AKgringo - 12-3-2016 at 09:10 AM
I drove past La Ventana yesterday (excellent pavement) and took the mountain pass to the coast. I last drove it in November 2014, and it has
deteriorated quite a bit since then.
There are no major washouts, and almost all of it is drivable in 2wd, but there are some brutal rocks exposed on the steeper areas that I used low
range 4x4 for a couple of miles to crawl over.
My right rear tire received a small puncture, right about at the edge of where the steel belts end, and there are several pinhole leaks as well
(probably from driving on a flat). It held air well enough to drive ten miles to Los Barriles with two stops to air up.
It is not repairable here in Los Barriles, but the spare is on, and matches the other tires. Do you think it is reasonable to look for a tube, and
use the damaged tire only as a spare until I get back north?
I have a matching replacement in northern CA, and really don't want to deal with finding one SOB
Hook - 12-3-2016 at 10:04 AM
You really should consider pricing one SOB, unless the one NOB is so good and you dont have the money. Tires are a real bargain in Mexico for the same
tire (though you dont get the same warranty, by a longshot). The strong dollar helps but I just think the tire companies have begun pricing tires to
sell in Mexico. Few Mexicans are going to pay the cost of tires in the US, so they have come down. They were always 15-20% higher in Mexico, only a
few years ago.
Or maybe the warranty really does add a lot to the cost of a tire...........
Other than that, I think the tube idea would probably work for getting you back to the border. Maybe add some Slime, too, if you are going to continue
to go off-road until you get back?
[Edited on 12-3-2016 by Hook]
AKgringo - 12-3-2016 at 11:44 AM
Tire shop #1 was the first one I came upon. The proprietor seemed like a grumpy sort of guy, who dunked the tire, said "No possible en Los Barriles",
and charged me 70 pesos to put the spare on.
Tire shop #2 showed me a good used tube, patched the puncture and installed the tube for 150 pesos (I gave him 50 more for great service), and I am
good to go!
At this point, I have satisfied my off road needs for this trip!
By the way, I drove the new, but poorly paved and constructed road to El Cardonal today. It is being repaired and re-paved, and is about 70%
complete!