!

Today had a nasty tire puncture that deflated the tire in about a minute. Not sure what I ran over just yet, but wanted to let people know what to expect throughout.

I heard and felt the tire going before it alerted to being low pressure. Was able to remember where the tire pressure tile was and see it losing pressure rapidly before the alarms started going off. Pretty soon after that alarms did go off and warning banner was on small cluster. Able to reverse into parking with no real issues.

I remembered to back into parking due to lack of rear tow points.

MachE had the inflator and flat kit as expected, but since this was so bad, it would have done very little or been unsafe to drive after sliming it.

Car does not have a spare - known. But it also doesn’t have a jack or a lug wrench - unknown but fine. Ford’s roadside said they’d have to tow it which seems pretty wild for the situation. Found a jack from another car and found there are indicated jack points on the underside.


Car is heavy. Recommend putting a flat piece of wood, a crushed coke can, really anything to help jack not sink into hot asphalt. Lug nuts are 13/16 inch and not all that tight. Theoretically 150 ft-lbs per manual.

Very unlikely anyone locally will have the tire in-stock. This was sort of surprising to me. All could mostly get it in about a day from a supplier. I live in Denver so your results may vary.

All in all, if you have a catastrophic tire failure, very likely it’s getting towed and also very likely you’re not driving it home that night. Not sure taking off the tire and running it around will help me any sooner than towing it.

Just passing along my experience so the expectation is set if it happens to someone else.

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[HuntingPudel]

Sorry to see this happen to you. Those summer Pirellis are very hard to get. I hope someone can find one for you. You might be stuck in having to get something different of the same size, which would affect vehicle handling balance and performance. ??

 

[scoopman]

WOW where did you pick that thing up in your tire? lucky it didn't get kicked up and do more damage to your car than just a tire.

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

Thanks for the post. I purchased a jack for the car, in case I am out in the middle of now where and AAA is hours away. At least I can try to fix the tire. Yes, I have a plug repair kit. I did not think about the piece of wood to put under the jack. Will put something in my trunk. Also, liked the tip about backing into a spot, so you can get it towed.

I believe the lug nuts, depending upon your car, should be a 21mm or 22mm. I changed mine out to McGard black lugs so mine are now 21 mm. I put a large breaker bar, with a piece of small pipe to ensure I can get the lugs removed. They should be tightened to 150 ft-lbs, per the manual. That max'd out my torque wrench.

I believe, if you use the sealant to fix the leak, it is a time and mileage limited fix. I have not read the manual on Ford's sealant but it should be similar to Slime tire sealant, and I have read the instructions for Slime. Slime indicates it should be removed in 3 days or 100 miles. I assume, since they do not say it, that the hole in your tire should be properly repaired. Tire plugs work great for small, holes on the tread. As I noted, I have one in my car, just in case. However, I would probably stop by a tire shop, have them double check my work and also put a patch on the inside as well as use the plug. Once, done, have them rebalance the tire since the plug and patch are going to throw off the balance. Either way, you are down for a half or full day, depending where you are, what day it is and how buys the tire shop is.

Oh a tip for you @Rhndrsn , if you are replacing the tire, you need to talk to the tire shop about how the current tire wear (> 40 to 50%). Some shops only replace tires in pairs (i.e. two fronts, if the front tire is damaged) depending upon how much life they have left on them. If you tires are more than 70%, expect to replace all four. The reason for replacing in pairs or all four has to do with noise, ride, handling, braking, etc.

 

[Rhndrsn]

Ended up finding a dealership that could order, have it delivered, and mount/balance same day. If you need service in the Denver area, Sill-TerHar was attentive, responsive, and helpful! From what I can tell, they gave me a substantial deal on the rubber. Maybe 10% below online retail? Played the uno reverse on them and paid with some of those Ford Credit points. ?

Feel like there are about too many options as far as replacements. Ended up with a PZero with all the appropriate markings, ratings, and size buttt it doesn’t have the Elect notation on it. Ended up with part number Pirelli 1791700. Only had 2300 miles on the tires so hopefully wear will be equal enough. Have driven it a bit free-spirited - time will tell.

Had a neighbor with a big-boy torque wrench to take it up to 150.

Saga over - I think.

Hope someone gets some info here that may be helpful if they find themself in the unfortunate situation.

 

[Rhndrsn]

Super good points and good on you for thinking ahead. Hard to see myself not at least getting a jack and a tiny hole patch kit moving forward. Put that junk in the frunk. Getting stranded up in the mountains sounds like a potential nightmare.

Thanks for the post. I purchased a jack for the car, in case I am out in the middle of now where and AAA is hours away. At least I can try to fix the tire. Yes, I have a plug repair kit. I did not think about the piece of wood to put under the jack. Will put something in my trunk. Also, liked the tip about backing into a spot, so you can get it towed.

I believe the lug nuts, depending upon your car, should be a 21mm or 22mm. I changed mine out to McGard black lugs so mine are now 21 mm. I put a large breaker bar, with a piece of small pipe to ensure I can get the lugs removed. They should be tightened to 150 ft-lbs, per the manual. That max'd out my torque wrench.

I believe, if you use the sealant to fix the leak, it is a time and mileage limited fix. I have not read the manual on Ford's sealant but it should be similar to Slime tire sealant, and I have read the instructions for Slime. Slime indicates it should be removed in 3 days or 100 miles. I assume, since they do not say it, that the hole in your tire should be properly repaired. Tire plugs work great for small, holes on the tread. As I noted, I have one in my car, just in case. However, I would probably stop by a tire shop, have them double check my work and also put a patch on the inside as well as use the plug. Once, done, have them rebalance the tire since the plug and patch are going to throw off the balance. Either way, you are down for a half or full day, depending where you are, what day it is and how buys the tire shop is.

Oh a tip for you @Rhndrsn , if you are replacing the tire, you need to talk to the tire shop about how the current tire wear (> 40 to 50%). Some shops only replace tires in pairs (i.e. two fronts, if the front tire is damaged) depending upon how much life they have left on them. If you tires are more than 70%, expect to replace all four. The reason for replacing in pairs or all four has to do with noise, ride, handling, braking, etc.

 

[Rhndrsn]

Man, like 50 feet from my office. It’s in an industrial area so maybe I should expect 4 inch steel rods to be in the traffic lane. ?‍
Lucky it wasn’t worse, but I’ll still be salty. Haha

WOW where did you pick that thing up in your tire? lucky it didn't get kicked up and do more damage to your car than just a tire.

 

[Rhndrsn]

Sure wasn’t easy and feel just too many options. Ended up with the Pirelli part listed in the this thread as a reply.

Sorry to see this happen to you. Those summer Pirellis are very hard to get. I hope someone can find one for you. You might be stuck in having to get something different of the same size, which would affect vehicle handling balance and performance. ??

 

[scoopman]

Sure wasn’t easy and feel just too many options. Ended up with the Pirelli part listed in the this thread as a reply.

I only got 4400mi out of my OE pirellis.... Hope you get more out of your set!

 

[Rhndrsn]

Not surprised your contractors failed twice! LOL. Too soon?

But to be fair, these tires do shed rubber quickly. Probably have mine gauged to see how different they are based on what you said. Service said like 3/32 inch difference should be fine.

I only got 4400mi out of my OE pirellis.... Hope you get more out of your set!

 

[scoopman]

Not surprised your contractors failed twice! LOL. Too soon?

But to be fair, these tires do shed rubber quickly. Probably have mine gauged to see how different they are based on what you said. Service said like 3/32 inch difference should be fine.

Not too soon -- admittedly I drove the car like it should be driven! I need a tire sponsor perhaps.

That said, the Pirellis are soft and have a low wear rating. I would have probably done what you did though if I had to replace one tire and they weren't all worn.

I have a thread on the whole topic and what I replaced them with.
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...o-much-new-shoes-installed.15454/#post-369511

 

[Larry Paul]

fyi:

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/catalogue/product/new-p-zero/245_45-r20?ipcode=3835300

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