I didn't get the first PiP, nor did I get the first green sticker, but maybe I accomplished at least one first? The first free tow due to a flat tire ? Ran over a nail on my way home. Called Toyota Roadside Assistance. They were entirely familiar with the Plugin and that it had no spare and immediately ordered me a tow truck for free (it did take 95 minutes to arrive, but that was because the previous job had some complications). Got towed to ToyotaOne in Oakland - tire needed to be replaced. ToyotaOne charged me 30% over market rate, but what can you do when you are stranded... Back on the road now
UGH sorry to hear it, and I thought I was the only one to do something like this. Years ago I had a brand new Chrysler and first day I had it I got a flat. PS: it's one way to extend your EV range.
Where in the tire was the nail? Why couldn't it be plugged? If you'd had a spare tire, would you have changed the tire on the spot, or still called Roadside Assistance? Just Curious.
strike one for no spare tire, your at the mercy of wherever they tow you. i suppose most times it could be plugged tho. that's a lot of damage for a nail.
If I had a PIP, J'd get a spare tire. I posted this deal on eBay for a 2010 spare in another thread. eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices 2010, that's a good deal, because rubber deteriorates with age. You don't want a real old one. $70 delivered....that's about what you'd pay at a wrecking yard locally. The used ones might be hard to get, once PIP and other owners withot spare tires realize that they might want one. I am not related and do not endorse the particular eBay vendor.
Really sorry for your experience theiding. My guess is this took about 4 hours of your day, in addition to the 30% mark up. Would have been more had you slimed the flat. Toyota Roadside Assistance...please...people get a spare and learn to change it. A pair of gloves, rear floor mat for the knees, and you don't even get dirty. My wife can do it in 15-20 minutes and she has always worked in an office. The flat can be repaired or replaced later when time permits, and for considerably less time and money. But then again, if you have the extra time, money, can not, or just do not want to change a tire... what business is it of mine.
Maybe it's time that you and the OP shop for a Gen 3 Prius spare and jack. I'd imagine it'd fit. I wonder what other Toyotas have spares that will fit and are the same lug pattern. Leafers get spares from 02+ (?) Altimas at junkyards since Leafs also come w/no spare.
Another good find from the same seller; eBay - New & used electronics, cars, apparel, collectibles, sporting goods & more at low prices A 2010 "spare" from the same seller. Again, I am not affiliated with the seller. Just sounds like a good deal.
I wonder how many owners of the PIP realize they don't have a spare? I know the people on this board realize it, but I bet the majority of people won't know until they get their first flat. Toyota needs to find a way to place a spare somewhere in the car. Sorry it happened to you, but I guess you should consider yourself lucky you weren't somewhere outside of cellphone range, or that it didn't happen at 3am in the morning with everything closed. iPad ?
What a PITA. Did you try to fix the flat with the emergency repair kit? I thought PiPs came with that kit. I agree with others on buying a spare and keeping it nearby. And I would take that puppy with me on long trips --- my time is too valuable to waste waiting around for a tow and repair. And I would definitely complain to Toyota about this incident. They need to have this in their complaint system for trending so their engineers have this as a design input on the next gen PiP.
I'd be interested to know, if there had been a spare tire in the car, would it have been used? Every time I've gotten a nail in a tire, if it is noticed away from home, i can air the tire up enough to get home and plug it myself. Furthermore, what has been provided for tire repair would have gotten the OP back on the road. Granted, I know the disadvantages of using it. Especially considering the car is new. The real shame here is that the provided compressor cannot be used without the GOO In my 30+ yrs of driving I would have preferred a compressor, to a spare tire, in all but 1 circumstance.
Back in 2005,bought a new Accord. After finalizing the paper work, left the dealership. Two minutes down the road, hit a pot hole blew out the tire and damaged the rim. WE walked back to the dealership. They gave us our trade back to go home. The next day all was well, $525.00 All the hassle over price went out the window..... Things do happen!
Back in 2005,bought a new Accord. After finalizing the paper work, left the dealership. Two minutes down the road, hit a pot hole blew out the tire and damaged the rim. WE walked back to the dealership. They gave us our trade back to go home. The next day all was well, $525.00 All the hassle over price went out the window..... Things do happen!
The PIP is not the only car with this experience. Here's a link to a similar situation with a guy with a 2011 Ford Mustang; need a jack and spare... | Mustang Forums at StangNet That's why, I refuse to own or drive a car without a spare tire. My last experience with a flat tire was 10:30 PM at night is a really bad part of town. I had a floor jack and a full sized spare in my work van. 20 minutes, and I'm gone.
What happens if you want to be towed to the nearest discount tire? I would prefer that over a Toyota dealership. If I get a flat, I would most likely use that as an excuse to get rid of the tires the car came with. I cannot wait to get the chance to install a set of Bridgestones Potenza RE960. I know my milage would take hit, but I am willing to sacrifice.
+1 And most people will never know they don't have one until they get that flat. Here is a current list of cars screwing the public. http://www.aaa.com/AAA/corpcomm/socialmedia/No_Spare-Tires.pdf iPad ?
