What percentage of flat tires can be saved?

[Maxmillian]

In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?

I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.

One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).

After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.

Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.

Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?

I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?

Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.

I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.

Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

[Ed P]

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

In recent years I've only had two flats. One was plugged and lasted 4
years until it, like the others, was worn. The last one was bout 6
months ago. Patched inside, re-balanced. Total was $28 and a half hour.

I've heard they no longer plug tires as they don't always hold up as
well as a patch inside.

Good luck with your choice but I cannot justify buying equipment,
especially since the time the tire was plugged I was 600 miles from home.

[Maxmillian]

Post by Ed P
In recent years I've only had two flats. One was plugged and lasted 4
years until it, like the others, was worn. The last one was bout 6
months ago. Patched inside, re-balanced. Total was $28 and a half hour.

I don't normally get flats myself, but I was counting the whole family.
It average to something like one flat a year, which, at $28 would be fine
but it's more than four times that when they talk you into a new tire.

I don't think your half hour is even close to the time unless you were able
to drive on the flat tire, as I'd say it takes at least a half hour just to
remove all the crap in the trunk, remove the spare, figure out where the
jack is, put it together, remove the old tire, and throw it back in the
trunk.

Then there's the wait at the tire shop where just waiting on the line could
be half of that half hour. So unless you live across the street from the
GoodYear tire shop, it's almost impossible for it to be a half hour where I
live. The commute alone is an hour.

Post by Ed P
I've heard they no longer plug tires as they don't always hold up as
well as a patch inside.

The guy showed me a "t-shaped" round patch with a wire in the middle what
was blue on the inside end and black on the outside end. He called it a
patchplug as I recall and he definitely removed the tire because he showed
me the inside of the tire.

Post by Ed P
Good luck with your choice but I cannot justify buying equipment,
especially since the time the tire was plugged I was 600 miles from home.

If I can save a hundred dollars a year, maybe the "tire press" will be less
than something like five years or five hundred dollars I'm hoping.

Do they sell a "tire press" for around five or six hundred dollars?

[Ed P]

Post by Maxmillian

Post by Ed P
In recent years I've only had two flats. One was plugged and lasted 4
years until it, like the others, was worn. The last one was bout 6
months ago. Patched inside, re-balanced. Total was $28 and a half hour.

I don't normally get flats myself, but I was counting the whole family.
It average to something like one flat a year, which, at $28 would be fine
but it's more than four times that when they talk you into a new tire.
I don't think your half hour is even close to the time unless you were able
to drive on the flat tire, as I'd say it takes at least a half hour just to
remove all the crap in the trunk, remove the spare, figure out where the
jack is, put it together, remove the old tire, and throw it back in the
trunk.
Then there's the wait at the tire shop where just waiting on the line could
be half of that half hour. So unless you live across the street from the
GoodYear tire shop, it's almost impossible for it to be a half hour where I
live. The commute alone is an hour.

In the first case, the tire was flat at the hotel we stayed at. My car
came with 5 years roadside assistance so I called. Half hour wait.
Trunk was loaded. Rather that change it, I had him pump up the tire and
I drove it a mile to a shop and it was plugged.

The other was leaking. Stopped at the tire shop 2 miles from me and
made an appointment for the next morning. Few pounds low, but driveable.

From your description, glad I don't live where you live. Never had
much of a wait at a tire shop over the years.

[Gronk]

My neighbourhood small garage can patch my tire and then balance it
again for $20.

I think the OP's insinuation is he can patch a tire that they won't patch.
That's his choice to make. We all make choices that pros won't make for us.

Each tire he "saves" (which is his personal choice to do) nets him $100 (or
whatever) plus the $20 plus he saves what he calls elapsed time doing it.

$500 for the machine will be the cost of having 25 tires
fixed by a professional,

Did you take into account that tires need to be replaced every few years?

I don't know how many cars are in the guy's household, but for easy math,
assume 4 cars & 4 years per tire, that's a hundred more dollars a year.

I don't think I will
ever need to fix 25 tires in my lifetime.

The benefit of doing repairs at home are why people do repairs at home.
Those who will never repair things at home will never see the benefit.

and you still need to factor in the cost of the
patches and glue if you do it yourself at home.

There's no way you can't get patches and stems and weights for less than
the professionals are going to charge you for the lower quality items.

I've noticed people who have never done something are always the ones
saying that it can't be done. We need to ask someone who has done it.

Whoever posted those videos shows that it can easily be done at home.

[rbowman]

Post by Gronk
I've noticed people who have never done something are always the ones
saying that it can't be done. We need to ask someone who has done it.
Whoever posted those videos shows that it can easily be done at home.

Very few of the videos show when the project turns to shit. You know, when
your entire vocabulary has been pruned down to 'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!' as you
beat on the tire with a 5lb hammer trying to get the fucking bead to seat.

I've noticed the people who have never done something tend to be over
optimistic.

[Gronk]

Post by rbowman

Post by Gronk
I've noticed people who have never done something are always the ones
saying that it can't be done. We need to ask someone who has done it.
Whoever posted those videos shows that it can easily be done at home.

Very few of the videos show when the project turns to shit. You know, when
your entire vocabulary has been pruned down to 'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!' as you
beat on the tire with a 5lb hammer trying to get the fucking bead to seat.
I've noticed the people who have never done something tend to be over
optimistic.

People promoting it often make it sound a little bit easier than it is.
People deprecating it always make it sound a lot harder than it really is.

Usually they're just justifying why _they_ would never do home repairs.
You have to wonder why they are on a home repair newsgroup after all.

[Michael]

Post by Gronk

Post by rbowman
I've noticed the people who have never done something tend to be over
optimistic.

People promoting it often make it sound a little bit easier than it is.
People deprecating it always make it sound a lot harder than it really is.
Usually they're just justifying why _they_ would never do home repairs.
You have to wonder why they are on a home repair newsgroup after all.

It's quick.
It's easy.

It's safe.
It's effective.

Just like putting on a condom.
If you don't want to wear a condom, you'll come up with reasons why not.

Same here.
The only ones worried about it are those who don't like doing the job.

I've done it. Many times. It's easy. Most of the time. You'll never fail.
I've made every mistake you can make and I corrected every one by now.

Although there are still a few handy tools I haven't gotten around to
buying, mostly because the tools I have haven't failed me on any tire.

However, the smaller the tire, the easier it is.
Also the lower the load range, the easier it is.

I've done from econobox tires to LT tires with that HF tire mounting kit.
Ask me any questions you want.

Anyone saying it's difficult has never done it.
Anyone saying it takes too much time has never done it.
Anyone saying it's too dangerous has a low tolerance for danger.

It's kind of like when people say making your own salad dressing is hard.
They say you can't make soup or you'll end up poisoning the whole family.

If you want to do it, you'll experiment & buy the tools & learn the steps.
If you don't want to do it, you'll make up any reason why you can't do it.

It's no different than anything else.

Like welding, or jumping out of airplanes, or fixing your own sprinklers.
If someone wants to do it, it's easy to do (doesn't take special skills).

If someone hates to do it, they'll come up with all sorts of reasons, but
you know they're fibbing when they bring up danger or that you can't do it
right - as that's just their excuse for why they don't like doing it.

If they're that afraid, they should lock up all the doors & windows and
stay home with the shades drawn and a loaded shotgun and pistol too.

The rest of us just do it.
Ask me any question you want.

I've done it many times.
Never failed even once.

[Ed P]

Post by Gronk

Post by rbowman

Post by Gronk
I've noticed people who have never done something are always the ones
saying that it can't be done. We need to ask someone who has done it.
Whoever posted those videos shows that it can easily be done at home.

Very few of the videos show when the project turns to shit. You know,
when your entire vocabulary has been pruned down to 'Fuck! Fuck!
Fuck!' as you beat on the tire with a 5lb hammer trying to get the
fucking bead to seat.
I've noticed the people who have never done something tend to be over
optimistic.

People promoting it often make it sound a little bit easier than it is.
People deprecating it always make it sound a lot harder than it really is.
Usually they're just justifying why _they_ would never do home repairs.
You have to wonder why they are on a home repair newsgroup after all.

Tires are auto, not home repair.
Few here can justify the cost of equipment to do it properly.
In the past 8 years I bought 4 tires, had one repaired. No way I can
justify buying the equipment and doing the labor. It would be a big
loss compared to investing that money and paying labor as needed.

Just because you can, does not mean you should.

[Michael]

Post by Ed P
Few here can justify the cost of equipment to do it properly.

I've done the job of mounting, balancing & patching many times.
The "properly" part is trivial. So is the cost of the equipment.

To do it properly takes only your ability to learn basic things.
Ask me anything you want about how to do the job properly.

See if you can find anywhere where I'm not doing it properly at home.

Post by Ed P
In the past 8 years I bought 4 tires, had one repaired. No way I can
justify buying the equipment and doing the labor. It would be a big
loss compared to investing that money and paying labor as needed.

The equipment pays for itself so the only real cost is the storage of it.
People who have no place to mount the changer, for example, can't do it.

The main justification is whether you want to do the job or not.
If you do the job, you know it's done right.

If you pay someone to do the job, it will almost always be done wrong.

But you might not care if they do some things wrong, like someone said they
have to check the lug nut torque, or the air pressure, or they scratch the
rim, or they don't mount the valve stems where they should have put them or
they didn't use a patchplug or they ripped off your wheelcovers wrong.

Whatever they can do wrong, they will do wrong because they don't give a
shit about your car or your tires or your wheels.

They're doing it for cash. Like contract soldiers.
You're doing it for yourself.

People who don't want to do it for themselves will always find a
justification of why they can't or don't want to do it for themselves.

To me, having someone do it for me is like paying them to wipe my ass.
But to others, it's like paying someone to clean up the toilet afterward.

The only thing different is the attitude of the person.
Ask me anything you want about how to do the job properly.

Post by Ed P
Just because you can, does not mean you should.

It has nothing to do with can you do it or should you do it.
Whether or not you want to do it is the only thing that ever matters.

It's kind of like justifying whether you should hire a landscaper or not.

If you hate trimming your roses, then you'll find reasons to hire him.
If you think you need too many tools, you'll find reasons to hire him.
If you are worried you'll get injured, you'll find reasons to hire him.

It's not a question of can you or should you pay someone to trim roses.
It's only a question of whether or not you want to do your own trimming.

Come to think of it, trimming roses probably is more difficult than
mounting and balancing passenger car and light truck tires at home.

Ask me anything you want about how to do the tire changing job properly.
(I don't know anything about how to trim rosebushes so don't ask me that.)

[Bob F]

Post by Michael
Ask me anything you want about how to do the tire changing job properly.
(I don't know anything about how to trim rosebushes so don't ask me that.)

Does the tire changing tool have to be bolted to the floor?

What tool do you have to balance the tires? Did you ever have problems
with getting the balance right?

What is the correct place to put the valve stem?

How long does it take you to remove the old tire and replace and balance
the new?

[Michael]

Post by Bob F
Does the tire changing tool have to be bolted to the floor?

Absolutely. I drilled holes in a cement walkway out back.
The original plan was to use bolts so that I could remove it at will.
I never removed it and the red has weathered to a nice rosebush pink.

Post by Bob F
What tool do you have to balance the tires?

The Egyptians built the pyramids with a plumb bob I'm told.
And maybe even bubble levels for all I know.

HF sells a lovely aluminum and steel tire sized bubble level.
HF sells only the stick on weights though.
So you have to buy clamp on weights online.

Post by Bob F
Did you ever have problems with getting the balance right?

Never. Balance isn't a problem because you can cut the weights to size.

You lay them on the rim while you're balancing and move them around like
checkers until you get just the right amount of weight in the right spots.

Post by Bob F
What is the correct place to put the valve stem?

That's the sixty-four dollar question. Every brand can be different.

Here is the instruction for mounting for my Yokohama tires.
https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101/maintenance-care-1/mounting-your-tires

But most brands follow the same pattern but you should check to make sure.
Note there are match mounting marks on a new rim but usually they're gone.

Post by Bob F
How long does it take you to remove the old tire and replace and balance
the new?

I never did it in a rush. I bring a coffee if it's in the morning.
And a beer if it's later in the afternoon. I take my sweet time doing it.

However, if you were in a race, it shouldn't take you appreciably longer or
shorter than it takes a tire shop to do it since you do the same steps.

You chock & lift the vehicle and place safety jack stands where needed.
Remove the wheel & tire assembly & remove the schrader valve inside pin.
Lubricate heavily with a spray bottle with a dab of dish soap in it.
Break the 1st bead and then flip the tire & break the 2nd bead.
Put the tire on the tire mounting stand & remove the 3rd (top) bead.
Lift the tire into the drop center & remove the 4th (bottom) bead.
Lift the tire off the stand and remove the tire valve from the rim.
Inspect the rim and clean it up if needed & look for match mount marks.
Usually they're long gone so just mount the red/yellow dots to the stem.
Pop a new stem in (the better ones are all metal and as long as you like).
Remove the schrader valve from the new valve stem.
Throw the new tire onto the rim & lubricate lightly with a spray bottle.
Set the 5th (bottom) bead by running the tire iron in a 360 degree circle.
Set the 6th (top) bead the same way - but you might need extra tire irons.
Attach a wide-open air gun rubberbanded open to the valve stem threads.
Lift the lower bead into the drop center & lift the top bead to the rim.
Fill with air until it pops. If necessary, grab the bazooka (1 out of 10).
Once it pops into place, replace the valve stem schrader valve inside pin.
Fill to 60 psi and spray soapy water checking the uniformity of the set.
Drop it back to 30 psi (or whatever you want) and remove wheel from stand.
Check that the static tire balancer bubble dot is in the center circle.
Put the tire & wheel assembly gently on the static tire balancer.
Place weights along the rim as needed & when satisfied, glue or crimp on.
Flip the wheel and do the other side but usually it's already balanced.
Place the wheel & tire on the vehicle & torque to the manufacturer specs.
Take it for a test drive. You're not going to get vibration.

If you get vibration (you won't), then take it to Costco who will charge
five dollars to balance any wheel/tire even one that they didn't do.

Not counting the test drive, it will take you as long as you want it to.
The only hard beads are the 1st bead and the 6th bead. The rest are easy.

Maybe a half hour if that's all you do but normally I take my time while I
have the wheels off. Normally I rotate them. And I check the brakes.

It's pretty safe that if that's all you did, and hour would be plenty.
That's not counting the shower you'll want to take after blowing all the
brake dust out and washing your clothes and putting all the tools away.

Anybody, even the first time they do it, can do it in an hour, although
you'll find in the beginning you need to make some special tools that make
your life easier (like a way to blow air into the tire to set the bead).

You need to know basic anatomy like where is the drop center for your rim.
https://www.liveabout.com/wheel-anatomy-201-beads-and-flanges-3234479

And you'll find a few specialized cheap hand tools make the job easier.
After a while, you put a kit together with all the necessary tools in it.

[rbowman]

Post by Michael
Lift the lower bead into the drop center & lift the top bead to the rim.
Fill with air until it pops. If necessary, grab the bazooka (1 out of 10).

And don't forget to add the $90 bazooka to your home tire changing
station. It's that 1 in 10 where you need a sledge hammer to break the
bead and a bazooka to seat it that turns it into a 5 hour pain in the ass.

[Peeler]

On 1 May 2023 04:51:26 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
And don't forget to add the $90 bazooka to your home tire changing
station. It's that 1 in 10 where you need a sledge hammer to break the
bead and a bazooka to seat it that turns it into a 5 hour pain in the ass.

Oh, a kingdom for a sledge hammer ...to handle your big gob with!

[Bob F]

Post by Michael

Post by Bob F
Does the tire changing tool have to be bolted to the floor?

Absolutely. I drilled holes in a cement walkway out back.
The original plan was to use bolts so that I could remove it at will.
I never removed it and the red has weathered to a nice rosebush pink.

Post by Bob F
What tool do you have to balance the tires?

The Egyptians built the pyramids with a plumb bob I'm told.
And maybe even bubble levels for all I know.
HF sells a lovely aluminum and steel tire sized bubble level.
HF sells only the stick on weights though.
So you have to buy clamp on weights online.

Post by Bob F
Did you ever have problems with getting the balance right?

Never. Balance isn't a problem because you can cut the weights to size.
You lay them on the rim while you're balancing and move them around like
checkers until you get just the right amount of weight in the right spots.

Post by Bob F
What is the correct place to put the valve stem?

That's the sixty-four dollar question. Every brand can be different.
Here is the instruction for mounting for my Yokohama tires.
https://www.yokohamatire.com/tires-101/maintenance-care-1/mounting-your-tires
But most brands follow the same pattern but you should check to make sure.
Note there are match mounting marks on a new rim but usually they're gone.

Post by Bob F
How long does it take you to remove the old tire and replace and balance
the new?

I never did it in a rush. I bring a coffee if it's in the morning.
And a beer if it's later in the afternoon. I take my sweet time doing it.
However, if you were in a race, it shouldn't take you appreciably longer or
shorter than it takes a tire shop to do it since you do the same steps.
You chock & lift the vehicle and place safety jack stands where needed.
Remove the wheel & tire assembly & remove the schrader valve inside pin.
Lubricate heavily with a spray bottle with a dab of dish soap in it.
Break the 1st bead and then flip the tire & break the 2nd bead.
Put the tire on the tire mounting stand & remove the 3rd (top) bead.
Lift the tire into the drop center & remove the 4th (bottom) bead.
Lift the tire off the stand and remove the tire valve from the rim.
Inspect the rim and clean it up if needed & look for match mount marks.
Usually they're long gone so just mount the red/yellow dots to the stem.
Pop a new stem in (the better ones are all metal and as long as you like).
Remove the schrader valve from the new valve stem.
Throw the new tire onto the rim & lubricate lightly with a spray bottle.
Set the 5th (bottom) bead by running the tire iron in a 360 degree circle.
Set the 6th (top) bead the same way - but you might need extra tire irons.
Attach a wide-open air gun rubberbanded open to the valve stem threads.
Lift the lower bead into the drop center & lift the top bead to the rim.
Fill with air until it pops. If necessary, grab the bazooka (1 out of 10).
Once it pops into place, replace the valve stem schrader valve inside pin.
Fill to 60 psi and spray soapy water checking the uniformity of the set.
Drop it back to 30 psi (or whatever you want) and remove wheel from stand.
Check that the static tire balancer bubble dot is in the center circle.
Put the tire & wheel assembly gently on the static tire balancer.
Place weights along the rim as needed & when satisfied, glue or crimp on.
Flip the wheel and do the other side but usually it's already balanced.
Place the wheel & tire on the vehicle & torque to the manufacturer specs.
Take it for a test drive. You're not going to get vibration.
If you get vibration (you won't), then take it to Costco who will charge
five dollars to balance any wheel/tire even one that they didn't do.
Not counting the test drive, it will take you as long as you want it to.
The only hard beads are the 1st bead and the 6th bead. The rest are easy.
Maybe a half hour if that's all you do but normally I take my time while I
have the wheels off. Normally I rotate them. And I check the brakes.
It's pretty safe that if that's all you did, and hour would be plenty.
That's not counting the shower you'll want to take after blowing all the
brake dust out and washing your clothes and putting all the tools away.
Anybody, even the first time they do it, can do it in an hour, although
you'll find in the beginning you need to make some special tools that make
your life easier (like a way to blow air into the tire to set the bead).
You need to know basic anatomy like where is the drop center for your rim.
https://www.liveabout.com/wheel-anatomy-201-beads-and-flanges-3234479
And you'll find a few specialized cheap hand tools make the job easier.
After a while, you put a kit together with all the necessary tools in it.

How do you break the beads. I tried once, and even driving a car onto a
2x6 laid with the end almost to the outside of the rim would not pop it
loose.

[rbowman]

Post by Bob F
What tool do you have to balance the tires? Did you ever have problems
with getting the balance right?

That's the nice thing about putting knobbies on my DR650. How would you
know if it was balanced or not?

[Peeler]

On 1 May 2023 04:47:18 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
That's the nice thing about putting knobbies on my DR650. How would you
know if it was balanced or not?

How do I know that you are unbalanced, senile bigmouth? Well, EVERY bigmouth
and notorious gossip always is!

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 18:20:43 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
Very few of the videos show when the project turns to shit. You know, when
your entire vocabulary has been pruned down to 'Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!' as you
beat on the tire with a 5lb hammer trying to get the fucking bead to seat.
I've noticed the people who have never done something tend to be over
optimistic.

LOL Yet more drama from the resident notorious drama queen!

[Gronk]

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=tire%20machine

Thanks for the link, but it's a lot of work taking the tire off the car,
prying it open, patching the puncture, and then putting the tire back
together and onto the car (minus the balancing). I haven't encountered
enough tire punctures in my life to justify saving that once in a blue
moon $20 expense to get someone else to fix it for me.

If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).

The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

[unknown]

Post by Gronk

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=tire%20machine

Thanks for the link, but it's a lot of work taking the tire off the
car, prying it open, patching the puncture, and then putting the tire
back together and onto the car (minus the balancing). I haven't
encountered enough tire punctures in my life to justify saving that
once in a blue moon $20 expense to get someone else to fix it for me.

If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

[RonTheGuy]

Post by unknown

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

My wife uses that exact same excuse on me all the time. :->
If someone doesn't want to do something, there are always excuses for why.

I watched the videos. Doesn't look all that hard.

Of course, youtube videos only show the tires that worked out well.
But some of those videos were of some guy in his back yard, another set of
guys in a garage, and even one was an old Asian guy in his pajamas and
slippers in his driveway. So I doubt it's too hard if you want to do it.

Same thing I tell my wife.
So that might not work on you either. :->

It seems like it's easy to do at home if you like working on your car.

If you don't like working on your car, then nobody can talk you into even
doing an oil change, as the main excuse people use who never did things is
that they don't want to do them (which is a perfectly good excuse).

But this should be the type of group for people who actually like doing
things for themselves instead of paying people to wash behind their ears.

Ron, the humblest guy in town.

[Bob F]

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by unknown

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

My wife uses that exact same excuse on me all the time. :->
If someone doesn't want to do something, there are always excuses for why.
I watched the videos. Doesn't look all that hard.
Of course, youtube videos only show the tires that worked out well.
But some of those videos were of some guy in his back yard, another set of
guys in a garage, and even one was an old Asian guy in his pajamas and
slippers in his driveway. So I doubt it's too hard if you want to do it.
Same thing I tell my wife.
So that might not work on you either. :->
It seems like it's easy to do at home if you like working on your car.
If you don't like working on your car, then nobody can talk you into even
doing an oil change, as the main excuse people use who never did things is
that they don't want to do them (which is a perfectly good excuse).
But this should be the type of group for people who actually like doing
things for themselves instead of paying people to wash behind their ears.
Ron, the humblest guy in town.

The hand powered tire changer probably needs to be bolted to the floor
to work well.

[RonTheGuy]

Post by Bob F
The hand powered tire changer probably needs to be bolted to the floor
to work well.

Probably can put female lugs in concrete or asphalt and then bolt it down
when you need it, remove it and pack it up when you're not using it.

Probably need a bead breaker as the arm that comes with it seems weak.

Maybe even a couple extra long tire irons.
And a spray bottle of soapy water.

There's almost no end to tools you can add to make any one repair easier.

Ron, the humblest guy in town.

[rbowman]

Post by Bob F
The hand powered tire changer probably needs to be bolted to the floor
to work well.

Be sort of amusing if it wasn't. Of course that assumes you have a floor
to bolt it to, or space in the garage.

[Peeler]

On 1 May 2023 04:53:32 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
Be sort of amusing if it wasn't. Of course that assumes you have a floor
to bolt it to, or space in the garage.

What about the space in your big mouth? LOL

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:43:51 -0800, RonTheGuy

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by unknown

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

My wife uses that exact same excuse on me all the time. :->
If someone doesn't want to do something, there are always excuses for why.

HOw do you know what is an excuse and what is a reason?

How do you know if a reason is WHY someone doesn't want to do something,
versus something thought of later? I plan ahead and my reasons are
reasons.

Post by RonTheGuy
I watched the videos. Doesn't look all that hard.
Of course, youtube videos only show the tires that worked out well.
But some of those videos were of some guy in his back yard, another set of
guys in a garage, and even one was an old Asian guy in his pajamas and
slippers in his driveway. So I doubt it's too hard if you want to do it.
Same thing I tell my wife.
So that might not work on you either. :->

I'm sure your wife woudn't work out for me.

Post by RonTheGuy
It seems like it's easy to do at home if you like working on your car.
If you don't like working on your car, then nobody can talk you into even

I love working on my car. I almost wish it would break more often so I
could do more things. When a drug made me drowsy and I hit the curb and
had to replace the half-axle, ball joint, brake disc and one other part,
it was the most fun I had all year.

But I still don't want to remove tires from rims. It's more work than
it's worth and there are shops that have pneumatic tools that go bing,
bam, bom and it's doen. (Although I think $20 is an old price and it's
closer to 40 now.)

And I don't want to have to bolt the manual tire machine to the garage
floor.

Post by RonTheGuy
doing an oil change, as the main excuse people use who never did things is
that they don't want to do them (which is a perfectly good excuse).

I did an oil change once. I even bought the constainer that lies on its
side and collects the oil. Then I had to go find someone to take the
oil. Once is enough. Now I pay someone who is all set up. It's the
same reasosn I don't make my own nails or aluminum foil.

Post by RonTheGuy
But this should be the type of group for people who actually like doing
things for themselves instead of paying people to wash behind their ears.
Ron, the humblest guy in town.

Humble, I don't think so.

[Bob F]

Post by micky
In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 09:43:51 -0800, RonTheGuy

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by unknown

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

My wife uses that exact same excuse on me all the time. :->
If someone doesn't want to do something, there are always excuses for why.

HOw do you know what is an excuse and what is a reason?
How do you know if a reason is WHY someone doesn't want to do something,
versus something thought of later? I plan ahead and my reasons are
reasons.

Post by RonTheGuy
I watched the videos. Doesn't look all that hard.
Of course, youtube videos only show the tires that worked out well.
But some of those videos were of some guy in his back yard, another set of
guys in a garage, and even one was an old Asian guy in his pajamas and
slippers in his driveway. So I doubt it's too hard if you want to do it.
Same thing I tell my wife.
So that might not work on you either. :->

I'm sure your wife woudn't work out for me.

Post by RonTheGuy
It seems like it's easy to do at home if you like working on your car.
If you don't like working on your car, then nobody can talk you into even

I love working on my car. I almost wish it would break more often so I
could do more things. When a drug made me drowsy and I hit the curb and
had to replace the half-axle, ball joint, brake disc and one other part,
it was the most fun I had all year.
But I still don't want to remove tires from rims. It's more work than
it's worth and there are shops that have pneumatic tools that go bing,
bam, bom and it's doen. (Although I think $20 is an old price and it's
closer to 40 now.)
And I don't want to have to bolt the manual tire machine to the garage
floor.

Post by RonTheGuy
doing an oil change, as the main excuse people use who never did things is
that they don't want to do them (which is a perfectly good excuse).

I did an oil change once. I even bought the constainer that lies on its
side and collects the oil. Then I had to go find someone to take the
oil. Once is enough. Now I pay someone who is all set up. It's the
same reasosn I don't make my own nails or aluminum foil.

I didn't do an oil change once. The clowns at the oil change shop
removed the plastic cover under the engine to get to the drain bolt,
then did not bother to replace it. I looked underneath before leaving
the shop and noticed that. When I complained, they said they should have
charged me extra for removing the cover. That was the first and last
time I had someone else change my oil.

It takes less time to do it myself than to drive to a shop to get it
done, and it is way cheaper.

I have an old Rubbermaid oil drain pan that is absolutely the best. The
lid screws off. Then you drain the oil into it. Then you remove the
spout lid, and dump the oil in the pan into an empty milk jug, wipe off
the end of the spout and the top lip of the pan, replace the spout cap
and screw the lid back on. Nothing oily is exposed to mess thing up in
storage. Apparently, this one is sadly no longer available.

https://forums.quattroworld.com/s4s6/msgs/303170.phtml

[RonTheGuy]

Post by Bob F
It takes less time to do it myself than to drive to a shop to get it
done, and it is way cheaper.

+1

If you count the total time and cost, having someone else do your oil
change will never be better than just doing your own oil changes at home.

Better oil. Quicker change. Better filter. Better gaskets (if any).
Better overall in every way.

If someone has an excuse not to change their own oil, it's just an excuse.

Ron, the humblest guy in town.

[Ed P]

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by Bob F
It takes less time to do it myself than to drive to a shop to get it
done, and it is way cheaper.

+1
If you count the total time and cost, having someone else do your oil
change will never be better than just doing your own oil changes at home.
Better oil. Quicker change. Better filter. Better gaskets (if any).
Better overall in every way.
If someone has an excuse not to change their own oil, it's just an excuse.
Ron, the humblest guy in town.

Why is the oil and filter better if it is the same brand? What exactly,
is the difference between the dealer Mobile 1 and my Mobile 1?

As for quicker, depends. I pass a reputable shop a few times a week and
they are faster than I am. If I drove over just for that reason yes.

Please explain your illusion.

As for excuses, at my age I no longer crawl under cars.

[RonTheGuy]

Post by Ed P
Why is the oil and filter better if it is the same brand? What exactly,
is the difference between the dealer Mobile 1 and my Mobile 1?
As for quicker, depends. I pass a reputable shop a few times a week and
they are faster than I am. If I drove over just for that reason yes.
Please explain your illusion.
As for excuses, at my age I no longer crawl under cars.

If you don't know that you'll be putting in better oil at a lower price
than the shop can do it at, then nothing anyone says will enter your mind.

Ron, the humblest guy in town.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by Ed P
Why is the oil and filter better if it is the same brand? What exactly,
is the difference between the dealer Mobile 1 and my Mobile 1?
As for quicker, depends. I pass a reputable shop a few times a week and
they are faster than I am. If I drove over just for that reason yes.
Please explain your illusion.
As for excuses, at my age I no longer crawl under cars.

If you don't know that you'll be putting in better oil at a lower price
than the shop can do it at, then nothing anyone says will enter your mind.
Ron, the humblest guy in town.

OK, so you did/can not back up what you said. Sure the price is better
but that does not make the oil better. It does no make the filter better.
Said Ron, the FOS guy in twon

[Bob F]

Post by RonTheGuy

Post by Bob F
It takes less time to do it myself than to drive to a shop to get it
done, and it is way cheaper.

+1
If you count the total time and cost, having someone else do your oil
change will never be better than just doing your own oil changes at home.
Better oil. Quicker change. Better filter. Better gaskets (if any).
Better overall in every way.
If someone has an excuse not to change their own oil, it's just an excuse.
Ron, the humblest guy in town.

Why is the oil and filter better if it is the same brand?  What exactly,
is the difference between the dealer Mobile 1 and my Mobile 1?
As for quicker, depends.  I pass a reputable shop a few times a week and
they are faster than I am.  If I drove over just for that reason yes.
Please explain your illusion.
As for excuses, at my age I no longer crawl under cars.

At 74, I am a little slower at it at worst. The ramps simplify it.

Clearly, if you live in a small apartment, storing tools makes things
more difficult.

[rbowman]

Post by unknown

Post by Gronk

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=tire%20machine

Thanks for the link, but it's a lot of work taking the tire off the
car, prying it open, patching the puncture, and then putting the tire
back together and onto the car (minus the balancing). I haven't
encountered enough tire punctures in my life to justify saving that
once in a blue moon $20 expense to get someone else to fix it for me.

If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself
the first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per
tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

I love to fix many different things at home, but I have an aversion to
prying open car tires myself, especially when it is a lot of work, and
not expensive to pay others to do it.

I've repaired my own vehicles for the last 60 years, including rebuilding
engines and transmissions. When it comes to tubeless tires, I let someone
else do it. I'll do tube types.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 18:40:40 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
I've repaired my own vehicles for the last 60 years, including rebuilding
engines and transmissions. When it comes to tubeless tires, I let someone
else do it. I'll do tube types.

So far, nobody seems to have been able to fix your big mouth, though I'm
sure quite a few psychiatrists have tried to do so. LOL
--
More of the resident senile gossip's absolutely idiotic endless blather
about herself:
"My family and I traveled cross country in '52, going out on the northern
route and returning mostly on Rt 66. We also traveled quite a bit as the
interstates were being built. It might have been slower but it was a lot
more interesting. Even now I prefer what William Least Heat-Moon called
the blue highways but it's difficult. Around here there are remnants of
the Mullan Road as frontage roads but I-90 was laid over most of it so
there is no continuous route. So far 93 hasn't been destroyed."
MID: <***@mid.individual.net>

[rbowman]

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself
the first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per
tire).

https://www.lesschwab.com/tires/free-tire-repair

I realize Les Schwab is not nationwide. However the free mounting when you
buy the tires, plus free rotation, and repairs should be factored in.

How much did you save buying those Cooper CS5's from Amazon?

[Gronk]

Post by rbowman

Post by Gronk
If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself
the first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per
tire).

https://www.lesschwab.com/tires/free-tire-repair
I realize Les Schwab is not nationwide. However the free mounting when you
buy the tires, plus free rotation, and repairs should be factored in.
How much did you save buying those Cooper CS5's from Amazon?

Simple Tire runs so many deals their discounts are like spam in your inbox.

Generally you end up with one tire free for every four tires you buy.
https://www.google.com/search?q=simple+tire+Cooper+CS5

Obviously the size matters but for example, that first hit is $109
https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/cs5-ultra-touring

Second hit is $112 but of course it matters exactly which model.
https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/cs5-grand-touring

Third hit is also $112 but that's before any promotional deals.
https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/cs5-grand-touring

Usually Simple Tire doesn't have shipping charges.
If they do, you can add a lot, maybe $15 per tire.

Depending on the state, there may be no sales tax either.

[rbowman]

Post by Gronk
Third hit is also $112 but that's before any promotional deals.
https://simpletire.com/brands/cooper-tires/cs5-grand-touring

iirc, that's about what I paid at Tire-Rama -- mounted.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 18:36:47 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
https://www.lesschwab.com/tires/free-tire-repair
I realize Les Schwab is not nationwide.

But you will NEVER realize what's wrong with you, just like your hero and
twin brother, bigmouthed Stumpie, won't! LOL

[Ed P]

Post by Gronk

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=tire%20machine

Thanks for the link, but it's a lot of work taking the tire off the
car, prying it open, patching the puncture, and then putting the tire
back together and onto the car (minus the balancing). I haven't
encountered enough tire punctures in my life to justify saving that
once in a blue moon $20 expense to get someone else to fix it for me.

If the tire changing machine at HF costs $100 then it pays for itself the
first time you need to replace 4 tires on your vehicle (at $25 per tire).
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

Of course to to it right you also need to be able to balance them too.
What does that cost?

I find it easier to pay and read a magazine while the work is being
done. I get a few years out of a set of tires.

[Gronk]

Post by Ed P

Post by Gronk
The ability to repair your tires at home is just an added convenience.

Of course to to it right you also need to be able to balance them too.
What does that cost?
I find it easier to pay and read a magazine while the work is being
done. I get a few years out of a set of tires.

If someone hasn't mounted/balanced tires, then the only thing they usually
know about mounting or balancing tires is what their momma told them.

Which is not much.

Mounting and balancing tires has been done by hand for ages, and there's
nothing special about current tires other than they're even easier to do.

People who say it's hard are the same people who say mowing is hard work.
The real reason they come up with crazy excuses is that they don't like it.

If all you know about balancing tires is the advertising that Hunter spews
trying to make the average mom and pop consumer think they need space-age
balancing, then you don't know that static balancing works just fine most
of the time, & even if it's slightly off, driving will tell the truth.

Static balancing, when done at home, takes far less weight than dynamic and
road force balancing takes in the shop because you do the job right first.

You first balance the wheel and then you balance the tire on the wheel.
Then you drive it, and if there's no vibration, they're balanced.

There's no such thing as imperceptible wheel or tire vibration.
Just like there's no such thing as a weed that a lawn mower can't see.

The vibration thing is an imaginary boogeyman.
Hunter created it. Read their literature on how to sell the service.

They tell the technicians to scare the crap out of you on vibration.
It's a scam to sell services which aren't needed almost all the time.

Sure, a bad tire comes off the lot every once in a while.
With electronics today, it's a lot less than Hunter would have you think.

There's no excuse for not balancing your tires in your own garage.
Unless you can't find a flat spot that is a foot and a half wide, that is.

It's only people who don't want to do the job who make up crazy excuses.
They shouldn't be on this ng if they have to make up excuses like that.

[Paul in Houston TX]

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

For minor leaks due to nails, mesquite thorns, etc, I carry a plug kit
in my car and plug my own. Typical 30 plugs for $10. I also carry two
cans of plug / inflate stuff, but that cannot be used on tires with
sensors. Plugs done by me are 100% successful repairs.
For the tires that get shredded, half the tire missing, etc...
0% successful repairs.

[rbowman]

Post by Maxmillian
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it
takes to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at
home.

With Harbor Freight, YMMV. Obviously he has it lagged to the floor. One
problem you may encounter is getting the beads to seat. You may need more
volume than a small compressor can provide.

That's the third world approach. Using a ratchet strap around the
circumference to spread the beads sometimes works. Others use a bicycle
tube to fill the gap. Then there is the bead blaster:

That's an excellent video because that's how it usually goes as the sun
sinks into the west. Breaking the bead isn't always like the first video
either. When cars had bumper jacks, the scheme was to put the floor plate
on the tire and jack away. The only time I tried that method I jacked up a
'51 Chevy; the bead didn't go anywhere.

I have a bike with tube tires that I change and that can be a royal pain
in the ass to get the bead to seat even with a tube. I don't do tubeless.
Life is too short.

Post by Maxmillian
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

As others have said I've used plugs in car and motorcycle tires with no
problem. One bike tire had an ugly gash and I was hoping for the plug to
hold long enough to get home. It seemed to be holding so I continued to
ride. It did start leaking a little when the tread was almost gone and I
replaced the tire.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 03:47:45 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,
troll-feeding, senile idiot, blabbered again:

And now comes the most important part! MORE details from the exciting life

Post by rbowman
I have a bike with tube tires that I change and that can be a royal pain
in the ass to get the bead to seat even with a tube. I don't do tubeless.
Life is too short.

Post by Maxmillian
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

As others have said I've used plugs in car and motorcycle tires with no
problem. One bike tire had an ugly gash and I was hoping for the plug to
hold long enough to get home. It seemed to be holding so I continued to
ride. It did start leaking a little when the tread was almost gone and I
replaced the tire.

It's not about the "tyres" really. It's about YOU and your fascinating,
grand personality, as always, Trumptard! LMAO

[unknown]

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.

I have seen how the mechanic pried open a tire. I'd rather pay him the
$20 to patch a nail puncture than trying to buy a machine to do it myself.

I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Slime-Thru-Core-Emergency-Flat-Tire-Sealant-60186/807544377

Post by Maxmillian
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

[unknown]

Post by unknown

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.

I have seen how the mechanic pried open a tire. I'd rather pay him the
$20 to patch a nail puncture than trying to buy a machine to do it myself.
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought
a can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow
leak.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Slime-Thru-Core-Emergency-Flat-Tire-Sealant-60186/807544377

I actually used this tire sealant:

https://www.amazon.ca/Slime-60184-Thru-Core-Tire-Sealant/dp/B07NVZQQ2N

[rbowman]

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 06:06:34 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

Not as much as you LOVE your big gob.

[unknown]

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

[AMuzi]

Post by unknown

On Sun, 30 Apr 2023 00:21:36 -0400, 😎 Mighty Wannabe

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years.
Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No
more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be
washed off with water before it hardens. I guess it works
like some water-based glue. It will harden to seal the leak
but remain liquid inside the tire. It is recommended by the
manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched within
3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against
lawsuits). I read many customer comments that it stopped
their slow leak. That kind of slow leak might be in the rim
area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It's a latex emulsion. Clean up with soapy water.

[John Robertson]

Post by AMuzi

Post by unknown
I read the description. It is water based, so it can be
washed off with water before it hardens. I guess it works
like some water-based glue. It will harden to seal the leak
but remain liquid inside the tire. It is recommended by the
manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched within
3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against
lawsuits). I read many customer comments that it stopped
their slow leak. That kind of slow leak might be in the rim
area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It's a latex emulsion. Clean up with soapy water.

I have in my trunk tucked inside the spare tire which is flipped upside
down so that the wheel rim forms a round well an emergency flat tire kit.

There are foldable chocks, two blinking multi-color LED lights with the
batteries in a ziplock bag outside the device (I gave up on leaving
batteries in the device after ruining a half dozen mag lights - remember
them?). Also I gave up on flares (they always made a crumbly yellow mess
over time) & triangles (which work fine until the wind blows them away),
a cigarette lighter air pump, and a tire repair multi-plug fixit kit.

The fixit kit contains an awl and an open-ended insertion tool, glue, a
thin sharp knife, which is important for shearing off the ends.

While the kit comes with four or five four inch long plugs, the reality is
once it's opened to the air the kit is ruined - so it's a one-time use kit.

I guess the green goopy stuff could be a useful addition, but notice above
the things I've discontinued because they don't really work when you need
them a few years AFTER you've put them in the temperature cycled trunk.

I suspect that after sitting in a hot trunk for a couple of years, the
pressure would be gone from the can of green goopy stuff.

Of course, the answer is replace it every year, but who does that?
Most people who say they do that, are lying because most people don't.

Just like many people say they change the oil every 3K miles, they don't.
And while many say they rotate tires every 3K miles, most don't.

My reason for bringing that up is few of us will even look into that
emergency kit after putting it there - until we need it on the road.

When you're on the side of the road, covered in mud splashed over you on
purpose by truckers (yes, I've been there) on a slope, in the rain, at
night, and you're patching a tire - that's when you put those flimsy
foldable triangles down on the road with those weights, and then you
instantly watch them blow across the road when the next trucker splashes
you (and yes, I've been there). Same with flares. Same with corroded
batteries left inside the device.

If it goes in the trunk, it better be designed to last for years in
hot/cold cycles like you can't believe.

I bring this up because the green goop is not likely to have survived.
I know the counter is people will "say" they replace it every year.

I won't.
I'll leave it in the trunk.

I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

[Bob F]

Post by John Robertson

Post by AMuzi

Post by unknown
I read the description. It is water based, so it can be
washed off with water before it hardens. I guess it works
like some water-based glue. It will harden to seal the leak
but remain liquid inside the tire. It is recommended by the
manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched within
3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against
lawsuits). I read many customer comments that it stopped
their slow leak. That kind of slow leak might be in the rim
area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It's a latex emulsion. Clean up with soapy water.

I have in my trunk tucked inside the spare tire which is flipped upside
down so that the wheel rim forms a round well an emergency flat tire kit.
There are foldable chocks, two blinking multi-color LED lights with the
batteries in a ziplock bag outside the device (I gave up on leaving
batteries in the device after ruining a half dozen mag lights - remember
them?). Also I gave up on flares (they always made a crumbly yellow mess
over time) & triangles (which work fine until the wind blows them away),
a cigarette lighter air pump, and a tire repair multi-plug fixit kit.
The fixit kit contains an awl and an open-ended insertion tool, glue, a
thin sharp knife, which is important for shearing off the ends.
While the kit comes with four or five four inch long plugs, the reality is
once it's opened to the air the kit is ruined - so it's a one-time use kit.
I guess the green goopy stuff could be a useful addition, but notice above
the things I've discontinued because they don't really work when you need
them a few years AFTER you've put them in the temperature cycled trunk.
I suspect that after sitting in a hot trunk for a couple of years, the
pressure would be gone from the can of green goopy stuff.
Of course, the answer is replace it every year, but who does that?
Most people who say they do that, are lying because most people don't.
Just like many people say they change the oil every 3K miles, they don't.
And while many say they rotate tires every 3K miles, most don't.
My reason for bringing that up is few of us will even look into that
emergency kit after putting it there - until we need it on the road.
When you're on the side of the road, covered in mud splashed over you on
purpose by truckers (yes, I've been there) on a slope, in the rain, at
night, and you're patching a tire - that's when you put those flimsy
foldable triangles down on the road with those weights, and then you
instantly watch them blow across the road when the next trucker splashes
you (and yes, I've been there). Same with flares. Same with corroded
batteries left inside the device.
If it goes in the trunk, it better be designed to last for years in
hot/cold cycles like you can't believe.
I bring this up because the green goop is not likely to have survived.
I know the counter is people will "say" they replace it every year.
I won't. I'll leave it in the trunk.
I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.

Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

[John Robertson]

Post by Bob F

Post by John Robertson
I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

Touche!

I was so focused on describing a trunk fixit kit has to last years in hot
and cold cycles like you can't believe, I forgot all about the spare tire!

Mainly I was pointing out that the green goopy stuff isn't likely to be
there when you need it. I prefer a cigarette lighter air pump instead.

But you're correct that if you get a flat, what you need is the emergency
stuff (lights, flares, triangles, shiny clothes, a plastic bag to lay down
on, and a big "fuck you" sign on the top of the car to those truckers.

Oh, and you'll need that jack of death too. And the chocks.
And a tire iron (which should last for years as it came from the factory).

I think they design those tire irons to be torqued to 85 foot pounds & no
more (someone told me that they designed them that way for a normal man).

I just step on them. Does anyone else do that? Or is it just me who does?

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by Bob F

Post by John Robertson
I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just
to have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire,
so it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

Touche!
I was so focused on describing a trunk fixit kit has to last years in hot
and cold cycles like you can't believe, I forgot all about the spare tire!
Mainly I was pointing out that the green goopy stuff isn't likely to be
there when you need it. I prefer a cigarette lighter air pump instead.

You still need the air pump after you've injected the green goopy stuff
into the tire. The tire sealant is meant to be injected into a flat
tire. You need to use air pump to bring the tire pressure up so you can
drive away.

I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container. I have WD-40 in my trunk
and never lost pressure.

The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick resin. I
don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can. There are also
other versions that are not pressurized, but you have to use valve-core
tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove the valve-core
before you squeeze the content into the valve.

Post by John Robertson
But you're correct that if you get a flat, what you need is the emergency
stuff (lights, flares, triangles, shiny clothes, a plastic bag to lay down
on, and a big "fuck you" sign on the top of the car to those truckers.

It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway. Even
police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency lights
blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason a car
parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram into it.

The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a battery
air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

Post by John Robertson
Oh, and you'll need that jack of death too. And the chocks. And a tire
iron (which should last for years as it came from the factory).
I think they design those tire irons to be torqued to 85 foot pounds & no
more (someone told me that they designed them that way for a normal man).
I just step on them. Does anyone else do that? Or is it just me who does?

[John Robertson]

Post by unknown

Post by John Robertson
Mainly I was pointing out that the green goopy stuff isn't likely to be
there when you need it. I prefer a cigarette lighter air pump instead.

You still need the air pump after you've injected the green goopy stuff
into the tire. The tire sealant is meant to be injected into a flat
tire. You need to use air pump to bring the tire pressure up so you can
drive away.

Oh. Thanks. I didn't realize the green goopy stuff is injected into a tire
which no longer has any pressure and that it wasn't meant to pressurize the
tire. It's got to take a LOT of air to fill a tire anyway.

The green goopy stuff must have 'some' pressure though, as what's going to
make it go inside the tire? Gravity?

Post by unknown
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container.

I don't believe it.

What would be nice is confirmation from the manufacturer on the storage
lifetime in a trunk that experiences mighty hot and mighty cold cycles.

Post by unknown
I have WD-40 in my trunk
and never lost pressure.

Some day I'm going to figure out what WD-40 does that the right choice
doesn't do better. Besides, just the smell of WD-40 gives me a headache.

Post by unknown
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick resin. I
don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can. There are also
other versions that are not pressurized, but you have to use valve-core
tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove the valve-core
before you squeeze the content into the valve.

Removing the schrader valve isn't any big deal, although if it's night,
along the road, on a driver-side tire, and a trucker plays his tricks on
you, that teeny tiny beautiful lovely shiny red and silver jewel will be
scattered somewhere along the road along with your flares and triangles.

Post by unknown
It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway.

Please stop saying that. This is a home repair group and an automotive
repair group. It's dangerous to do anything. Everything we do is dangerous.

It's dangerous to use scissors or to drink from a glass cup too.
It's dangerous to saw wood or to drill holes in metal also.

It's dangerous to put coolant in a car.
It's dangerous to change your own oil.

It's dangerous to bleed your own brakes.
It's dangerous to climb a ladder.

Just saying it's dangerous to fix your car beside the highway is like
saying don't use a chainsaw because you will chop off all your fingers.

Whether or not its very dangerous will depend greatly on the situation.
You repeating that endlessly is just frustrating because it's wrong.

It's not dangerous sometimes.
It's not very dangerous most of the time.
But it could be very dangerous some of the time too.

Like if you break down in the middle of the Pulaski Skyway.
That's very dangerous all the time, in my humble opinion.

But most of the time, it's just not as safe as you'd like it to be.

Post by unknown
Even
police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency lights
blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason a car
parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram into it.

While I have watched almost every video on YouTube for crazy drivers, so I
know that a lot of people drive into things they shouldn't be driving into,
the reason they provide a shoulder and median is so that you can pull over.

Hell, I pull over all the time to duck behind a tree to take care of
business, but I'm not hiding behind that tree due to the danger I feel.

If you're that afraid of the shoulder of the road, then that's why they
invented AAA (mostly for women who don't know how to fix a broken car).

I give AAA as a gift to a bunch of relatives who are girls and who get a
new car. Usually I give it to them for five years, but I never give it to
the boys because they have to learn how to be a man and not a scared wuss.

Post by unknown
The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a battery
air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

That's a good point of what's the "best" bet if you have a flat.
How many flats are unrepairable?

That's why they put the spare tire on the car (as someone else noted).

Seems to me if you're pulled over in a location that isn't as safe as you'd
like it to be, the best bet is whatever is the fastest solution that
doesn't put you into danger.

A lot might depend on what side of the vehicle has the flat and the angle
of the embankment and the amount of room and the weather and traffic, etc.

I'd think one of the better bets is to first assess the situation.
Then decide if you should give up and call for help.
Or decide to put the spare on.
Or decide to fix it on the spot.

If you decide to fix it on the spot, you're going to need "something" to
patch up the hole, and then you're going to need "something" to put air
back into that tire.

For me, that's the tire repair plugs and the little tiny compressor.
For others, I guess it's that green goopy stuff and a half dozen air cans.

How many cans of air does it take anyway to fill up a typical SUV tire?

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown

Post by John Robertson
Mainly I was pointing out that the green goopy stuff isn't likely to be
there when you need it. I prefer a cigarette lighter air pump instead.

You still need the air pump after you've injected the green goopy
stuff into the tire. The tire sealant is meant to be injected into a
flat tire. You need to use air pump to bring the tire pressure up so
you can drive away.

Oh. Thanks. I didn't realize the green goopy stuff is injected into a
tire which no longer has any pressure and that it wasn't meant to
pressurize the tire. It's got to take a LOT of air to fill a tire anyway.
The green goopy stuff must have 'some' pressure though, as what's
going to make it go inside the tire? Gravity?

Post by unknown
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container.

I don't believe it.
What would be nice is confirmation from the manufacturer on the
storage lifetime in a trunk that experiences mighty hot and mighty
cold cycles.

Post by unknown
I have WD-40 in my trunk and never lost pressure.

Some day I'm going to figure out what WD-40 does that the right choice
doesn't do better. Besides, just the smell of WD-40 gives me a headache.

In the old days I replaced the spark plug wires myself. It seems like
the water always got splashed into the spark-plug wire boot and the
spark would jump everywhere inside the boot. A spray of WD-40 at the
rubber boots on the distributor would displace the water and fix the
problem immediately. It was a common knowledge in the old days. If you
see an old car which stalled at the traffic light when the road is wet
or it was raining the day before, then wet distributor spark plug wire
boot is most likely the problem.

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick
resin. I don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can.
There are also other versions that are not pressurized, but you have
to use valve-core tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove
the valve-core before you squeeze the content into the valve.

Removing the schrader valve isn't any big deal, although if it's
night, along the road, on a driver-side tire, and a trucker plays his
tricks on you, that teeny tiny beautiful lovely shiny red and silver
jewel will be scattered somewhere along the road along with your
flares and triangles.

Post by unknown
It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway.

Please stop saying that. This is a home repair group and an automotive
repair group. It's dangerous to do anything. Everything we do is dangerous.
It's dangerous to use scissors or to drink from a glass cup too.
It's dangerous to saw wood or to drill holes in metal also.
It's dangerous to put coolant in a car. It's dangerous to change your
own oil.
It's dangerous to bleed your own brakes.
It's dangerous to climb a ladder.
Just saying it's dangerous to fix your car beside the highway is like
saying don't use a chainsaw because you will chop off all your fingers.
Whether or not its very dangerous will depend greatly on the situation.
You repeating that endlessly is just frustrating because it's wrong.
It's not dangerous sometimes. It's not very dangerous most of the time.
But it could be very dangerous some of the time too.
Like if you break down in the middle of the Pulaski Skyway.
That's very dangerous all the time, in my humble opinion.
But most of the time, it's just not as safe as you'd like it to be.

Post by unknown
Even police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency
lights blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason
a car parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram
into it.

While I have watched almost every video on YouTube for crazy drivers,
so I know that a lot of people drive into things they shouldn't be
driving into, the reason they provide a shoulder and median is so that
you can pull over.
Hell, I pull over all the time to duck behind a tree to take care of
business, but I'm not hiding behind that tree due to the danger I feel.

I always save an empty windshield washer fluid jug in my car for that
purpose. One time it save my embarrassment when I had to pee badly after
I finally found a parking spot in a hospital parking lot after driving
around in the parking lot for half an hour. I wouldn't be able to walk
to the hospital's washroom without pissing my pants. Good thing I had
that empty jug.

Post by John Robertson
If you're that afraid of the shoulder of the road, then that's why
they invented AAA (mostly for women who don't know how to fix a broken
car).
I give AAA as a gift to a bunch of relatives who are girls and who get
a new car. Usually I give it to them for five years, but I never give
it to the boys because they have to learn how to be a man and not a
scared wuss.

Post by unknown
The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a
battery air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

That's a good point of what's the "best" bet if you have a flat.
How many flats are unrepairable?
That's why they put the spare tire on the car (as someone else noted).
Seems to me if you're pulled over in a location that isn't as safe as
you'd like it to be, the best bet is whatever is the fastest solution
that doesn't put you into danger.
A lot might depend on what side of the vehicle has the flat and the
angle of the embankment and the amount of room and the weather and
traffic, etc.
I'd think one of the better bets is to first assess the situation.
Then decide if you should give up and call for help.
Or decide to put the spare on.
Or decide to fix it on the spot.
If you decide to fix it on the spot, you're going to need "something"
to patch up the hole, and then you're going to need "something" to put
air back into that tire.
For me, that's the tire repair plugs and the little tiny compressor.
For others, I guess it's that green goopy stuff and a half dozen air cans.
How many cans of air does it take anyway to fill up a typical SUV tire?

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

Post by unknown
I wouldn't be able to walk
to the hospital's washroom without pissing my pants. Good thing I had
that empty jug.

Speaking of peeing at the hospital parking lot, my local hospital puts
these long umbrella bags in the foyer for people to grab a few.

Guess what I use 'em for.

There's no need to even pull over.
It works while you're driving.

You have plenty of room for the knot when you're done.
Just don't step on it before you find a trash can to throw it away in.

[Bob F]

Post by unknown

Post by John Robertson

Post by Bob F

Post by John Robertson
I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just
to have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire,
so it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

Touche!
I was so focused on describing a trunk fixit kit has to last years in hot
and cold cycles like you can't believe, I forgot all about the spare tire!
Mainly I was pointing out that the green goopy stuff isn't likely to be
there when you need it. I prefer a cigarette lighter air pump instead.

You still need the air pump after you've injected the green goopy stuff
into the tire. The tire sealant is meant to be injected into a flat
tire. You need to use air pump to bring the tire pressure up so you can
drive away.
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container. I have WD-40 in my trunk
and never lost pressure.
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick resin. I
don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can. There are also
other versions that are not pressurized, but you have to use valve-core
tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove the valve-core
before you squeeze the content into the valve.

Post by John Robertson
But you're correct that if you get a flat, what you need is the emergency
stuff (lights, flares, triangles, shiny clothes, a plastic bag to lay down
on, and a big "fuck you" sign on the top of the car to those truckers.

It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway. Even
police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency lights
blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason a car
parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram into it.

You can turn on the flashers and collect Teslas.

[rbowman]

Post by John Robertson
Oh, and you'll need that jack of death too. And the chocks.
And a tire iron (which should last for years as it came from the factory).
I think they design those tire irons to be torqued to 85 foot pounds &
no more (someone told me that they designed them that way for a normal
man).

I carry a breaker bar and sockets that fit the lug nuts. I've had too much
experience with those OEM wrenches that don't fit anything known to man. I
also carry a bottle jack although the OEM scissors jack works well.

In the rare cases where a tire shop has put the wheels on I immediately go
home and attempt to remove them. I have an impact wrench for the ones the
Amazing Hulk tightened. Then I replace them to a torque that I can remove.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 19:02:58 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
I carry a breaker bar

I wonder whether there's a bar that could break your big mouth. I almost
doubt it.

[rbowman]

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

[Peeler]

On 30 Apr 2023 18:58:14 GMT, lowbrowwoman, the endlessly driveling,

Post by rbowman
And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Try the space in your mouth...
--
More of the resident bigmouth's usual idiotic babble and gossip:
I'm not saying my father and uncle wouldn't have drank Genesee beer
without Miss Genny but it certainly didn't hurt. Stanton's was the
hometown brewery but it closed in '50. There was a Schaefer brewery in
Albany but their product was considered a step up from cat piss.

My preference was Rheingold on tap"

MID: <***@mid.individual.net>

[Cindy Hamilton]

Post by rbowman

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas. His is on the rear door;
mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC). The last
time I had a flat, I called AAA. The guy nearly burst a vein trying
to get the tire out from under the vehicle. What a stupid design.

[Bob F]

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas. His is on the rear door;
mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC). The last
time I had a flat, I called AAA. The guy nearly burst a vein trying
to get the tire out from under the vehicle. What a stupid design.

I have read about recalls for the Sienna underneath tire storage recall
because of rust.

You say his is on the rear door. I assume this is not a Sienna?

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:17:31 GMT, Cindy Hamilton

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas. His is on the rear door;

My two Toyotas, nearly identical 2000 and 2005 Solaras, only had donuts
but the well, under the trunk floor, was big enough for a full size
spare. So why did they put donuts in it?

Post by Cindy Hamilton
mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC). The last
time I had a flat, I called AAA. The guy nearly burst a vein trying
to get the tire out from under the vehicle. What a stupid design.

Wow, I assumed there was some good way to get those out, but if the AAA
guy didn't know it, maybe it really is stupid.

[unknown]

Post by micky
In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:17:31 GMT, Cindy Hamilton

Post by Cindy Hamilton

Post by rbowman

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts... The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas. His is on the rear door;

My two Toyotas, nearly identical 2000 and 2005 Solaras, only had donuts
but the well, under the trunk floor, was big enough for a full size
spare. So why did they put donuts in it?

Post by Cindy Hamilton
mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC). The last
time I had a flat, I called AAA. The guy nearly burst a vein trying
to get the tire out from under the vehicle. What a stupid design.

Wow, I assumed there was some good way to get those out, but if the AAA
guy didn't know it, maybe it really is stupid.

Maybe that AAA guy was a new hire.

[Ed P]

Post by unknown

Post by micky
In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:17:31 GMT, Cindy Hamilton

Post by Bob F
Maybe that's why they invented spare tires? It probably was not just to
have a place to store a fixit kit.
Unfortunately, my AWD Sienna does not have a space for a spare tire, so
it just gets stashed in the back if I carry one.

And then they invented donuts...  The space for the donut in my Toyota
isn't large enough for a real spare tire.

Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas.  His is on the rear door;

My two Toyotas, nearly identical 2000 and 2005 Solaras, only had donuts
but the well, under the trunk floor, was big enough for a full size
spare.  So why did they put donuts in it?

mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC).  The last
time I had a flat, I called AAA.  The guy nearly burst a vein trying
to get the tire out from under the vehicle.  What a stupid design.

Wow, I assumed there was some good way to get those out, but if the AAA
guy didn't know it, maybe it really is stupid.

Maybe that AAA guy was a new hire.

Or rusted so bad it was difficult to remove. OTOH, some come off too
easy. Toyota had a recall about 9 years ago. I've seen in happen and
the driver did not notice.

Front wheels can come off too
https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2023/03/27/los-angeles-freeway-accident-loose-tire-flips-car-cprog-orig-aw.cnn

[rbowman]

Post by Cindy Hamilton
Real spares on my husband's and my Toyotas. His is on the rear door;
mine is slung underneath, between the rear tires (IIRC). The last time
I had a flat, I called AAA. The guy nearly burst a vein trying to get
the tire out from under the vehicle. What a stupid design.

+1 on that. My F150's spare is in sort of a cradle under the bed. I'm no
90 pound weakling but it's a royal pain in the ass to get it out and even
worse to get back in.

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by AMuzi

Post by unknown
I read the description. It is water based, so it can be
washed off with water before it hardens. I guess it works
like some water-based glue. It will harden to seal the leak
but remain liquid inside the tire. It is recommended by the
manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched within
3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against
lawsuits). I read many customer comments that it stopped
their slow leak. That kind of slow leak might be in the rim
area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It's a latex emulsion. Clean up with soapy water.

I have in my trunk tucked inside the spare tire which is flipped upside
down so that the wheel rim forms a round well an emergency flat tire kit.
There are foldable chocks, two blinking multi-color LED lights with the
batteries in a ziplock bag outside the device (I gave up on leaving
batteries in the device after ruining a half dozen mag lights - remember
them?). Also I gave up on flares (they always made a crumbly yellow mess
over time) & triangles (which work fine until the wind blows them
away), a cigarette lighter air pump, and a tire repair multi-plug
fixit kit.
The fixit kit contains an awl and an open-ended insertion tool, glue, a
thin sharp knife, which is important for shearing off the ends.
While the kit comes with four or five four inch long plugs, the reality is
once it's opened to the air the kit is ruined - so it's a one-time use kit.
I guess the green goopy stuff could be a useful addition, but notice above
the things I've discontinued because they don't really work when you need
them a few years AFTER you've put them in the temperature cycled trunk.
I suspect that after sitting in a hot trunk for a couple of years, the
pressure would be gone from the can of green goopy stuff.

I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container. I have WD-40 in my trunk
and never lost pressure.

The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick resin. I
don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can. There are also
other versions that are not pressurized, but you have to use valve-core
tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove the valve-core
before you squeeze the content into the valve.

Post by John Robertson
Of course, the answer is replace it every year, but who does that?
Most people who say they do that, are lying because most people don't.
Just like many people say they change the oil every 3K miles, they don't.
And while many say they rotate tires every 3K miles, most don't.
My reason for bringing that up is few of us will even look into that
emergency kit after putting it there - until we need it on the road.
When you're on the side of the road, covered in mud splashed over you on
purpose by truckers (yes, I've been there) on a slope, in the rain, at
night, and you're patching a tire - that's when you put those flimsy
foldable triangles down on the road with those weights, and then you
instantly watch them blow across the road when the next trucker splashes
you (and yes, I've been there). Same with flares. Same with corroded
batteries left inside the device.

It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway. Even
police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency lights
blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason a car
parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram into it.

The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a battery
air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

Post by John Robertson
If it goes in the trunk, it better be designed to last for years in
hot/cold cycles like you can't believe.
I bring this up because the green goop is not likely to have survived.
I know the counter is people will "say" they replace it every year.
I won't. I'll leave it in the trunk.
I suspect by the time I really need it, I can't rely on it working.

[John Robertson]

Post by unknown
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container.

I am not so sure of that as I've grabbed plenty of spray cans in my life
only to find that they're dead. I guess most were probably used though.

The temperature cycles in a trunk are horrific so it would be useful to
find what the manufacturer suggests as a reasonable replacement period.

Post by unknown
I have WD-40 in my trunk and never lost pressure.

As I already mentioned, there are a lot of things people told me to do that
I realized aren't great ideas (like the aforementioned flares, which just
turn into a crumbly yellow mess after years in a wet/dry hot/cold trunk).

One of those things was WD-40, which people seem to think is some kind of
miracle water cure for just about every ill that a mechanic could imagine.

I long ago gave up on the smelly stuff (it gives me a headache) and I've
never even fretted about it. When I need oil, I use oil. When I need to
loosen rusty nuts, I use ATF and bang a lot. When I need to "displace
water", I spray it with the compressor air gun.

What does WD-40 do that Jesus' own miracle water doesn't do?

Post by unknown
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick resin. I
don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can. There are also
other versions that are not pressurized, but you have to use valve-core
tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove the valve-core
before you squeeze the content into the valve.

I don't use the green goopy stuff but I "thought" it was pressurized.

My beef was that it's going to lose pressure when stuck in a hot/cold trunk
for years, such that when you really need it, it will no longer be there.

I've had this happen with halon fire extinguishers when I first started
driving as people 'told me' I need to keep one in the car. When I needed
it, it wasn't there for me, and that alone taught me a valuable lesson.

If it's going to go in the trunk, then it can't be a can of pressurized
anything because the moment you are under pressure, it won't be there.

If the green goopy stuff is not pressurized, then that would be fine.

Post by unknown
It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway.

Whether or not it's "very dangerous" is up to people to determine
themselves. I've pulled over to pee for example. Is that very dangerous?

In some situations, like on the Pulaski Skyway, it's already very dangerous
just to be driving on the thing, let alone being pulled over to the side.

In other cases, such as in the middle of Montana on I80, you could park an
entire herd of cattle in the median while you work on putting the spare on.

What's "very dangerous" are those damn truckers. They drive close to you
just for their own fun. If you don't know what I mean, you never drove in
NJ along roads like Highway 9, or Route 202, or Route 1. They're assholes.

Post by unknown
Even
police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency lights
blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason a car
parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram into it.

I'm aware there are many stories where people rammed police cars which had
their lights on. Worse, truckers (yes, in NJ) aim to get as close to the
police as they can, just for their own glee - and every once in a while
(read the news) they actually hit the policemen (by accident) doing that.

Did I mention yet that the most dangerous situation when you're pulled over
to repair your car are the truckers love to mess with you as they drive by?

Post by unknown
The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a battery
air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

Nowadays, with cellphones, which none of us had when we drove half our
lives or more, you can just call AAA for the ladies and for the men, you
can call the government 511 who usually tows you off the road for free.

Once off the road, the government free towers leave you in a safe spot
where you can then safely work on the care to your hearts content.

I think even the basic AAA will tow you five miles to a gas station for
those women who feel the need for the safety. From there they can call you.

I've never needed a tow in my long life, but I've seen lots of cars parked
on the side with big stickers on the rear window so others must have not
figured out what was wrong with the car and had to abandon it on the side.

I never bought a new car but I know how to repair them which is useful
because unless you lose an axle, you can usually limp home on chewing gum.

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container.

I am not so sure of that as I've grabbed plenty of spray cans in my life
only to find that they're dead. I guess most were probably used though.
The temperature cycles in a trunk are horrific so it would be useful to
find what the manufacturer suggests as a reasonable replacement period.

Post by unknown
I have WD-40 in my trunk and never lost pressure.

As I already mentioned, there are a lot of things people told me to do that
I realized aren't great ideas (like the aforementioned flares, which
just turn into a crumbly yellow mess after years in a wet/dry hot/cold
trunk).
One of those things was WD-40, which people seem to think is some kind of
miracle water cure for just about every ill that a mechanic could imagine.
I long ago gave up on the smelly stuff (it gives me a headache) and I've
never even fretted about it. When I need oil, I use oil. When I need to
loosen rusty nuts, I use ATF and bang a lot. When I need to "displace
water", I spray it with the compressor air gun.
What does WD-40 do that Jesus' own miracle water doesn't do?

Post by unknown
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick
resin. I don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can.
There are also other versions that are not pressurized, but you have
to use valve-core tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove
the valve-core before you squeeze the content into the valve.

I don't use the green goopy stuff but I "thought" it was pressurized.
My beef was that it's going to lose pressure when stuck in a hot/cold trunk
for years, such that when you really need it, it will no longer be there.
I've had this happen with halon fire extinguishers when I first started
driving as people 'told me' I need to keep one in the car. When I needed
it, it wasn't there for me, and that alone taught me a valuable lesson.
If it's going to go in the trunk, then it can't be a can of pressurized
anything because the moment you are under pressure, it won't be there.
If the green goopy stuff is not pressurized, then that would be fine.

Post by unknown
It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway.

Whether or not it's "very dangerous" is up to people to determine
themselves. I've pulled over to pee for example. Is that very dangerous?
In some situations, like on the Pulaski Skyway, it's already very dangerous
just to be driving on the thing, let alone being pulled over to the side.
In other cases, such as in the middle of Montana on I80, you could park an
entire herd of cattle in the median while you work on putting the spare on.
What's "very dangerous" are those damn truckers. They drive close to you
just for their own fun. If you don't know what I mean, you never drove in
NJ along roads like Highway 9, or Route 202, or Route 1. They're assholes.

Post by unknown
Even police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency
lights blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason
a car parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram
into it.

I'm aware there are many stories where people rammed police cars which had
their lights on. Worse, truckers (yes, in NJ) aim to get as close to the
police as they can, just for their own glee - and every once in a while
(read the news) they actually hit the policemen (by accident) doing that.
Did I mention yet that the most dangerous situation when you're pulled over
to repair your car are the truckers love to mess with you as they drive by?

Post by unknown
The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a
battery air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

Nowadays, with cellphones, which none of us had when we drove half our
lives or more, you can just call AAA for the ladies and for the men, you
can call the government 511 who usually tows you off the road for free.
Once off the road, the government free towers leave you in a safe spot
where you can then safely work on the care to your hearts content.
I think even the basic AAA will tow you five miles to a gas station for
those women who feel the need for the safety. From there they can call you.
I've never needed a tow in my long life, but I've seen lots of cars parked
on the side with big stickers on the rear window so others must have not
figured out what was wrong with the car and had to abandon it on the side.
I never bought a new car but I know how to repair them which is useful
because unless you lose an axle, you can usually limp home on chewing gum.

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown
I believe the pressure inside the pressurized Slime Tire Sealant will
stay there forever because the content is "tire sealant" so by nature
the gas will never leak from its own container.

I am not so sure of that as I've grabbed plenty of spray cans in my life
only to find that they're dead. I guess most were probably used though.
The temperature cycles in a trunk are horrific so it would be useful to
find what the manufacturer suggests as a reasonable replacement period.

Post by unknown
I have WD-40 in my trunk and never lost pressure.

As I already mentioned, there are a lot of things people told me to do that
I realized aren't great ideas (like the aforementioned flares, which
just turn into a crumbly yellow mess after years in a wet/dry hot/cold
trunk).
One of those things was WD-40, which people seem to think is some kind of
miracle water cure for just about every ill that a mechanic could imagine.
I long ago gave up on the smelly stuff (it gives me a headache) and I've
never even fretted about it. When I need oil, I use oil. When I need to
loosen rusty nuts, I use ATF and bang a lot. When I need to "displace
water", I spray it with the compressor air gun.
What does WD-40 do that Jesus' own miracle water doesn't do?

Post by unknown
The sealant is some water-based gooey stuff with lumps of thick
resin. I don't think it will degrade over time inside of the can.
There are also other versions that are not pressurized, but you have
to use valve-core tool inside bottle cap that it comes with to remove
the valve-core before you squeeze the content into the valve.

I don't use the green goopy stuff but I "thought" it was pressurized.
My beef was that it's going to lose pressure when stuck in a hot/cold trunk
for years, such that when you really need it, it will no longer be there.
I've had this happen with halon fire extinguishers when I first started
driving as people 'told me' I need to keep one in the car. When I needed
it, it wasn't there for me, and that alone taught me a valuable lesson.

I have a small fire extinguisher in the driver's door pocket that is as
close to me as possible in my car. The small fire extinguisher has a
built-in pressure gauge. It has never lost pressure. I think I have had
that same fire extinguisher in all the cars I had gone through in the
last 20 years.

Not exactly the one I have, but like this:
https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-1038789-Standard-Extinguisher/dp/B01LTICQYE

Post by John Robertson
If it's going to go in the trunk, then it can't be a can of pressurized
anything because the moment you are under pressure, it won't be there.
If the green goopy stuff is not pressurized, then that would be fine.

Post by unknown
It is very dangerous to fix your car tire beside the highway.

Whether or not it's "very dangerous" is up to people to determine
themselves. I've pulled over to pee for example. Is that very dangerous?
In some situations, like on the Pulaski Skyway, it's already very dangerous
just to be driving on the thing, let alone being pulled over to the side.
In other cases, such as in the middle of Montana on I80, you could park an
entire herd of cattle in the median while you work on putting the spare on.
What's "very dangerous" are those damn truckers. They drive close to you
just for their own fun. If you don't know what I mean, you never drove in
NJ along roads like Highway 9, or Route 202, or Route 1. They're assholes.

Post by unknown
Even police vehicles parked on the roadside with full emergency
lights blaring can get wiped out by on-coming trucks. For some reason
a car parked on the side of the road would attract other cars to ram
into it.

I'm aware there are many stories where people rammed police cars which had
their lights on. Worse, truckers (yes, in NJ) aim to get as close to the
police as they can, just for their own glee - and every once in a while
(read the news) they actually hit the policemen (by accident) doing that.
Did I mention yet that the most dangerous situation when you're pulled over
to repair your car are the truckers love to mess with you as they drive by?

Post by unknown
The best bet if you have a tire puncture on the road is to pump tire
sealant into the flat tire, then pump air into the tire with a
battery air pump, and get to safety ASAP.

Nowadays, with cellphones, which none of us had when we drove half our
lives or more, you can just call AAA for the ladies and for the men, you
can call the government 511 who usually tows you off the road for free.
Once off the road, the government free towers leave you in a safe spot
where you can then safely work on the care to your hearts content.
I think even the basic AAA will tow you five miles to a gas station for
those women who feel the need for the safety. From there they can call you.
I've never needed a tow in my long life, but I've seen lots of cars parked
on the side with big stickers on the rear window so others must have not
figured out what was wrong with the car and had to abandon it on the side.
I never bought a new car but I know how to repair them which is useful
because unless you lose an axle, you can usually limp home on chewing gum.

[Bob F]

Post by unknown
I have a small fire extinguisher in the driver's door pocket that is as
close to me as possible in my car. The small fire extinguisher has a
built-in pressure gauge. It has never lost pressure. I think I have had
that same fire extinguisher in all the cars I had gone through in the
last 20 years.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-1038789-Standard-Extinguisher/dp/B01LTICQYE

Dry chemical extinguishers can become compacted with time, so even if
they have pressure, not much chemical will be dispensed whey you try to
use them. Supposedly, tapping the tank on something once in a while can
help prevent this. Perhaps, a few good taps before you use it would be
helpful.

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by John Robertson
What does WD-40 do that Jesus' own miracle water doesn't do?

Water Displacement, Formula #40. It's not a lubricant, sealer
or rust preventer.

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It is water based, and it turns to a solid lump on contact with air. So
the part that is in contact with the leak solidifies very quickly... and
then the rest of it solidifies into crap splattered all over the inside
of the tire and rim after a while... which is why they tell you to clean
it out and have it patched within a couple days.

But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs. So warn them about it so
they can be careful about breaking the bead.
--scott

[unknown]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It is water based, and it turns to a solid lump on contact with air. So
the part that is in contact with the leak solidifies very quickly... and
then the rest of it solidifies into crap splattered all over the inside
of the tire and rim after a while... which is why they tell you to clean
it out and have it patched within a couple days.
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs. So warn them about it so
they can be careful about breaking the bead.
--scott

I don't think those companies making tire sealants would be stupid
enough to use explosive gas as propellant in their aerosol tire sealant
products. The gas will remain inside the tire, unlike hairspray or
insecticide that will immediately dissipated into the atmosphere.
According to this "tire sealer and inflator" patent application, they
use CFC (a popular refrigerant gas) as propellant.


https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It is water based, and it turns to a solid lump on contact with air. So
the part that is in contact with the leak solidifies very quickly... and
then the rest of it solidifies into crap splattered all over the inside
of the tire and rim after a while... which is why they tell you to clean
it out and have it patched within a couple days.
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs. So warn them about it so
they can be careful about breaking the bead.
--scott

I don't think those companies making tire sealants would be stupid
enough to use explosive gas as propellant in their aerosol tire sealant
products. The gas will remain inside the tire, unlike hairspray or
insecticide that will immediately dissipated into the atmosphere.
According to this "tire sealer and inflator" patent application, they
use CFC (a popular refrigerant gas) as propellant.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned for
thirty years.

[unknown]

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days (I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

It is water based, and it turns to a solid lump on contact with air. So
the part that is in contact with the leak solidifies very quickly... and
then the rest of it solidifies into crap splattered all over the inside
of the tire and rim after a while... which is why they tell you to clean
it out and have it patched within a couple days.
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs. So warn them about it so
they can be careful about breaking the bead.
--scott

I don't think those companies making tire sealants would be stupid
enough to use explosive gas as propellant in their aerosol tire sealant
products. The gas will remain inside the tire, unlike hairspray or
insecticide that will immediately dissipated into the atmosphere.
According to this "tire sealer and inflator" patent application, they
use CFC (a popular refrigerant gas) as propellant.
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned for
thirty years.

CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from party-stores to
inflate balloons.

[John Robertson]

Post by unknown
CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from party-stores to
inflate balloons.

Speaking of environmentally friendly gases, I refill my sodastream
containers and twenty pound carbon dioxide welding tanks with dry ice.

They make and I bought a gadget that refills the sodastream containers from
the welding tanks (it's just a high pressure hose, valves, and a gauge).

I wonder if they make a gadget like that for filling up tires once?
It wouldn't have to be carbon dioxide. It could be any non-flammable gas.

The pressure of carbon dioxide varies according to temperature, but even
nominally at around 850 psi, it would need to be regulated down to
twentieth of that for a tire, but I wonder if they make a gadget for that?

[Bob F]

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown
CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant.
I am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium
may be a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from
party-stores to inflate balloons.

Speaking of environmentally friendly gases, I refill my sodastream
containers and twenty pound carbon dioxide welding tanks with dry ice.
They make and I bought a gadget that refills the sodastream containers from
the welding tanks (it's just a high pressure hose, valves, and a gauge).
I wonder if they make a gadget like that for filling up tires once?
It wouldn't have to be carbon dioxide. It could be any non-flammable gas.
The pressure of carbon dioxide varies according to temperature, but even
nominally at around 850 psi, it would need to be regulated down to
twentieth of that for a tire, but I wonder if they make a gadget for that?

They call it a regulator.

[unknown]

Post by John Robertson

Post by unknown
CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly
refrigerant. I am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out
there. Helium may be a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of
helium from party-stores to inflate balloons.

Speaking of environmentally friendly gases, I refill my sodastream
containers and twenty pound carbon dioxide welding tanks with dry ice.
They make and I bought a gadget that refills the sodastream containers from
the welding tanks (it's just a high pressure hose, valves, and a gauge).
I wonder if they make a gadget like that for filling up tires once?
It wouldn't have to be carbon dioxide. It could be any non-flammable gas.

Yes. Just search for "CO2 inflator" on Amazon. They use "16g threaded
cartridge".

The kind of CO2 cartridge for air gun is 12g, non-threaded.

CO2 inflators are practical for bicycle tires because of the compact
light weight to carry in your pocket. A hand pump is too tedious. It is
not practical for cars and trucks because you can use electric air pump.
One 16g CO2 cartridge may not be enough to fill a flat car or truck
tire. Topping up, maybe.

Post by John Robertson
The pressure of carbon dioxide varies according to temperature, but even
nominally at around 850 psi, it would need to be regulated down to
twentieth of that for a tire, but I wonder if they make a gadget for that?

[rbowman]

Post by unknown
One 16g CO2 cartridge may not be enough to fill a flat car or truck
tire. Topping up, maybe.

The 12g version won't fully inflate a mountain bike tire. otoh, 12g Daisy
cartridges are a lot easier to find and cheaper than the 16g version.

[unknown]

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
One 16g CO2 cartridge may not be enough to fill a flat car or truck
tire. Topping up, maybe.

The 12g version won't fully inflate a mountain bike tire. otoh, 12g Daisy
cartridges are a lot easier to find and cheaper than the 16g version.

I cannot find 12g "threaded" CO2 cartridge on Amazon.

Thread at the tip of the cartridge is the easiest way to attach a
cartridge onto a device. That's what makes the CO2 tire inflators so
compact. The inflator attachment is smaller than the CO2 cartridge.

This is similar to what I have. Look at the photos and video. It is
really compact.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003M2PNGY

[Scott Lurndal]

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned for
thirty years.

CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from party-stores to
inflate balloons.

Have you tried lately? Helium is in short supply.

[unknown]

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned for
thirty years.

CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from party-stores to
inflate balloons.

Have you tried lately? Helium is in short supply.

No. I haven't bought helium for a long time.

[Bob F]

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have been banned for
thirty years.

CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from party-stores to
inflate balloons.

Have you tried lately? Helium is in short supply.

Helium will probably maximize leakage. Bigger molecules are probably better.

[AMuzi]

Post by Bob F

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown

Post by Scott Lurndal

Post by unknown
https://patents.justia.com/patent/4501825
A novel tire sealant and inflator composition
comprising a resin, a
latex sealant, alkylene glycol, fibers, an
alkanolamine, a foaming
agent, and water. The composition is packaged in
aerosol cans with a
chlorofluorocarbon propellant/inflator and used to seal
and inflate
punctured tires. The composition is applied to the
punctured tire
through the valve stem, and acts to seal the puncture
and inflate the
tire sufficiently to support the weight of the car.

That patent was from 1984. Chlorofluorocarbons have
been banned for
thirty years.

CFC has been replaced by another environmentally friendly
refrigerant. I
am sure there are other nonflammable propellant out
there. Helium may be
a good candidate. I can buy a small tank of helium from
party-stores to
inflate balloons.

Have you tried lately? Helium is in short supply.

Helium will probably maximize leakage. Bigger molecules are
probably better.

That's right. Helium is a single He, much harder to contain
than molecules, even H2.

But it can be done, such as Helium charges in air bag
inflators which seem to hold a long while.

[John Robertson]

Post by Scott Dorsey
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs.

Do you bullshit on purpose because you want to sound like you know
something? Or do you actually believe the bullshit that you just said?

Maybe I need to simplify that for you.

Are you a liar?
Or are you just stupid?

No need to respond.
I'm just telling you that you shouldn't be saying the bullshit that you do.

[Scott Dorsey]

Post by John Robertson

Post by Scott Dorsey
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs.

Do you bullshit on purpose because you want to sound like you know
something? Or do you actually believe the bullshit that you just said?

I just read the warning on the can. If you don't believe it you can take
it up with them.
--scott

[unknown]

Post by Scott Dorsey

Post by John Robertson

Post by Scott Dorsey
But the real reason why tire guys hate the stuff is that the propellant
is explosive and can ignite if a spark occurs.

Do you bullshit on purpose because you want to sound like you know
something? Or do you actually believe the bullshit that you just said?

I just read the warning on the can. If you don't believe it you can take
it up with them.
--scott

This is exactly the one I bought from Walmart Canada. The description
clearly says it is non-flammable. And I have just found the empty bottle
to read the ingredient. The propellant is nitrogen.

Slime 60184 Thru-Core Tire Sealant, TPMS Safe, 454g , Green

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/tire-sealant-thru-core-green/6000198759771
• New Thru-Core Technology means there is no need to remove the valve core
• Seals punctures up to 1/4" in seconds
• Sealant tested and approved by leading automakers
• No jack or tools required
• Safe and easy
• Great for use in an emergency
• TPMS safe
• Non-toxic and non-hazardous
• Non-flammable
• Non-corrosive, making it safe for finished metal wheels
• Environmentally friendly and cleans up with water
• Requires air
• Effective under extreme temperatures (from -37°C to 83°F).


The Canadiantire.ca website has the photo of the complete backside of
the bottle (the photo in the middle). It lists the ingredients as
"water, SBL rubber, modified rosins, glycerol, and nitrogen propellant.

https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/slime-thru-core-tire-sealant-emergency-flat-tire-repair-454-g-0097000p.html

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 07:05:35 -0400, ? Mighty Wannabe

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days

The amazon ad someone posted (you, I think) said it "must be removed".

Post by unknown
(I guess it is the company protecting against lawsuits). I
read many customer comments that it stopped their slow leak. That kind
of slow leak might be in the rim area, nothing to do with nail puncture.

[unknown]

Post by micky
In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 07:05:35 -0400, ? Mighty Wannabe

Post by unknown

Post by rbowman

Post by unknown
I had a slow leak in one of my tires for many years. Recently I bought a
can of tire sealant to pump into the tire. It worked. No more slow leak.

They'll love you the next time you buy a tire.

I read the description. It is water based, so it can be washed off with
water before it hardens. I guess it works like some water-based glue. It
will harden to seal the leak but remain liquid inside the tire. It is
recommended by the manufacturer to have the tire professionally patched
within 3 days

The amazon ad someone posted (you, I think) said it "must be removed".

I think the company's law firm told them to say that.

If you read the product reviews on the Amazon website, most of the
raving reviews are from people using it to stop slow leaks.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sat, 29 Apr 2023 23:19:38 -0000 (UTC), Maxmillian

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?

Years ago I used to get quite a few flats. Maybe because I lived in a
city with glass and nails on the street (although not every flat was in
the city.)

I fixed quite a few flats myself, first with plugs and later with
"strings" They sell them at any auto parts store. They also selll
them with a tool to insert the string, but when I'm depressed, I cheer
myself up by buying a new tool, so I bought a better insert tool. That
seems to be the best way to stop havign flats, spend $3 on the better
tool.

On one and only one occasions in the last 50 years, I've been able to
inflate a tire with Fix-a-Flat and drive on it without losing much
pressure at least until I got home -- without removign whatever made the
leak. But other times, the air went out almost as fast as it went in.

Nonetheless, I still carry it. One can is not enough because if you
need it and use it, you have no more for the next flat. Two cans is not
enough, because if you use one can, you only have one can left and I
just determined that one can is not enough. So I usually have 3 cans.
That also prevents having flats in the first place.

Now I carry an ectric tire pump but when I didn't, afte4r I patched it
myself, one can of Fix-a-Flat would put in enough air to drive to
somewhere there was an air pump.

Post by Maxmillian
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?

Once someoen even repaired a hole in a sidewall for me. I don't think
they are lying when they say y ou can't do this, but somehow he did.

At a shop I expect them to take the tire off the rim and patch it on the
inside, and he did that to a sidewall. AIUI, removing the tire and using
a patch is better, but it's so much extra work and couldn't be much
better since strings work fine except in sidewalls.

But I saw shops where all they do is put in strings, which btw doesn't
require taking off the tire, and if they're going to just do that, I
can do that as well as they can. Once the tire is off the car and the
leak is found, inserting a string takes 5 minutes or less.

In one case, I removed the nail and patched the tire without even taking
the tire off the car.

Post by Maxmillian
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

I thought so, not just the cost of the tire but the time and effort like
you say.

I doubt you will find a place like Baltimore has, but ... Back in 1970,
when someone borrowed my car and wrecked it, he bent the frame and one
tire kept wearing out sooner than it should, so I started buying used
tires for it. Maybe logically that reason is not a good one. And if
you drive 20,000 miles a year maybe it's not worth it

But I continued it and in Baltimore there is one place that always has
the size I need, and it takes under 10 minutes start to finish to buy a
tire or two. (I've never bought mroe than 2 at one time.)

They have space for two cars inside the shop but if they run out of
space, guys some out to the sidewalk and the street. They know why
people are there, so they don't need to waste more than a few seconds
talking. If you need two, two guys jack up two corners, they take off
the wheels and give them to someone else who takes off the tires, Then
they go in the back to find the tires, give them to that rim guy who
mounts the new tires and igves them to another guy who bubble tests
them, then to another one who balances them, dynamically, who gives them
back to the two guys (or maybe two other guys) who put the tires back
on. While they do all that, I'm going into the office to pay, a middle
aged woman.

All this takes under 10 minutes, once only 5, but once it took 13
minutes counting waiting. It's a 20 minute drive from here but I enjoy
the drive.

They work on up to 6 cars at once, 12 or 14 guys at busy times. They've
all been nice guys. All they sell are used tires. Well it says they
sell new tires too, but they assume I'm there for used tires. If they
ever didn't have my size, I guess they'd sell me new. it's been 5
years since I bought a tire, but I think prices were 15 to 50 depending
on how much tread is left, and the size of the tire. My tires are not
especially big and I don't think they've ever asked for more than 35.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=dana%27s+tires I'm
surprised it's only 4.4 stars on 373 reviews. A good friend found them
separately from me and never bought tires anywhere else

Many used tires look pretty good, except maybe the 10 dollar tires
(which I've never looked at) with more than half the tread left, mmany
(most?) from accidents where the car is totalled and the tires might be
like new.

It used to be some new-car buyers would have the original tires replaced
with better ones and the ones removed were sold as used, but I don't
know if that still happens. CAn't imagine it's many.


They don't use plugs anymore aiui. Plugs require rubber cement be
applied. Strings dont, plus I think they go better in small holes.

I only use strings. This kit has more than you need, but I have not yet
found a smaller kit.
https://www.amazon.com/Vehiclex-Compact-Repair-Supplies-Punctures/dp/B091CLPZJ7/ref=sr_1_3_sspa
You don't need the patch, or the razor and you probably have a tire
gauge. It makes sense to have a tire valve tool and a spare valve but
I've never needed one.

This is more like it
https://www.amazon.com/T-Handle-String-Compact-Professional-Repair/dp/B093BWHD5P/ref=sr_1_19_sspa
20 strings, a lifetime supply. I don't konw about those angled tools,
but maybe they're better.

[Incubus]

Post by micky
Well it says they
sell new tires too, but they assume I'm there for used tires. If they
ever didn't have my size, I guess they'd sell me new.
I was buying new from a used tire place. They charged 2 bucks each to dispose of the old.
As I was getting the new ones, the guy behind me was buying my old from the dealer for 20 each.

I've bought used tires. When I was a kid. The problem is you don't know how
long they sat flat. The belts might be ruined. Then again, maybe not.

Certainly if you sold recent tires and the guy behind you bought them, he
got a good deal.

But what I do now is mailorder the tires to get the best price.
Simple Tire. Tire Rack. Amazon. Whatever.

They'll ship them directly to the tire installer.
Often there will be free shipping - which is important sometimes.

Sometimes (less so now than years ago) their might not even be a sales tax.

And they'll give you an out-the-door price for the installation & disposal
that the tire seller has already negotiated with the tire installers.

So you know what it will cost when you factor it all in.
Plus you get the choice of the entire world's warehouses.

Not just what one tire shop happens to have in stock.

[AMuzi]

Post by Maxmillian
In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the
tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?
I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my
household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is
always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to
GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.
One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven
on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third
they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to
me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as
most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he
picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?
Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting
and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars
and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

You don't know what you don't know. I don't either.

Losing a tire at speed is quite an exciting adventure which
I hope you never experience and that makes tire repair guys
err on the conservative side of evaluation.

Some tires can be safely and effectively plugged. Some
cannot. There's judgement involved in that decision based on
similar prior experience.

Finally, tires are getting more flat-prone in an attempt to
'Save The Earth' or whatever. Thinner, lighter than twenty
years ago.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 08:49:40 -0500, AMuzi

Post by AMuzi

Post by Maxmillian
I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes
to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.

They sell for maybe 70 or 100 dollars simple metal lever machines to
break the bead and remove a tire from a rim, but tire beads are a lot
stiffer than they were in the 1930's, you'll be worn out maybe even
before you've finished one tire, and you'll never see a tire shop using
a manual version. The pneumatic versions are as big as a short washing
machine and cost, I'm sure, 1000 dollars or more. Plus you need a good
source of compressed air.

Post by AMuzi

Post by Maxmillian
Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?
Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?

You don't know what you don't know. I don't either.
Losing a tire at speed is quite an exciting adventure which
I hope you never experience and that makes tire repair guys
err on the conservative side of evaluation.

Yes, for sure**

Post by AMuzi
Some tires can be safely and effectively plugged. Some

Everyone here keeps calling them plugs but there is a difference between
plugs and strings and strings have replaced plugs. Looking to see if
the web agrees with me I found
https://knowhow.napaonline.com/how-to-use-a-tire-plug-kit-the-right-way/
How to use a tire PLUG the right way, but when you look at the picture,
they're using a string, not a plug. And this is a NAPA url!! The
autoparts chain!! How come they don't know what they are called.

The word "string" is nowhere in the article!! But plug means something
different. They were rubber, cylindrical, harder to put in, sometimes
they ripped in half when you were trying to stuff them in a small hole,
and they had to be coated by the user by what seemed like rubber cement.
They started selling strings maybe 30 years ago and maybe too many
people are too young to remmeber the distinction.


This one calls them strings:
https://www.amazon.com/Slime-2040-A-Tire-Plug-Kit/dp/B000ET9SAA/ref=asc_df_B000ET9SAA/

Post by AMuzi
cannot. There's judgement involved in that decision based on
similar prior experience.

**And you're right about high-speed blowouts, adventurous to say the
least, but I still like to tell this story. I had driven all day so I
asked a friend to drive when we went out for another hour, and we took
my car, a full-size Catalina. She owned a VW bug and when we got back
to her apartment, she drove head in and rammed the curb with my right
front tire. The next morning, I'm passing a semi at 65mph and I hear
a bang. It blew out where she hit the curb. I slowed down and pulled
over, but the car itself never missed a beat. I was amazed and I don't
expect such good luck again.

[Michael]

Post by micky
They sell for maybe 70 or 100 dollars simple metal lever machines to
break the bead and remove a tire from a rim, but tire beads are a lot
stiffer than they were in the 1930's, you'll be worn out maybe even
before you've finished one tire, and you'll never see a tire shop using
a manual version.

You said two things right and one thing wrong.
It's just loony that you think it takes some kind of special strength.

It doesn't take unusual strength that any normal man doesn't have.
That's what the fulcrum leverage is for.

If you have strength to lift a tire off the ground, that's all you need.

Post by micky
The pneumatic versions are as big as a short washing
machine and cost, I'm sure, 1000 dollars or more.

That's a goofy comparison.

The professional machines are designed to save the mechanic's time.
they're also designed to be used by someone who isn't all that smart.
And to be used after a lot of training.
But also to be used without supervision.
And yet to have as much safety and speed as is possible.

And to work on many sizes of tires. For thousands of tires a year.
And to be quick & easy to repair when/if the machine suddenly breaks down.

And... and... and... and....and...and... (the list goes on and on).

The point is that you can't compare something like a $100K alignment
machine to a $5 protractor and plumb bob when both have the same accuracy.

They're completely different tools because their goals are different.

Post by micky
Plus you need a good source of compressed air.

That's just silly.

If you don't have a compressor that can fill a passenger car tire or light
truck tire with air, then you bought the wrong air compressor. Return it.

Post by micky

Post by AMuzi
Losing a tire at speed is quite an exciting adventure which
I hope you never experience and that makes tire repair guys
err on the conservative side of evaluation.

Yes, for sure**

That's irrational.

It's like saying you shouldn't mow your lawn because losing a lawnmower
blade at speed is quite an exciting adventure. It's just ridiculous.

It's no less safe to mount & balance or patch your own tires at home than
it is to pay someone else to mount & balance or patch your tires in a shop.

If you think it is, you'd better justify why as it's an absurd statement.

Post by micky
Everyone here keeps calling them plugs but there is a difference between
plugs and strings and strings have replaced plugs. Looking to see if
the web agrees with me I found
https://knowhow.napaonline.com/how-to-use-a-tire-plug-kit-the-right-way/
How to use a tire PLUG the right way, but when you look at the picture,
they're using a string, not a plug. And this is a NAPA url!! The
autoparts chain!! How come they don't know what they are called.

This is the type of part I use.
https://www.amazon.com/ZERINT-TP-M13W-Combination-Repair-Wrapped/dp/B08LPQV2DR/

I try to buy the smallest kit that I think I'll need so that they're fresh.

Post by micky
The word "string" is nowhere in the article!! But plug means something
different. They were rubber, cylindrical, harder to put in, sometimes
they ripped in half when you were trying to stuff them in a small hole,
and they had to be coated by the user by what seemed like rubber cement.
They started selling strings maybe 30 years ago and maybe too many
people are too young to remmeber the distinction.
https://www.amazon.com/Slime-2040-A-Tire-Plug-Kit/dp/B000ET9SAA/

I'm sure some shops might use them, but they are really for homeowners.

You'll find different types of kits depending on the type of search.

This, for example, nets you homeowner garbage tire patch kits.
https://www.amazon.ca/Tire-Patch-Kit/s?k=Tire+Patch+Kit

Those homeowner kits work, but these are more for the pros to use.
https://www.amazon.com/Tire-plug-patch/s?k=Tire+plug+and+patch

Post by micky
**And you're right about high-speed blowouts, adventurous to say the
least, but I still like to tell this story. I had driven all day so I
asked a friend to drive when we went out for another hour, and we took
my car, a full-size Catalina. She owned a VW bug and when we got back
to her apartment, she drove head in and rammed the curb with my right
front tire. The next morning, I'm passing a semi at 65mph and I hear
a bang. It blew out where she hit the curb. I slowed down and pulled
over, but the car itself never missed a beat. I was amazed and I don't
expect such good luck again.

I once passed a stopped semi on the side of the road, and BANG! Smoke!
WTF? What happened!!!!! I pull over, and the smoke is gone. WTF?

Turns out it was the bottom of a hill. The driver's brakes overheated.
He pulled over to let them cool down. The moment I passed them, the heat
blew out one of their inside tires. That was the bank and instant smoke.

Regarding mounting and balancing tires at home for your car or light truck,
there's no more danger than there would be if someone did it in the shop.

Ask me anything you want to know about mounting & balancing tires at home.
I've done it many times.

[Ralph Mowery]

In article <u2k8m9$29s93$***@news.samoylyk.net>, ***@max.is.invalid
says...

Post by Maxmillian
After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he
can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a
new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.
Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal
took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.
Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?
I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that
almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?

I buy my tires at Discount Tires. They repair tires for free if bought
from there. I think they will repair all your tires if you have one set
of tires from there. They also rotate them for free.

[Maxmillian]

I suggest looking for a local small shop on the cheaper side of town that does
tires. I think you're more likely to have them be willing to do a repair versus the
large chain shops, etc. that are going to be overly cautious and wanting to sell
new tires.

What I mostly hated was all the waiting, and driving, and traffic, and
disappointment being told in the end that they mainly wanted to sell new
tires. Worse, they didn't have the same tread pattern but that didn't
bother them. I don't know if it matters but I know it "could" matter
sometimes if the tread pattern makes a difference (which you won't know
until it's too late).

If I had the tire press, I would just do it my self and take the risk of my
efforts, which is why I'm asking here on a repair & automotive tech group.

I haven't had a lot of tires that had problems over the years, but I'd
guess that it was about 25% could not be plugged, 75% could. It also depends on
what you're going to use the tire for. If it's going to be the spare, only get used
temporarily or never, I would be less concerned about the repair. All the ones
that I plugged lasted the life of the tire.

Thank you for answering the question as faithfully as you could.
Nobody else even tried to answer the question before saying what they'd do.

It seems reasonable that 1/4 of the tires that are flat "shouldn't" be
repaired if people follow the rules rigidly (which tires shops will do).

For one, I would think most tires are "driven on" for some distance after
they're flat, either because it's a slow leak or the driver needs to get
off the road to a safe place before changing over to the spare tire.

It would be good to know how long a flat tire can be driven on before it's
ruined. Is it 100 feet? 1 mile? More? Less? I don't know. Any idea?

Also we've all had nails/screws that are close to the edge, where I don't
know exactly where 'too close' might be, but I'm sure a shop will be more
conservative on that than I am for my own car (although for my wife & kids'
cars, I'd tend to be more conservative than I am on my own vehicles).

Along the same vein, glass and metal shards are problematic due to their
shape, where the question would be at what point is the slice too big.

There is also the case of multiple repairs in a tire, or a repair that is
too close to a pre-existing repair, which tire shops must have rules on.

And of course, there might be age-of-tire restrictions (anything over 3
years, for example) or wear-bar restrictions or cracks in the sidewall.

Given that a flat tire is already, by definition, a "used tire", I'm sure
some of these factors can easily weight in on a portion of tires out there.

If that portion is 1/4 of all the tires will fail, that sounds reasonable.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Sun, 30 Apr 2023 16:03:59 -0000 (UTC), Maxmillian

Post by Maxmillian

I suggest looking for a local small shop on the cheaper side of town that does
tires. I think you're more likely to have them be willing to do a repair versus the
large chain shops, etc. that are going to be overly cautious and wanting to sell
new tires.

Yes, indeed. The used tire store I wrote about earlier is in the center
city, Also, when an exhaust pipe broke at a joint in front of the
muffler and I went to a suburban muffler shop, all he was willing to do
was replace most of the system. I headed for downtown and found a
pretty big, nice looking garage and he welded the two pipes back
together. Let me watch, did a very good job, one full bead and then
another on top of it. It lasted as long as I had the car.

Post by Maxmillian
What I mostly hated was all the waiting, and driving, and traffic, and
disappointment being told in the end that they mainly wanted to sell new
tires. Worse, they didn't have the same tread pattern but that didn't
bother them. I don't know if it matters but I know it "could" matter
sometimes if the tread pattern makes a difference (which you won't know
until it's too late).

In theory the treads should match but on a dry road if you're not doing
doughnuts or wheelies, I don't think it's worth worrying about. When I
did buy two front tires, the used store had matching tires, but if he
hadn't, that would have been okay too.

Post by Maxmillian
If I had the tire press, I would just do it my self and take the risk of my
efforts, which is why I'm asking here on a repair & automotive tech group.

See another of my posts about that.

Post by Maxmillian

I haven't had a lot of tires that had problems over the years, but I'd
guess that it was about 25% could not be plugged, 75% could. It also depends on
what you're going to use the tire for. If it's going to be the spare, only get used
temporarily or never, I would be less concerned about the repair. All the ones
that I plugged lasted the life of the tire.

Thank you for answering the question as faithfully as you could.
Nobody else even tried to answer the question before saying what they'd do.

I didn't know we had to answer in a particular order.

Post by Maxmillian
It seems reasonable that 1/4 of the tires that are flat "shouldn't" be
repaired if people follow the rules rigidly (which tires shops will do).
For one, I would think most tires are "driven on" for some distance after
they're flat, either because it's a slow leak or the driver needs to get
off the road to a safe place before changing over to the spare tire.
It would be good to know how long a flat tire can be driven on before it's
ruined. Is it 100 feet? 1 mile? More? Less? I don't know. Any idea?

One time I was dressed up and about to go to a rally for a political
candidate I was working for. And I got a flat and it was raining.
Instead of changing the tire in the rain, I drove about 1000 feet to a
garage and no doubt about it, I ruined the tire.

Post by Maxmillian
Also we've all had nails/screws that are close to the edge, where I don't
know exactly where 'too close' might be, but I'm sure a shop will be more
conservative on that than I am for my own car (although for my wife & kids'
cars, I'd tend to be more conservative than I am on my own vehicles).
Along the same vein, glass and metal shards are problematic due to their
shape, where the question would be at what point is the slice too big.
There is also the case of multiple repairs in a tire, or a repair that is
too close to a pre-existing repair, which tire shops must have rules on.
And of course, there might be age-of-tire restrictions (anything over 3
years, for example) or wear-bar restrictions or cracks in the sidewall.
Given that a flat tire is already, by definition, a "used tire", I'm sure
some of these factors can easily weight in on a portion of tires out there.
If that portion is 1/4 of all the tires will fail, that sounds reasonable.

[Maxmillian]

Post by micky
I drove about 1000 feet to a
garage and no doubt about it, I ruined the tire.

That's the part I was wondering about the most.
How long can you drive on a flat before the tire is ruined?

If it's only 1,000 feet, I'll bet a lot of tires have that on them because
you have to get out of the traffic and find a safe spot to park the car.