Tire Repair

[Fred]

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[Al]

Fred, I'm with you on the plugs.  We always bring them with us in case we need them.  I've even used plugs successfully to temporarily repair a ripped sidewall.  Manna from the Gods when combined with a good high-quality 12-volt compressor.

Al

[Casa Grande]

I got caught on the Old Ore Road with a flat tire and flat spare once.  Turns out there was a 2 in long, 1/4 wide piece of wood that caused the problem.  I never go without my plugs, plug tools and an air compressor.  Way too many things you wouldn't think of that can penetrate that rubber.

[homerboy2u]

I am sure, like all....we learn the hard way about Tire plugs. NEVER go out with out'em.

[presidio]

The "Safety Seal" plugs

A few items that I would add to the kit are an ice pick (to find the direction the nail or sticker went) and a razor blade to cut off the excess plug.
http://www.safetyseal.com/store/autokits.htm

My Safety Seal kit includes a puncture probe and a razor blade.

....and if getting a plug kit, be sure it is a Safety Seal and not the cheap knock-off kits you find at Checkers or Autozone. They are junk. Safety Seal is not cheap but worth every penny. Another thing I carry is a good quality manual tire pump. The high quality ones are getting hard to find...mine is all steel with a wood handle so it won't get bent or broken like lightweight bike pumps will. Doesn't need electricity and gives you upper body conditioning while using it (but I have a 12v one also).

[STARLITDARKNESS3]

Had a flat once coming out of Dagger Flat Auto Trail.  Realized it as I pulled out onto main road.  As soon as I could, I pulled over to a level area to assess the damage.  I had a good spare, luckily.  Unfortunately, no plug kit could save this one.  There was a 2 inch gash in the tire, most likely from the sharp pointy rocks found on the trail.  Even so, I agree, I carry a good plug kit for those pesky thorns and nails. 

[RichardM]

What I'd like to know is why they insist on putting in a guage that goes up over 100psi even on the cheap little $10 one I got at Wal-Mart.  It's slow, noisy, and probably would take a couple of days to get anything anywhere near 100psi.  Makes it really hard to tell when you've hit 34psi for the car tires.  Have to disengage, use the regular tire gauge, the start again.    Note:  this pump stays in the trunk of my Toyota Camry, which will probably never ever get on any of the backroads other than Grapevine Hills.

[Ay Chihuahua!]

Fred,

Thanks for the good info.

RichardM,

Regarding the 100 psi gauge, I've had bicycle tires that were intended for inflation in the 90 something psi range.  Having a gauge which will measure 100 psi might be usefull in this situation.  Just a thought.

[RichardM]

RichardM,

Regarding the 100 psi gauge, I've had bicycle tires that were intended for inflation in the 90 something psi range.  Having a gauge which will measure 100 psi might be usefull in this situation.  Just a thought.

I understand the concept, but there's no way my stoopid little pump would ever get there.  The snap-on valve pops off Schraeder valves long before getting to 100 psi.  That's where the good ol' hand-operated bicycle floor pumps come in.  I used to carry one of those in my trunk as well, but after using it to try to fill up a friend's leaking tire on her Jeep, I decided that was much more of a workout than I wanted. 

[Ay Chihuahua!]

Here's what I carry around in the truck.  It has come in handy many times. 



It is also very slow and very loud. 

Yes, that's 250 PSI and the gauge goes up to 300 PSI...kinda like going up to 11.

Oh yeah...and it only cost me about $16 at Rat Shack.  I am going to look into getting one like Fred mentioned.  These things have gotten me out of a jam a time or two and I wouldn't think about going traveling without.

[Red Hawk]

My old volkswagen had a speedometer that went to 120mph.   spc

[SA Bill]

I have one of these in my car at all times:
http://www.gadgetgrid.com/2008/02/24/master-flow-mf-1040-cyclone-high-volume-portable-air-compressor/

Got it at Pep Boys but they are available many places.

It's relatively quiet, made of metal; , works fast and for Richard, the gauge is fairly accurate. The air hose disconnects to make storing easier. The fitting on the air hose (the thing that connects to the tire valve) is a brass (more metal) screw on type and works very well...much better than the plastic snap on types.

Had it about 2 years now and it's still going strong. Most of the other little compressors I've had didn't seem to last very long.
Bill

[presidio]

I have one of these in my car at all times:
http://www.gadgetgrid.com/2008/02/24/master-flow-mf-1040-cyclone-high-volume-portable-air-compressor/

I carry a high quality hand bicycle pump...a Goldenrod (not sure if they are even available anymore). All heavy gauge steel with a solid wood handle...no plastic anywhere. My experience is that it will pump up a tire faster than the small electric pumps, albeit at a cost of some exertion. It always works.

[Roy]

I carry an old fashioned upright bicycle pump.  Pushes a lot more air than a foot pump or hand pump.  Also gives you a good work out.
Used to carry a can of Fix-A-Flat until I had one explode in my trunk.  Didn't do any real damage, but made a mess of my trunk (and my shorts).

[Al]

I have a 6 gallon pressure tank with a 12 volt compressor as back up.

Al