Instant Flat fix recommendations please.

[dodgerover]

Just got a new car for my other half to replace our Maverick, running locally she would like to not have spare in the boot (LPG tank is in the wheel well), any recommendations as to what cans of goo are good for once you've got a flat?

I don't really want to treat all 4 tyres to a full bottle of slime as a preventative, just because of the sheer mess it makes come changing time (plus i've had flats with it in on my trail bike anyway).

In the case of a puncture I'm likely to get a call out anyway but it would be nice if she could have a can of stuff in the car to bung in if need be. I realise nothing is going to help if it comes off the bead - splits a sidewall etc, but the only stuff i've personally used was Finnilec in the dim and distant past which was basically like builders expanding foam.......

As recompense for me asking a lot of questions lately have a nice Valiant:

[stevieclj]

Quite a few tyre places around here won't touch a wheel if its had any kind of "instant fix" shot in to it. The time to clean the rim down so the new tyre will fit is unbelieveable.

Run Flats are a better option, but the ride comfort is terrible, and the costs can be astronomical.

[smurf]

I picked up a fix a flat kit from a bootfair

It uses the sticky rubber strip you push into the tyre.

Only took me 15 mins to make the repair and it held up for well over 4500 miles on a 31/10.5r15 so i know its good

[composimmonite]

For my Smart I bought a Continental Tyre kit off eBay - OE from some car or other. You get a decent little compressor that can be anytime plus a bottle of gunk to use with a puncture. Not tried it but suppose to be better than the aerosol instant flat fix.
FWIW I'd be tempted to get a spare wheel to keep at home. That way is you ever get the phone call, and you are at home, then that could be got from garage and used instead of the gunk. Even a space saver could be worth having "in stock".

Paul H

[adam73bgt]

When I worked at Halfords, I used a can of Tyreweld on someones car who came in with a flat tyre, it did partially inflate and partially seal the tyre but it didn't look like something I'd want to drive on for any amount of time..

That said, I do have a can in the MG as I don't carry a spare wheel haha

I also seem to recall there being a different flat repair thing we sold which was like a red plastic triangle which broke off a little plastic bung to fill the hole in the tyre.. no idea how well or not they work though

And have a pic of Gilles Villeneuve in need of a bit more than a can of gunk

[dodgerover]

Thanks yes have got a full sized spare at home, just trying to avoid carrying it about and filling up the back all the time.

[cianha]

I've used Holts Tyre Weld in the past as a get you home solution. Though if you manage to punch a big enough hole, there's no amount of tyre weld that'll work…

[Rich]

Jul 22, 2014 12:37:38 GMT smurf said:

I picked up a fix a flat kit from a bootfair

It uses the sticky rubber strip you push into the tyre.

Only took me 15 mins to make the repair and it held up for well over 4500 miles on a 31/10.5r15 so i know its good

This.
I keep one of those in my toolbox at wok, for the sales cars, and one in my boot along with a tiny compressor. Takes minutes to repair and is permanent. They cost less than a crisp, new fiver IIRC from Beal Consumables. Worthwhile keeping one in the car even if you do have a full size spare.

[omega]

I sell and fit puncture safe[also sell diy kits] stick it in the tyre before a puncture and it will fix a puncture up to 6mm.i do demos/shows and I stand there all day making holes in a tyre and by by the end of the day its lost about 2psi
the stuff in cans does work but if you leave it in the car it settles into a big lump and then when you come to use it,it fails.
been doing a lot of minis and smart cars it also sells well at bike shows[this is only one thats speed tested] and motorhome displays
also my product is bio degradable so if for some reason you want it out it washes out,but cant see any reason why you would want it out as this is a perm repair and not just a get you home.
ive fitted it in everything from a motobility scooter to a 20 t truck.

[dodgerover]

Omega no offense intended but i'm not had a good experiance with those type of products, don't know if we were just unlucky but we tried out Slime, OKO, and seal-a-wheel treatments when we were trail riding regularly and still ended up with punctures

[chairchild]

best technique for the run-flat gunk:

Jack the car up, and totally deflate the tyre.

Empty the entire contents of the can - give the wheel a spin.

Inflate to maybe 2/3 "correct" pressure



The little cans only have enough in them to inflate a 10" mini wheel to approx 5-8psi - far less for a normal tyre. So any residual pressure in the tyre, means you won't be able to empty the contents of the can into the tyre. And obviously pump it back up afterwards, so it won't pop off the rim

[omega]

Jul 22, 2014 18:35:53 GMT dodgerover said:

Omega no offense intended but i'm not had a good experiance with those type of products, don't know if we were just unlucky but we tried out Slime, OKO, and seal-a-wheel treatments when we were trail riding regularly and still ended up with punctures

no offense taken
that's how I got into this stuff as I had a can of tyre sealer cable tied to my bike and when I got a flat it failed and pushing a 250 ktm 2 miles is a hard work I now have it in my r1 and all my cars

[smurf]

Jul 22, 2014 14:45:56 GMT Rich said:

Jul 22, 2014 12:37:38 GMT smurf said:

I picked up a fix a flat kit from a bootfair

It uses the sticky rubber strip you push into the tyre.

Only took me 15 mins to make the repair and it held up for well over 4500 miles on a 31/10.5r15 so i know its good

This.
I keep one of those in my toolbox at wok, for the sales cars, and one in my boot along with a tiny compressor. Takes minutes to repair and is permanent. They cost less than a crisp, new fiver IIRC from Beal Consumables. Worthwhile keeping one in the car even if you do have a full size spare.

Mines in an ammo box in the boot along with an aldi 12v compressor, its the best one i found for airing-up mu mud tyres

You can get refills of the rubber sealing strip on the usual auction sites and a bit of superglue to finish it off

Wont ever be without those in my boot , Plus my delica don't have a spare so i'd be buggerd without it

[dodgerover]

Jul 22, 2014 19:29:25 GMT omega said:

no offense taken
that's how I got into this stuff as I had a can of tyre sealer cable tied to my bike and when I got a flat it failed and pushing a 250 ktm 2 miles is a hard work I now have it in my r1 and all my cars

curse word pushing! Thats what security bolts are fitted for;) I think the farthest I've ridden on a rear flat (at reduced speed) is about 15 miles, have done a couple of miles (gingerly) on a flat front. Mouses are the way forward if you can put up with the awkwardness and expense.

Have also managed to fit patches to tubes (on other peoples bikes) without removing the wheels a couple of times...

[Rob M]

Have you considered looking at the problem from another angle?
Have you not considered a spacesaver wheel?
Some of the Scimitar guys have looked at space savers as an alternative to the normal full spare after certain engine transplants.
I realise that you have a big 4x4 but a space saver is compact, wont take up valuable space and could still be strong enough to be used as a get you home steady eddie solution.
All you are going to need is the right PCD and a similar offset and you have a potential solution/alternative to using gunk which could knacker a tyre that would, ordinarily, be a simple puncture repair jobbie.

[ferny]

Not sure how much I like the idea of gunk floating around my tyre waiting for a puncture. I'd like to know it's got one and decide how to go about repairing it rather than it sorting itself out and potentially being weaker as a result without me knowing.

Jul 22, 2014 13:07:59 GMT composimmonite said:

For my Smart I bought a Continental Tyre kit off eBay - OE from some car or other. You get a decent little compressor that can be anytime plus a bottle of gunk to use with a puncture. Not tried it but suppose to be better than the aerosol instant flat fix.
FWIW I'd be tempted to get a spare wheel to keep at home. That way is you ever get the phone call, and you are at home, then that could be got from garage and used instead of the gunk. Even a space saver could be worth having "in stock".

Paul H

Peugeot. Some of the range come with them, all the RCZ's do (or did). The cost for a missing one on an end of lease vehicle was ridiculous.