OT Spare Tire in a Spray Can Any Good?

[Al Smith]

It was 7 lousy degrees out this morning. My beloved
98 Civic HX is sitting in the barn waiting for the salt to wash away. Meanwhile, I am driving a 90 Dodge Omni with 178k on it. The Omni is my sacrificial anode.

Anyway, one of the tires has a slow leak. I have to pump it up every morning. Every year I had put grease on the lugs otherwise the nuts rust on solid. I didn't grease it this year. Did I mention that it's cold?

Is there a spray can fix that would get me about 3 months use?

 

[Scott Schuckert]

Anyway, one of the tires has a slow leak. I have to pump it up every morning. Every year I had put grease on the lugs otherwise the nuts rust on solid. I didn't grease it this year. Did I mention that it's cold?

Is there a spray can fix that would get me about 3 months use?

The answer is "maybe" I've kept one of those things in the trunk for years; used them three times. Actually sealed the leak twice.

DON'T use it on a tire you care about, it makes an awful mess inside that you'll have to clean up - in my case, it threw the balance of the tire off as well.

Sadly, they work best if it's warm. Take seriously the recommendation to drive the car a good while immediately after use.

if it were me, and I had other transportation, I take the wheel off and take it to a service station to be reseated. TELL them it's because of a slow leak.

 

[jim (archive)]

It was 7 lousy degrees out this morning. My beloved
98 Civic HX is sitting in the barn waiting for the salt to wash away. Meanwhile, I am driving a 90 Dodge Omni with 178k on it. The Omni is my sacrificial anode.

Anyway, one of the tires has a slow leak. I have to pump it up every morning. Every year I had put grease on the lugs otherwise the nuts rust on solid. I didn't grease it this year. Did I mention that it's cold?

Is there a spray can fix that would get me about 3 months use?

for what i would pay for a spray can of stuff you can just drive it to a tire place and get the flat fixed for the $6-$7 they would charge you for either the flat or the spray can.....

 

[N.E.Ohio Bob]

Friggin Firestone store charged me $25.00 last year to patch one of their tires that had a finnish nail dead center in the tread area. I thought it should be more like seven or eight bucks. bob

 

[Al Smith]

The answer is "maybe" I've kept one of those things in the trunk for years; used them three times. Actually sealed the leak twice.

DON'T use it on a tire you care about, it makes an awful mess inside that you'll have to clean up - in my case, it threw the balance of the tire off as well.

Sadly, they work best if it's warm. Take seriously the recommendation to drive the car a good while immediately after use.

if it were me, and I had other transportation, I take the wheel off and take it to a service station to be reseated. TELL them it's because of a slow leak.

Taking it somewhere I have considered,
but as a last option because it could do
more harm than good.

A number of years ago
I sheared off one of the studs
trying to get the nut loose. That is
when I started greasing the lugs
every year. This thing is not made
of quality material and for the last
8 years the only time it has been
driven is when there is salt on the road.

I tried one of those spray things a long
time ago. Apparently I didn't drive it long
enough because the tire was good
only for a circus car. I think if I try it again,
I am only going to use a tiny portion of
the can. I'm hoping there is something
better today. It seems to me that if we
can figure out a way to send a U. S.
Senator to the moon,
we ought to be able to figure out how to
seal a leak in a tire.

 

[Al Smith]

That's another reason I am hesitating. I got same "deal" last time. There is a local (North Central Ohio) joint that charges about $8, but they were telling stories about some new tires I wanted a couple of years ago. I have boycotted them since. Maybe I should give in, but I am still concerned about getting lug nuts sheared off. I didn't check if this tire is one the wheel with only three left.

 

[Al Smith]

Sadly, they work best if it's warm. Take seriously the recommendation to drive the car a good while immediately after use.

Thinking back to my experience, if you shoot the whole can in there, I think "a good while" would be about 10,000 miles.

 

[N.E.Ohio Bob]

By the way, that was the carry-in price. I have a jack and do my own tire rotations. I can tighten the lugs to my own satisfaction. bob

 

[TL]

I'd concur with others. Take it somewhere and have the tire fixed. Otherwise you'll be fooling with this forever. I've never liked the idea of that goo inside my tire; I'd consider the can only for absolute emergencies. Even if it is $25 (should be less), so what? Let's get real. Not much more than a tank of gas ... PLUS I notice that you say it is COLD outside : - )

 

[Al Smith]

I'm going to try some Slime!

Why? "Because Flats Suck."
How can you argue with that?

www.slime.com

 

[bearman]

In Albuquerque, Discount Tire Co. fixes flats for free. Sure it's just a gimmick to get new customers (or treat old customers right) but so what?

I've heard stories (maybe urban legends) that the gas those cans put in the tire is flammable and there have been accidents when the flat fixer guy starts to remove the tire from the wheel.

I only use the stuff in my wheelbarrow and rototiller tires.

Bearman

 

[123.bam]

I'm going to try some Slime!

Why? "Because Flats Suck."
How can you argue with that?

www.slime.com

that will work great against flats, but you might look into how well it might perform at highway speeds in 20-30 degree f temperature. I believe the "slime" is mostly for bicycles, for which hardly ever exceed 30mpg. I propose the slime will either freeze in one spot or not be thin enough to coat the inside of the tire evenly at 50 mph that could mean a very very unbalanced tire.

 

[Al Smith]

that will work great against flats, but you might look into how well it might perform at highway speeds in 20-30 degree f temperature. I believe the "slime" is mostly for bicycles, for which hardly ever exceed 30mpg. I propose the slime will either freeze in one spot or not be thin enough to coat the inside of the tire evenly at 50 mph that could mean a very very unbalanced tire.

Au Contraire. If you would have looked at the link I provided - and I am shocked that you did not - slime can be used to -30 degrees F.

Furthermore, use in automobiles is recommended.

 

[null_pointer]

It was 7 lousy degrees out this morning. My beloved
98 Civic HX is sitting in the barn waiting for the salt to wash away. Meanwhile, I am driving a 90 Dodge Omni with 178k on it. The Omni is my sacrificial anode.

Anyway, one of the tires has a slow leak. I have to pump it up every morning. Every year I had put grease on the lugs otherwise the nuts rust on solid. I didn't grease it this year. Did I mention that it's cold?

Is there a spray can fix that would get me about 3 months use?

I've used several pressurized canned products with good results. I keep 2 cans in the trunk for emergency use. If I get a nail, it buys me some time until I can get it fixed properly. Never tried it long term.
One thing about Slime: You need to remove the valve core to install and need a source of pressurized air after installing the valve core. To me, this makes slime a non-contender for emergency use. The canned products I have used provided enough pressure (some gas...probably NOT air) to be able to drive away

P.S. I found the phrase "The Omni is my sacrificial anode" to be one of the most intelligent and amusing things I have ever read on any newsgroup....

 

[Al Smith]

I've used several pressurized canned products with good results. I keep 2 cans in the trunk for emergency use. If I get a nail, it buys me some time until I can get it fixed properly. Never tried it long term.
One thing about Slime: You need to remove the valve core to install and need a source of pressurized air after installing the valve core. To me, this makes slime a non-contender for emergency use.

I had - but couldn't find so bought another one today - a little 12 volt air compressor. I don't believe I have every had a tire problem that was ever so severe that it wouldn't hold air for an hour or two. I really like these small 12 volt compressors. Sears is one source. Not only are they a great time and effort saver on the road, they can inflate basketballs, footballs, bicycle tires, etc. The one I got can pressurize up to 250 psi. It might take a day or so to get there, but that kind of pressure can be handy.

From what I read, you can put the Slime in anytime you want - even before you have a leak - not that I am that ambitious. Sunday it is supposed to get all the way up to 32. I might try it then

The canned

products I have used provided enough pressure (some gas...probably NOT air) to be able to drive away

P.S. I found the phrase "The Omni is my sacrificial anode" to be one of the most intelligent and amusing things I have ever read on any newsgroup....

It is a consolation that my 14-year travail has brought mirth.

 

[Charlie S]

I drive on freeways and don't question spending money on tires and brakes. I would not drive a car with missing or damaged wheel nuts. I replaced a couple of the wheel studs on a Mazda pickup a few years ago. I think I payed $2 or $3 each for them at an auto store. You hit the stud with a hammer and it pops out the back. You may have to press it out with big clamp if it's rusted in place.

 

[123.bam]

Au Contraire. If you would have looked at the link I provided - and I am shocked that you did not - slime can be used to -30 degrees F.

Furthermore, use in automobiles is recommended.

Ill stand partway corrected. my point being is their recommendation, Not recommended as a preventative for all 4 automotive tires. recommended as a repair only for automotive application due to possible tire imbalance. Not intended for speeds in excess of 75 m.p.h will not seal bead leaks and finally it has a recomended life span of 2 years. then what happens? do you add more? Do you have the tire dis-mounted cleaned of all the old goo. What happens if the goo after 2 years becomes a solid, do you replace the tires, re-balance them etc.

as an emergency repair its good stuff, I use it in my bicycle tubes all the time and with good results but I replace the tubes every 2-3 years anyway.

 

[Me]

In Albuquerque, Discount Tire Co. fixes flats for free. Sure it's just a gimmick to get new customers (or treat old customers right) but so what?

I've heard stories (maybe urban legends) that the gas those cans put in the tire is flammable and there have been accidents when the flat fixer guy starts to remove the tire from the wheel.

I only use the stuff in my wheelbarrow and rototiller tires.

At Hibdon Tire here in Oklahoma they always ask if you have it in there and they charge you extra if you do. I think they charge double if you didn't tell them. Ironically, they sell their own version that they put in when they install the tire which supposedly turns the tire leak-proof. Who knows....

Nate

 

[Me]

Ill stand partway corrected. my point being is their recommendation, Not recommended as a preventative for all 4 automotive tires. recommended as a repair only for automotive application due to possible tire imbalance. Not intended for speeds in excess of 75 m.p.h will not seal bead leaks and finally it has a recomended life span of 2 years. then what happens? do you add more? Do you have the tire dis-mounted cleaned of all the old goo. What happens if the goo after 2 years becomes a solid, do you replace the tires, re-balance them etc.

as an emergency repair its good stuff, I use it in my bicycle tubes all the time and with good results but I replace the tubes every 2-3 years anyway.

If you don't care about the slight weight penalty, I got sick of replacing tubes all the time due to stickers (those prickly seeds), and I bought the foam rubber inner tubes from Wal-Mart. It was around $14 a tire, but I've had them for two years without replacing a tube, and I used to replace them every 3-4 months.

Nate