Flatted! Michelin Pilot 21 - rear driver's side

[KombuchaBioleather]

I hit a hidden bump in the road fairly hard while turning right in sport plus mode yesterday evening on the way home from work. Immediately began losing pressure in left rear (driver's side - US) tire. By the time I got home (about 2 miles) pressure was virtually nil. We had strong thunderstorms w/ threat of hail last night, and the tow truck did not come promptly, so I waited till morning to get it towed to the dealership. They're doing the software update and swapping out the tire; estimated time for pickup is tomorrow afternoon. Comments on the experience so far:

1. Boo! Local dealer issue: No loaner offered - Porsche Dallas says they generally have a one week lead time on loaners. REALLY? At the local Lexus dealership (Sewell), they practically carry you from your vehicle to a loaner upon arrival - will even pick up your vehicle and deliver one to you if you ever need a tow. Porsche Dallas: take notes!

2. Boo! Not directly a Porsche/local dealer issue, but they promised me the tow at 8am (after finally cancelling the tow last night at 11pm due to the storms), and the tow didn't arrive until 9:30. I know, tow trucks, right? Not a huge deal, but, ahem, how much was this car / aren't I paying for "exceeds expectations" service?

3. Yay!(?) Porsche dealership is (allegedly) getting the software update done today/by tomorrow. Have seen several posters on here whose vehicles were stuck at the dealership for weeks while the updates were in progress. So one day-ish seems good for that. Will report back on whether they came through. I wouldn't say they gave me an ironclad guarantee on when it would be ready. . .

4. Yay! I was worried that I'd wasted my money on the tire protection plan, but this is (should be) all covered, so apparently it was a good investment.

5. LOL! / Boo? The anti-theft alarm kept going off once the car was on the flat bed tow truck. It is loud. I don't know how to turn it off, so it probably kept getting triggered all the way to the dealership. Also, as he was leaving, the tow truck driver hit the frunk button on the key fob to turn of the alarm - fortunately I was able to stop him before he got away and closed the frunk (I think he learned which button to press after that).

Finally, a note: More than anything (i.e. my driving), I think I blame the car's weight, combined with the sport plus setting, for this flat. Hitting that hidden and relatively small bump (fairly hard) while turning produced the immediate resulting flat. Lesson learned (I think) is to keep it in normal or sport mode except when on familiar/smooth/predictable roads. That weight combined with stiff suspension (sport plus) is potentially a problem on uneven roads / sharp cracks . . . might not be as risky with 20" wheels, but definitely something to be careful about. YMMV. Stay safe, y'all!

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[alxman]

I would also be worried about damaging the suspension which would be an expensive repair. Hopefully not since the worse damage occurred on the rear tire.
Also, make sure the car is not pulling to one side or vibrating with speed. If so, it may need wheels alignment. I suspect the balancing is done as part of the wheel replacement.

 

[krissrock]

Yea I'm sure they need time to have loaners. Idk how Lexus does it,... but i scheduled my update and requested a loaner... They gave me a Taycan, which I kept for a day, despite my car being ready in hours

 

[SuperH]

I feel your pain (and relief that you/I got tyre & alloy insurance!).

2 months into having mine I managed to get a sizeable piece of metal stuck in also the rear drivers tyre. In the UK, Porsche Assist is run by The AA, who are fairly reliable at picking up (they got to me in two hours, which was what they had estimated). However, if the Porsche dealer is closed at the time of pick up,, as was the case for me, they have to take you home then pick it up again the following morning to take to the dealer, who then don't keep the tyres in stock. Porsche had my car for 48 hours sourcing and fitting a replacement. Thankfully we have a spare car in the household I could utilise, although Porsche Assist will arrange an alternative hire car from Enterprise if the dealer doesn't have one available.

The process for the tyre insurance claim was speedy and Porsche Wolverhampton provided me with the details and photos to support my claim. It's just a shame you have to pay for it yourself them claim it back afterwards but hey ho. Having had one repairable puncture and two replacement tyres on my previous Audi e-Tron (good old UK roads and their unavoidable pot holes and debris during the winter) I opted for the 3 year/£800 tyre and alloy insurance. I've currently claimed £350 against it in just 6 months, and possibly one minor alloy repair to come which I'm yet to arrange - after having to swerve out of the way of a food delivery cyclist with a death wish/on target for my wing mirror.

As an aside - my Macan was in for the latest software update last week and it was in and out in a day. Fingers crossed yours is the same.

 

[KombuchaBioleather]

So . . . crazy update - somehow I hit a metal rod when I got the puncture, and the rod went through not only the tire, but also the rim. THANK GOODNESS I GOT THE INSURANCE!! The outside of the rim was untouched - looks brand new still. But, they said they mounted the replacement tire and it kept losing pressure, which is how they determined the rim was punctured. Porsche says they'll send me pics. Anyway, they say they won't be able to get a new rim before the end of this month, which is a bummer.

However, credit to Porsche Dallas: when they determined that I would need the camera recall done (evidently before they realized the rim was damaged), they gave me a Cayenne S as a loaner, so at least I won't be stuck in a rental while I wait on the new rim.

Finally, ICE drivers/apologists, take note from this former ICE driver: there is no comparison between the Macan 4S EV and this (very nice) Cayenne S. None. The acceleration is good in the Cayenne, but it's laggy, obviously, in comparison to my Macan EV. The V8 Cayenne S makes all kinds of burbles and pops and growly sounds, which only seem a little ridiculous now that I've experienced the brutal thrust of my 4S. Gear shifts? How quaint! And, oy, gas station visits? Really? Ugh. End of this month cannot come quickly enough! Comfort is good, but the Cayenne's cushy seats are also no comparison to my 18-way sport seats. Even the interior space doesn't seem remarkably better - a little more leg room in the back, but not appreciably more storage (if any) in the trunk/boot (they gave me the Coupe version, so maybe the traditional format Cayenne is better for space?). And the Cayenne's Bose, while nice, isn't as good as the Burmester in my Macan. No RAS, no air suspension. Given that this Cayenne is probably $10-15k more than my somewhat loaded 4S, I feel like I got an absolute steal on my (yes, still very expensive) Macan 4S.

 

[KombuchaBioleather]

Just a little (non)update: Evidently Porsche mines its own metals before it forges wheels for the Macan - or at least it must, as my 4S remains in the shop (since the 4th of June!), waiting on a new wheel to be conjured by Porsche. In the meantime, I'm still driving a very nice loaner Cayenne S. . . and I can't stand it.

Ok, that's a bit strong, but the Cayenne's loud and growly V8 is extremely obnoxious (and admittedly kinda fun), its infotainment system is rubbish compared with the 4S's, its steel suspension is good/fine but a little floaty and no match for the 4S's air suspension, AND, get this: in order to drive this Cayenne S, one has to visit these infernal places periodically - they're called "gas" stations. Like this Cayenne, they're stinky and expensive and I much prefer to avoid them. So . . . how long till I get my baby back? PORSCHE DALLAS NOW SAYS IT WILL BE THE [BLEEPING] 5th OF JULY!?!?! Make it stop! (And yes, this is the most ridiculous first-world whining ever, I know, but seriously, I really really miss my 4S!)

 

[krissrock]

my man hit an adamantium rod on the road....

i don't believe porsche wheels are forged are they? Aren't they just cast?

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