Canned Fix a Flat

[JimPDX]

So far, every other car I own (3) over the last 2 years has had at least 1 flat except my Porsche...1 Nail puncture, 1 screw puncture, a sparkplug thru a sidewall (unrepairable) and believe it or not a PAPER CLIP thru the sidewall of a brand new Michelim Pilot with less than 200 miles on it --- also unrepairable...replaced by America's Tires under warranty.

My question is this...

Has anyone had any experience with using a 'fix a flat' type tire inflator for roadside emergency repairs?

I've never used a can of this stuff before and I keep one in the Porsche 'just in case'. Never having had a Porsche flat and understanding that the only place to put the flat tire is on the passenger's seat which is fine with me because I think I'd rather leave my wife by the side of the road than one of my wheels...it seems to me that these canned fix a flat type things might be the way to go except for sidewall punctures of course.

Thoughts...ideas...

thx...

Jim

How reliable is this stuff anyway?

[JP66]

I don't have any experience with that stuff, but I just got a new P-car, and while checking into the proper tire pressures in my manual today, I noticed the following...

"For safety reasons, don't use tire inflating bottles."

Don't know if it's relevant, but just what I came across today....

[HEDDOK]

My Dad was an auto parts wholesaler for years and started bringing this goo in in the mid 1970's. He had a flat on the Alaska Highway in northern B.C. Used the stuff on the tire and continued calling on customers for another 600 miles. When he got back home got the tire fixed just because he thought he should! Ended up telling this story for years and sold a ton of the stuff till he retired in 1988.

I've used it once on a passenger car and drove for 50 miles at highway speeds till I got to a tire shop. They complained about the goop making a mess but put a patch on it. Last year my kid managed to peel the tire on our John Deere tractor off the rim and I could not get it to hold air after. Used the goop and it's been fine.

Now none of this is with high perf. tires or cars but I'll always carry a can.

Brad

[ar38070]

Alternately get a tire patch kit from K-mart, Wal-mart, Kragens et al, $5, and a small compressor, $15. Takes a little longer to do, 30 min, 15 min to unmount/mount the wheel and 15 to let the patch dry. Does not mess up the inside of the tire/wheel.

[HEDDOK]

ar30870

I've always wanted to do this myself. How do you peel the tire off at home?

Thanks

Brad

[JimPDX]

I don't have any experience with that stuff, but I just got a new P-car, and while checking into the proper tire pressures in my manual today, I noticed the following...

"For safety reasons, don't use tire inflating bottles."

Don't know if it's relevant, but just what I came across today....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thx for the input...did you get the 997? The reason why I asked is that since there is no spare in that car, I was under the assumption there was some form of pressurized repair. What does the car come with, if anything for flat repair...

Thx...

Jim

[JimPDX]

Alternately get a tire patch kit from K-mart, Wal-mart, Kragens et al, $5, and a small compressor, $15.  Takes a little longer to do, 30 min, 15 min to unmount/mount the wheel and 15 to let the patch dry.  Does not mess up the inside of the tire/wheel.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep...I've seen them. They are like little cord stips of rubber with some form of distressting/abrassive and pushing tool combined...what type of tire inflator did you use...I've seen them also, they plug into your cig lighter and blow up your tire...seems like a lot of work on the roadside...

Thx...

Jim

[JP66]

Jim,

I got an 05' C4S (996)...comes with a spare....

[ar38070]

The 997's and 987's do not come with a high pressure spare. Only a can of pressurized goop.

"I've always wanted to do this myself. How do you peel the tire off at home?

"

With the patch kits you don't. You patch from the outside.

1) Take off the wheel

2) Find the hole and remove the nail, etc.

3) Roughen the hole with the reamer that comes with the kit

4) Using the insert tool, take a plug, cover it with glue and insert

5) Trim off excess plug

6) Mount wheel and re-inflate

This patch is not as good as a "T" patch that is installed from the inside. However the few times that I have had to do it I have never had them leak after the repair. If you are paranoid to take it someplace and have them do it "right" or you get a new tire.

"what type of tire inflator did you use...I've seen them also, they plug into your cig lighter and blow up your tire...seems like a lot of work on the roadside..."

Just your garden variety tire inflator. Takes about 10 minutes to re-inflate. Yes it takes 30-40 minutes but your only other options are the canned stuff or calling for a tow (which will take 30-60 miunutes just for the truck to arrive). The one time I used canned stuff I had vibration problems afterwards and had to replace the tire. The mechanic bitched about the mess the canned stuff had made.

[HEDDOK]

ar38070

Thanks for the info. I've seen these but never heard from someone that used one.

Brad