help me out, smart folks

[bohman]

Well, for what it's worth I gave this idea of mine a shot. Seems to be working so far, but it's been less than a day. If it doesn't work then I'll buy a pair of Goodyears this weekend, and hope who ever installs them doesn't hate me too much for putting that goop in there.

I considered what people have said about used tires, but I've had so many bad experiences when I've tried to buy "bargain" tires. Including an accident that I think may have been avoided if I'd sucked it up and bought quality tires. So if I buy, they'll be new and I'll just have to absorb the hurt on the checking account.

 

[desertrat]

(Moonchilds hubby here, tire afficinado)

The rubber plugs you buy at Autozone, etc, are indeed really tempory. But a proper plug and patch job done from inside should be fine for the life of the tire, even tire makers accept them if done properly.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=77

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/tires/pages/TireMaintRepair.htm



In my personal opinion this applies to run of the mills tires driven by regular folks in everyday driving. High performance vehicles with tires rated for high speeds and driven aggressively (not insane, but cornering hard, etc) should be replacements, but thats actually very few people.

I've probably put close to a dozen of the temporary plugs in tires and never had one fail.

 

[Ponytail]

I've probably put close to a dozen of the temporary plugs in tires and never had one fail.

Same here. never had a problem with them.

 

[ServiceGuy]

Personally never had any problem with a tire "Plug"

If you want New tires you CAN"T beat "www.tirerack.com" Great people and great price on any tires you want.

 

[dustin]

if your wife will let you:

fill up the bathtub with water

take off tire

put tire in tub

notice any air bubbles

if air bubbles on tread then mark location

remove tire from tub

clean tub while your wife looks over shoulder

use plug kit from auto store

 

[Nickel]

if your wife will let you:

fill up the bathtub with water

take off tire

put tire in tub

notice any air bubbles

if air bubbles on tread then mark location

remove tire from tub

clean tub while your wife looks over shoulder

use plug kit from auto store

Or you could use common sense and fill a spray bottle with soap and water. Spray on the tire section by section.

 

[dustin]

Or you could use common sense and fill a spray bottle with soap and water. Spray on the tire section by section.

common sense will tell you that spraying soapy water will cause bubbles all over the place.

 

[Nickel]

common sense will tell you that spraying soapy water will cause bubbles all over the place.

I've done it before and never had a problem. :shrug:

 

[dustin]

I've done it before and never had a problem. :shrug:

my way is better. period.

 

[desertrat]

if your wife will let you:

fill up the bathtub with water

take off tire

put tire in tub

notice any air bubbles

if air bubbles on tread then mark location

remove tire from tub

clean tub while your wife looks over shoulder

use plug kit from auto store

Or do what I used to do. Get a plug kit, lawn chair, cold six pack, ice, throw it in the cooler and drive to the lake. Drive truck into lake until the leaky tire is about half submerged. Look for bubbles. If you don't see any drown the other half. Once you spot the leak, plug it and sit back, have a beer or two and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. You are the man!

 

[dustin]

Or do what I used to do. Get a plug kit, lawn chair, cold six pack, ice, throw it in the cooler and drive to the lake. Drive truck into lake until the leaky tire is about half submerged. Look for bubbles. If you don't see any drown the other half. Once you spot the leak, plug it and sit back, have a beer or two and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. You are the man!

Even better!

 

[bohman]

Or do what I used to do. Get a plug kit, lawn chair, cold six pack, ice, throw it in the cooler and drive to the lake. Drive truck into lake until the leaky tire is about half submerged. Look for bubbles. If you don't see any drown the other half. Once you spot the leak, plug it and sit back, have a beer or two and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. You are the man!

That's a damned nice plan, but I'm having a little trouble picturing myself backing a LeSabre into a lake. Pretty sure that plan requires a truck. (if not for the ground clearance, for the manliness factor)

 

[desertrat]

That's a damned nice plan, but I'm having a little trouble picturing myself backing a LeSabre into a lake. Pretty sure that plan requires a truck. (if not for the ground clearance, for the manliness factor)

Boat ramp then.

 

[OldHillcrestGuy]

Consider using a tube for that tire.

 

[Ponytail]

if your wife will let you:

fill up the bathtub with water

take off tire

put tire in tub

notice any air bubbles

if air bubbles on tread then mark location

remove tire from tub

clean tub while your wife looks over shoulder

use plug kit from auto store

Wait till she catches you with carbeurator and valve train parts in the dishwasher.

 

[dustin]

Wait till she catches you with carbeurator and valve train parts in the dishwasher.

hey at least i'm self taught to not throw greasy rags in the washing machine.

 

[Ponytail]

hey at least i'm self taught to not throw greasy rags in the washing machine.

Funny you should mention that. I will use ANYTHING old, as a rag...including old pairs of undies. I think I got that from mom, that used to use old undies, socks, whatever as dust rags. So I do the same thing especially for rags when working on the motorcycle. And I will wash the ones that aren't used to sop up oil, to be used again.

Well, I had a difficult time explaining to the g/f recently, what exactly it was that would turn the giblets/azz area of a pair of tighty-whities that I was wearing, black. It did take me a minute to figure that one out. I'm still not sure that she is convinced though. One of the undie-rags must have gotten picked up with the load of whites that I had done that week. :shrug:

 

[bohman]

Well, I had a difficult time explaining to the g/f recently, what exactly it was that would turn the giblets/azz area of a pair of tighty-whities that I was wearing, black. It did take me a minute to figure that one out. I'm still not sure that she is convinced though. One of the undie-rags must have gotten picked up with the load of whites that I had done that week. :shrug:

Hopefully she knows that you didn't anything THAT terrible, and does not question your ability to wipe. I do the same thing for rags; there's a big bag full of old t-shirts, etc. in the garage.

For what it's worth (if I may veer off the subject of dirty undies for a moment) my half-ass fix seems to be working. Haven't had to reinflate the tire since filling it with goo on Monday. I still plan on replacing it as soon as funds allow.

 

[chess]

just buy a single tire from tirerack.com

and goto bj's and get it mounted and balanced...


it will save you ALOT of hassle in the future

 

[Ponytail]

just buy a single tire from tirerack.com

and goto bj's and get it mounted and balanced...


it will save you ALOT of hassle in the future

What does BJ's charge for mounting and balancing?