Would anyone be interested in repairing tires on the road?

I call my hubby or my brother... Then walk home. I can change or patch my bicycle tire, and i do carry a repair kit for it. As much of a PITA as that is, I can't imagine changing the tire on a full-size vehicle.

Is there a reason to pull the nail out? I've heard one should leave it in if possible and seal around it.

 

Thanks, model130! That sounds like something we could all learn and actually be able to do! Great share!

 

model130 thanks for the info.

When was the last time you all checked the air pressure in your spare tire?
I assumed that everyone had tire repair, a jack, lug wrench and the know how to use them. A can of liquid tire repair is also in each one of our vehicles along with a small 12vdc compressor. I also keep a CO2 cylinder and a air lug wrench in my travel trailer to facilitate the changing, replacement and filling of tires.
Thought I would share this old trick with you, when a tire has gone flat and will not seal against the bead while filling with air, just jack it up off the ground, wrap a heavy cord or rope around the outside circumference of the tire, may take a couple of turns, tie in a square knot, then take your tire iron, stick, large screwdriver or such and start tightening the rope by twisting it, this will in turn cause the tire to bulge against the rim thus sealing the bead, then proceed to fill tire. One note make sure you have cleaned any debris off the bead prior to doing this.

 

Good info. The nail needs to come out so the plug can fit. With the patch kit and air compressor you can repair the tire right on the vehicle. No need for the spare, unless it's a blow out or you mangled the rim. I whipped up a 12v compressor for about $35. Find a car with air shocks like a Lincoln or Caddy in the junk yard and pull the compressor. It's about $5 at the local picknpull. I used a well pressure switch from Homedepot to comtrol the psi. I will get around to doing a write up on it for my blog someday, but if you're handy, you get the idea.

 

My wife once plugged a nail hole by pulling the nail then coating it with super glue and putting it back in the hole. Got her through long enough to have the tire repaired.

 

I would be interested in repairing a tire on the road, but a lot would depend on if the car was still moving or not.

 

I have a couple tire repair kits in the shed.
Guess they don't do me much good there do they?

 

I have (and have used) my tire-plugs, fix-a-flat-in-a-can, tire-spoons and the great hydraulic systems as well for changing tires, plugging tires, replacing valves, etc. I keep a can of fix-a-flat in each vehicle for the slow-leaks (the type that you can't easily find) and for the larger holes in the tires I use the plugs.

I have taught my little lady to change a tire, but, she seems to think showing a little breast is easier ... :sssh:

 

Please say you are kidding?

 

Aemilia--When my daughter started drivers ed, my husband took her out to the cars we own and gave her the instruction manuals. She had to use the books and figure out how to change a tire. My husband was out there with her if she had any questions, but she had to do the work herself. Perhaps your husband can do the same for you? Yes, it can be a PITA, but so is being stuck on the side of the road with a dead cell phone battery, in the dark, rain or snow, with no help in sight.

 

About which part? I have called for help, and I have walked home before; but for reasons that needed a mechanic.

If its dark, raining or snowing, I'm not likely to be driving. Sorry. :surrender: I have some fears of being in a car under those conditions, especially snow. (And yes, I live in Montana. I threaten to leave the state every winter, then fall in love with it again in the spring.)

And I have changed a tire before. On a car. We have a truck. I don't want the jack to slip and drop it on my foot. I'm not sure I can turn the lug nuts. And I think the spare is underneath, with grease & grime. :gaah: But I shall ask my DH about the tire, and have him show me when he is off work.

I will let you all know how it goes.

PS - sorry, I'm not trying to be goofy, I'm just on cloud nine from passing my ham test. It proves that I can still think, that my kids haven't zapped all my braincells.

 

One tip - if y'all do have to use 'fix-a-flat' or some other spray sealer in a tire, please tell the tire guy BEFORE he tries to dismount it from the rim - these sprays are often flammable, and can result in injury.
SLIME brand is better - not flammable. "Ride-On TPS" is a brand a lot of motorcyclists like. Both are put into the tire (or tube for us dual-sport MC riders) and provides puncture protection all the time.

 

I carry fixaflat, aircomp. and plugs in all trucks and the ATV. With a flashlight, the one thing i hate is to be stranded because of a dang flat. Short of a shreaded tire and no spare i'll be ready to go. Never use that fixaflat stuff unless nothing else can work and it will go bad over time it does not last for ever if you have an old can over one year old, chuck it and get new. 90% chance after about a year it will let you down. Take this from someone who should have known better me.

 

A long time ago I used to install tires. I pulled the valve stem from a tire filled with fix-a-flat. The customer did not tell me about it or put the marking sticker on it. It shot out with such force that the liquid actually broke the skin on my arm, neck and face. Hurt like crazy, had to get a Tetnus shot too. If you are going to use fix-a-flat be sure to use the sticker to mark the tire and tell them you used it, so your tire installer doesn't get hurt!!

 

I whipped up a 12v compressor for about $35. Find a car with air shocks like a Lincoln or Caddy in the junk yard and pull the compressor. It's about $5 at the local picknpull. I used a well pressure switch from Homedepot to comtrol the psi. I will get around to doing a write up on it for my blog someday, but if you're handy, you get the idea.


Ok, I just got the write up. posted if anyone wants details It's on my blog.

 

I bought a 12v one from Sears a while back, it also has a battery charger. Now all I need is a tire patch kit, forgot all about that.:scratch