2008 Pontiac G8 GT: Seal the Deal

That's the same kit that's in our Saturn hybrid. I think we're going to see this more and more.
 
It used to worry about not having a spare too, but since the Saturn is my wife's car, I know that were it there, it would be purely academic anyway.
 
FYI--we have had only very positive experiences with OnStar.

I'd like to know whether spare tires are statistically necessary or are they more for peace of mind? For example, are flat tires and blowouts more common than dead batteries? Engine malfunction? Running out of gas or other fluids? Lost keys and lockouts?

Personally, I can think of only one time that I've had to mount a spare while on the side of the road in my years of driving.

Went to look at one yesterday, what's up with the playskool keyfob. Nice to have remote start though!

Many cars have these tire inflation kits in lieu of a spare tire, including my M3 and the Mazda RX-8.
 
If you are going on a long road trip, you can take an extra wheel/tire for extra insurance. Just make sure the tire is not directional so you can put it on either side.

Doesn’t that tire sealing foam ruin the tire air pressure sensors?
 
I was told never to use that stuff if your car has a tire pressure system. I think a guy at discount tire told me that.

I never use spare tires. USAA (my insurance) gives me roadside for $10/yr. With it, I can get either vehicle towed to the location of my choice (within limits) and if my shop of choice is closed, they'll tow it home and take it to the shop the next morning. I've used it 4 times (blown tire, battery, clutch, snapped axle), saving me at least $500.

so have you guys tried to turn the amp gain up?
 
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=73500&highlight=ve+gain

"For example, are flat tires and blowouts more common than dead batteries? Engine malfunction? Running out of gas or other fluids? Lost keys and lockouts?"
 
I've had way more flats than other problems. 3 flats in recent memory to zero of any other problem. One was a screw that went in the bottom and right out through the sidewall.
 
The only option then I guess would be to get towed to a tire shop? That could be lots of fun if they are closed or a long ways away.
 
Onstar can't send you a tire.

spade - I'm pretty sure OnStar uses an American call center although they have advisors that speak many languages - still, your point is well taken. I don't want to risk my safety b/c someone doesn't understand the subtleties of the english language.

I can't find the amp gain control. I'd love to see a picture of its location.

yeah I know unfortunately the picture that was once in the thread is down. But some of the replys in there explain it to some degree IIRC. All i can remember from the pic is that its under the trim on the left side of the trunk... shame I don't own a G8 to check it out
EDIT:
found another thread with the location explained
http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=91187&highlight=ve+amp+gain

All the Onstar advisors I've talked to are native English speakers. I had a flat on my b-day on the way to work and rather than change it, drive home, change me, drive back I decided to use Onstar and wait for the tow truck. They were very clear to check to see if I knew whether the spare was usable or not as they would try to send someone with a spare if possible to avoid a tow. They called back when the tow truck was confirmed, called again to say he was enroute and once more about 10 minutes after he left to say they had gotten word he finished and see if everything was good. Although there are cheaper services (e.g. AAA), I don't think they can get much better than this. That said, in almost 5 years of Onstar, that was the only time I actually used it other than as a cell phone.

I wouldn't be too worried about not having a spare as long as this would get the tire aired up enough to drive home or to a shop. I can count on one hadn the number of times I have had a flat. (knocking on wood)
 
A couple have been in my driveway where I have an air compressor avaible for quick pumps. I am trying to remember if I have ever been stuck on the side of the road with a flat??? The only time I can remember was when a spare would have done me no good anyway because it was a hunk of scrap metal that fell of the back of a semi that took out too of my tires.
 
I think the doughnet in my wife's car has been used once and the spare for my truck maybe a couple of times in the past 4 or 5 years? I have had a dead battery and even run out of gas more than I have had to use the spare.

Gain control adjustment... pictures copied from: http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24774

I have no problem with no spare. 26 years of driving and I can think of only one or two occassions when the damage to the tire was so significant that it couldn't have been temporarilty fixed with fix-a-flat and a compressor.

Another positive review for OnStar. One time I drained the battery airing up the tires before we left on a vacation. They were there in 20 minutes to jump start us. But it's much more than just roadside assistance. Even the basic package without navigation or telephone minutes includes remote vehicle unlocking, diagnostic check, monthly email with maintenance reminder, mileage, and tire pressure readings. And of course the accident notification and emergency response if airbags deploy. Plus all that works by satellite, so you're not dependent on a strong cell phone signal to call for help. It might not be worth the cost to some - I probably wouldn't pay for it on the car I just drive to and from work every day. But I'm very happy to have it on the vehicle that my wife and children are often running around in and we use for road trips and vacations.

Corvettes have had inflater kits for a long time and I don't think that anyone has had a really bad experience. In the world we live in, from Onstar to cell phones to tires being so much better I don't see a great deal to worry about.
As a former automotive service professional I noticed more missing, damaged or flat spare tires than I did good usable equipment.

Drive every day without a spare in my cooper and in my old BMW I did the same) with normal tires. Shrug. That's why I have a cell phone and roadside assistance. I've little need for a spare as most of my driving is within 30-40 miles of home.
 
M cars, Porsches, etc don't have spares and their owners survive just fine.

I think a lot of guys keep paying for Onstar in vehicles that are driven mainly by their wife. I’ve heard that from more than one husband.
 
Your wife’s car can have three spare tires in the trunk, but if she’s not going to get out and change a flat there not doing much good.
 
  Another advantage of Onstar is that they know where you are based on gps, which can be priceless if you are traveling somewhere out of your normal area. Giving road side assistance directions to somewhere that you are not familiar with can be quite the challenge. I had a fuel pump go out on a ski trip to Vermont a few years ago, and would have killed to be able to give the tow truck better directions.

My Z06 has the same setup - no spare, tire inflation kit in the trunk. I would rather have this system than runflat tires or a spare tire at least for the Corvette. Maybe I've just been lucky, and I probably just jinxed myself, but I've never had a flat in the Z06, and I'm OK with calling for a flatbed in the event of a major tire failure.
 
But for a full size 4-door mainstream sedan, even if its a sports sedan like the G8 GT, I would rather sacrifice a little trunk space and weight for a donut spare tire.

Not too many motorbikes carry spare tyres either and they seem to get along just fine. I carry a plug repair kit and compressor on mine, just in case.
Can carry the same thing on a car.
http://www.stopngo.com/automotive.asp

For those here who don't frequent Jalopnik or Autoblog, ya'll will probably enjoy this short clip from SPEED/NASCAR Channel's Test Drive show for the Pontiac G8 featuring Tommy Kendall, Adam Carolla, and 50 Cent.
 
Pontiac G8 SPEED Test Drive clip (HTML used due to link length)

"I don't want to risk my safety b/c someone doesn't understand the subtleties of the english language"
 
Try talking to a tow truck driver from Louisiana.

Or Canada Aye!

"Or Canada Aye!"
 
I think the stereotype is "eh", not "aye", lol.

we'll work on the gain control this weekend when the car isn't locked in our cave-like underground parking structure.

I've been driving for 29 years, over 1 million KM and a dozen cars.
 
While driving I've broken...
2 timing belts
2 clutch cables
1 serpentine belt
1 heater hose
1 alternator
1 fuel pump
1 connecting rod (that was messy)
1 lower ball joint (that was scary)
and an entire radiator.
 
(Not all on the same car)
 
I have never had a flat tire while on the road. If my car doesn't have a spare, I'm not concerned.

A lot of cars are omitting spares to save space, save weight and to enlarge trunk volumes. On top of that, wheels are getting bigger which means that spares are becoming much smaller than the standard wheels.

It's called cost cutting. I think this is a crock of [expletive]. I would not be happy if I only got an inflating kit instead of an actual spare.
 
Which other vehicles do this? I'll make sure not to buy those cars

My 2007 911 Carrera gives you a compressor and can of fix a flat. Apparently if you are creative you can fit a spare in the back seat, but I have no idea how you'd actually get it past the front seats.

umsneeze - don't VW's have the spare in the front boot?
How would fix a flat work on some of those monster tires 911s get?

If you have air pressure sensors inside the tire, you are not supposed to use fix a flat. It can ruin the pressure sensors. At least that's what they told me at Discount Tire, and AutoZone.

The last generation 996 Carrera's had spares, but they've gone to the compressor and tire goop. I've not looked to see how much goop there is, but you're supposed to re-inflate and drive, keeping an eye on your pressure sensor...so I guess their goop doesn't interfere with them. Or the sensors are just considered "expendable".

"Which other vehicles do this? I'll make sure not to buy those cars"
 
Cobalt will not have a spare for 2009. Camaro doesnt have one either. I think the CTS may not have one, but I'm not sure.