If you have previously registered, but forgotten your password, click here.

T O P I C     R E V I E W
padroo	I had my first flat tire last week. I was leaving the driveway and was about 100 feet down the road and I heard a noise. I told my wife I think we have a flat tire. My tire warning light was on but I never had it reset after putting my new tires and wheels on last year. I went to three places and none of them could fix it so I let it go. Anyway my right rear Falken was flat so I backed it back into my driveway and used my portable air compressor to inflate it. I was able to get it in my garage and a couple of hours later it was flat again. I decided to plug the tire on the car after locating the leak. It was a small puncture in one of the tire grooves. I jacked the car up a little and rotated the tire to make it easier to get at and installed the plug. I could have done it without jacking the car but I did it for convenience. All is well and the tire is still holding air. With a small hole like mine it is hard to get the rasp that came with the kit I bought to start so I used an awl to open the hole up a little bigger so I could get the rasp started. For anyone who has never plugged a tire before I suggest you practice on an old tire so you have the process down. It is not hard but if you have never done it I would say it would build up your confidence in an emergency. You might say I am just going to call someone to do it and that is fine. I like to have the option to do it on the spot or call someone, I always like to have that choice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzF8Vt03-k This message has been edited by padroo on 10-05-2015 at 11:40 AM
NullMind	The good thing was that no harm came from it, thats the important bit. I remember my first flat ever, was back in 90 or 91 with my first car, I had a flat tire while driving in torrential rain, and to make things worse, the damm tire would not come out, took a beating to replace in the side of the road and drenched to the bone !
padroo	quote: Originally posted by NullMind: The good thing was that no harm came from it, thats the important bit. I remember my first flat ever, was back in 90 or 91 with my first car, I had a flat tire while driving in torrential rain, and to make things worse, the damm tire would not come out, took a beating to replace in the side of the road and drenched to the bone ! Are you saying you had trouble getting the lug nuts broke loose or after the lug nuts were removed betting the wheel off the axle?
NullMind	quote: Originally posted by padroo: Are you saying you had trouble getting the lug nuts broke loose or after the lug nuts were removed betting the wheel off the axle? Sorry should have been specific, the lugs came out fine, but the wheel was not coming free, we had to smack it on the sides for quite a bit to make it come loose Granted this was a Seat Ibiza Still have a pic of it This message has been edited by NullMind on 10-05-2015 at 11:57 AM
Hamlyn	I recently paid $500 to replace a tire with a leak because those jokers at the tire shop wouldn't patch it. Said I drove it below 15 psi. Nice to know I can do my own work. Thanks for the post.
padroo	quote: Originally posted by NullMind: Sorry should have been specific, the lugs came out fine, but the wheel was not coming free, we had to smack it on the sides for quite a bit to make it come loose Granted this was a Seat Ibiza Still have a pic of it I thought that was what you meant. I have posted before a trick I learned after owning a car for 14 years and having that problem. The trick is to loosen the lug nut and this works best when the tire has some air in it and drive around in a circle. The forces of a turn will break the wheel loose. You have to clean the backside of the wheel and the mating surface of the axle or you might be torquing the wheel down on a bunch of crap the will in time make the wheel come loose again. The problem is dissimilar metal corrosion. Usually aluminum and steel in contact with one another. It is bad here in the Norther US with harsh winters and road salt.
ed monahan	I have used a drill a couple of times to make the hole large enough to accommodate the rasp or the plug. I have probably plugged over 30 tires, not all my own, of course.
tangled up in BLUE	...had a rear flat on the Texas run a couple of years ago, took a large piece of steel...they drilled a bigger hole and plugged it, not a problem since
katmat	quote: Originally posted by tangled up in BLUE: ...had a rear flat on the Texas run a couple of years ago, took a large piece of steel...they drilled a bigger hole and plugged it, not a problem since You have not had any problems because you have Mr. Ed sweeping the floors at the Nursing Home.LOL
mslc10	Many if not most tire shops want to patch a tire ( break tire off rim and place patch on inside of tire) . While this is their preferred method ,there is no plug that actually keeps water out of the belts.if there are any corrosives in the water on the street ( salt) this will enter thru the hole if there is no plug installed, and corrosion will start on your belts ,assuming they are steel belted. I have used plugs on near sidewall punctures that nobody would fix! I have used two plugs at once in a large hole. The best recommendation is use the rubber cement ( or pvc glue) to lube and clean the hole with rasp, and lube the plug ( caterpillar) before inserting it. Works for many miles.... This message has been edited by mslc10 on 10-05-2015 at 08:23 PM
StingRay	quote: Originally posted by katmat: You have not had any problems because you have Mr. Ed sweeping the floors at the Nursing Home.LOL Larry .... how on earth do you train a horse to sweep for nails? And just WHO or what do you train then to sweep up after Mr. Ed the horse?!?
ed monahan	The rubber cement is no longer included in the kits. I wish it were still included.
padroo	quote: Originally posted by ed monahan: The rubber cement is no longer included in the kits. I wish it were still included. I bought a big can like the tire shops use, I open it up and with the plug installed in the needle I dip the whole thing in the cement. I have had my can for years and hope I never need it again. lol http://www.amazon.com/Slime-1050-Rubber-Cement-oz/dp/B003V9UU66
WildCat	I had a piece of 5/16 all thread about 4 1/2" long go thru the center of the 275/40/18 michelin on my mustang What an ordeal, the place that mounted them said they couldn't dismount so had to take it somewhere else to dismount without damaging my chrome rim. The then patched the tire and no problem since I do carry an air compressor and tire repair kit in the Goldwing and Prowler
Greg and Veta	I have found small tubes of rubber cement for tire repair at Walmart. Packaged by the "Green Slime" people. I have repaired a few tires, but once the rubber cement is opened no matter how well you try to seal it, it's always hard the next time you need it. It is very good for carrying in my "tire repair and transmission sender" kit.
padroo	quote: Originally posted by Greg and Veta: I have found small tubes of rubber cement for tire repair at Walmart. Packaged by the "Green Slime" people. I have repaired a few tires, but once the rubber cement is opened no matter how well you try to seal it, it's always hard the next time you need it. It is very good for carrying in my "tire repair and transmission sender" kit. My large can is at least 10 years old and has never dried up but I don't carry it in the Prowler. I have a little unopened tube in my tire repair kit for the Prowler. http://www.amazon.com/Slime-1050-Rubber-Cement-oz/dp/B003V9UU66
Landscape Doctor	I keep a plug kit and a can of cement in every vehicle. Oh ya, a mini compressor also. Saved me more than once.