learn me on flat tire repair kits

[CorvallisBMW]

As summer approaches and I get ready to take the 'vert on some road trips, I'm realizing that I have the potential for a serious problem if I get a flat tire; namely I don't have a spare. There's 2 primary reasons: a stock spare won't fit over my BBK, and I have a 10lb fire extinguisher mounted in the tire well. So I started looking in to kits you can use to repair flats while they're still on the car. There are a ton of options out there!

Generic "Slime" cans

Fix-a-Flat

Compressor-based kits

Old-school tire plug kits (use in conjunction with compressor)

BMW OEM "Mobility Kit"

Does anyone have any experience or advice when it comes to this stuff? I'm concerned about the cheap Slime and Fix-a-Flat stuff, does it totally ruin the tire and force you to buy a new one? I know the BMW sealant is water-based and can be rinsed clean, so that the tire can be properly patched and re-used. Any input is appreciated!

[TimeMachinE30]

The slimes make a mess for the tire installer. I never heard of the fluids ruining a rim.

They will only bandaid and are not able to cure all tire defects.

Do you have a spare that could work? Are you able to relocate the extinguisher? Could you store a spare in the trunk just for the road trips? AAA/USAA/any roadside assistance?

Fender mount a spare is only other option.

[McGyver]

"old school kits" are only supposed to be used if the puncture is more than an inch from the sidewall, but i've used them closer.

[CorvallisBMW]

The slimes make a mess for the tire installer. I never heard of the fluids ruining a rim.

They will only bandaid and are not able to cure all tire defects.

Do you have a spare that could work? Are you able to relocate the extinguisher? Could you store a spare in the trunk just for the road trips? AAA/USAA/any roadside assistance?

Fender mount a spare is only other option.

I'm not concerned about ruining the wheel, just the tire.

No I don't have a spare that will fit, and no I can't mount the extinguisher anywhere else without serious fabbing (it's huge). Convertible trunks aren't large enough to store a spare. Yes I have AAA, but what if I don't have cell coverage? Why in God's name would I want to fender-mount a spare tire?? :fishslap:

"old school kits" are only supposed to be used if the puncture is more than an inch from the sidewall, but i've used them closer.

AFAIK all repair kits are useless if the puncture is on the shoulder or sidewall, it's just the nature of tires. In that case the only thing that can be done is to replace the tire.

[jalopi]

i can say from experience that balancing a tire that's had that slime goop stuff used on it dances along a knife edge of "fucking hard" and "impossible". each time you'd put on weight after checking the balance it'd be off again after checking. i guess the goop oscillates or something while spinning and makes it hard for the balancer to get an accurate reading?

IMO if you're going on a roadtrip you need a real spare, even if it's just a doughnut tire (no idea where' you're finding one that'll fit a BBK well though). None of your proposed options will be of any use if something happens to your sidewall or you run over something interesting on the road, like a railroad spike (never took pictures of when i saw this, but it even punctured the wheel... shit was crazy)

besides, it's a road trip, not like it's a permanent setup and you'll be packing a ton of extra stuff anyway. minus well pack a real wheel/tire just in case SHTF

[StereoInstaller1]

I haven't carried a spare in my car in 20 years. You don't roll around on shit tires man, what are you worried about?

Where do you plan to go in that car that won't have coverage?

[ccsdo5]

I will never use slime or fix a flat, if you've ever changed a tire with that stuff in it, it sucks period. On newer cars it gunks up and ruins the TPS on the wheel which get kinda costly to replace. I personally keep a tire plug kit and small compressor that can plug into the 12v car outlet in my truck. As long as you only hit a nail or something that punctures the tire opposed to slashing the tire that'll keep you going.

The tire plug kit and compressor saved my butt a few times already, hell I plugged my fathers tire the other day without even taking the wheel off the car.

[CorvallisBMW]

i can say from experience that balancing a tire that's had that slime goop stuff used on it dances along a knife edge of "fucking hard" and "impossible". each time you'd put on weight after checking the balance it'd be off again after checking. i guess the goop oscillates or something while spinning and makes it hard for the balancer to get an accurate reading?

IMO if you're going on a roadtrip you need a real spare, even if it's just a doughnut tire (no idea where' you're finding one that'll fit a BBK well though). None of your proposed options will be of any use if something happens to your sidewall or you run over something interesting on the road, like a railroad spike (never took pictures of when i saw this, but it even punctured the wheel... shit was crazy)

besides, it's a road trip, not like it's a permanent setup and you'll be packing a ton of extra stuff anyway. minus well pack a real wheel/tire just in case SHTF

That's what I thought; balancing would be a bitch once this stuff is in there.

I don't have the option of packing a real wheel and tire, unless I go out and buy 1 single +15" wheel and tire for hundreds of dollars, and then re-mount my extinguisher. I'd rather not go that route.

I haven't carried a spare in my car in 20 years. You don't roll around on shit tires man, what are you worried about?

Where do you plan to go in that car that won't have coverage?

I'm worried about a puncture. It doesn't matter how good your tires are, a nail is a nail.

Also, I have Sprint

I will never use slime or fix a flat, if you've ever changed a tire with that stuff in it, it sucks period. On newer cars it gunks up and ruins the TPS on the wheel which get kinda costly to replace. I personally keep a tire plug kit and small compressor that can plug into the 12v car outlet in my truck. As long as you only hit a nail or something that punctures the tire opposed to slashing the tire that'll keep you going.

The tire plug kit and compressor saved my butt a few times already, hell I plugged my fathers tire the other day without even taking the wheel off the car.

Glad to hear from someone with experience! Thank you.

[Balleristic31]

Have a regular spare and if your front tire pops just jack up the rear and put the rear tire up front and the spare in the back.

[AndrewBird]

Well, it comes down to how worried are you about a fire compared to getting a flat? In the 11 years I've been driving I've only had one flat, and that was a slow leak on a tube tire.

A nail will generally create a slow leak that you can drive on for a long time before needing to be filled up. Driving on a low tire is generally what causes them to fall catastrophically. Keep them aired up and you should be fine.

I also carry my longboard with me at all times just in case I don't have cell reception. Lol

[LowR3V'in]

My work car gets slime in all tires to prevent leaks.
stuff works good and I go 80mph. tires still seem balanced enough.

Before that I'd have leaks and used slim that stuff does work well.

[CorvallisBMW]

OK boys and girls, let me reiterate:

I asked about experience or advice on flat tire repair kits.

I did not ask for advice on carrying a spare tire or anything else.

Therefor if you don't have anything to contribute that relates to flat tire repair kits, please keep your opinions to yourself. Thanks :)

[E30 Wagen]

i can say from experience that balancing a tire that's had that slime goop stuff used on it dances along a knife edge of "fucking hard" and "impossible". each time you'd put on weight after checking the balance it'd be off again after checking. i guess the goop oscillates or something while spinning and makes it hard for the balancer to get an accurate reading?

+1, hated that crap. Your best bet is the old school plug kit, had a few of those come in that held air just fine and made the repair a lot easier.

But if it was me I'd get a smaller fire extinguisher to mount somewhere else and find another wheel and tire to use as a spare. That way you're set in case you get a sidewall puncture.

[TurboJake]

I have an old school tire plug kit in all of my cars along with my spare tire. If I can't fix it because the puncture was too high up (which has happened), I have the spare.

Rasp out the hole.
Cut the plug to about 3 inches (or in half, whatever), insert into handle, goop up with rubber cement (Get a kit with the cement, it makes the difference)
Insert, pull out. It stays, and cut off the ends, forget about hole.

Fixes a tire in 5 minutes, and no messy "operating on hopes, dreams, and false promises" fix a flat cans. If you've ever had to grind that shit off a wheel, you'd never wish it on your worst enemy.

Had one of these plugs last 20k miles on a tire or so FWIW. They're a permanent fix, and can easily be done with air still in the tire.

[LJ851]

I have a tire repair kit in all my cars. I have used the repairs many, many times over the years and probably 30% of those were on other peoples tires. The repair kit will do a better job (read permanent) on any puncture that is repairable. If you can't fix it, you need a new tire. Liquid fix a flat or similar is a poor imitation at best, and your tire guy will hate you later.