Fix-a Flat?

[DARRYL CAINEY]

The topic of discussion over the campfire last weekend turned to Flat Tires and the Brand Name: Fix-a-Flat came up.
Apparently people have had success using this brand of Tire Sealant in Tube Type Tires.

I have checked around at several Automotive Supply Stores in Canada and all they have is similar products from Kleen-Flo, Gunk or Goop!

Does anyone have a good experience with these products, just to get you home or to a shop to get the tire fixed right?

Darryl

[MIAirhead]

http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp

[35634]

I like the stuff. Keep a can with all the vehicles, less hassle than patch & pump kit,
usually works fine till I get a more permanent fix.

[Bob_M]

The product acts as a solvent that breaks down patch adhesive.

DAMHIK :banghead

[rab1957]

http://www.ride-on.com/prod_mot.asp

I've not used this myself, but it gets high marks on the BMWLT.com forum.

[535is]

I have had good experience with Slime® in tubes. It is a preventative of sorts. You put a few ounces into the tube before (or after ... it works both ways) you get a puncture and it seals the hole(s). No real mess to deal with because when you're done with the tube, you'll probably toss it anyway.

[PGlaves]

I run it in the 50cc dirt bike our grandsons ride and in the tires in the old garden tractor I haul stuff around with at our place in the desert in Texas. I does a great job with cactus thorns. I've not run it in our road bikes but have used it once when a plug was seeping after I plugged a tire. It got me home.

[amiles]

You are talking apples and oranges here.

There is the Fix a Flat stuff that you pump into a tire after it's flat, it plugs the leak and replaces the gas lost from the tire when it went flat. I seem to recall that you need to orient the tire so that the unwanted orifice is closest the ground so that gravity will cause the material you introduce into the tire will flow to it.

Another type is a pre-treat added to the tire BEFORE it is punctured & goes flat. Somehow when the tire is punctured the goopy material in the tire finds and plugs the leak preventing a total deflation. Centrifugal force from the rotating tire reportedly distributes the material.

There may be some products that cross over between these two types.

Some Mfg's claim that the pre-treat kind will dynamically balance your tire in addition to being ready to plug your leak when it happens.

If it works to get you home that is great, but be prepared for some grousing from the tire repair tech as the stuff makes his job very sticky & messy.

[PGlaves]

You are talking apples and oranges here.

There is the Fix a Flat stuff that you pump into a tire after it's flat, it plugs the leak and replaces the gas lost from the tire when it went flat. I seem to recall that you need to orient the tire so that the unwanted orifice is closest the ground so that gravity will cause the material you introduce into the tire will flow to it.

Another type is a pre-treat added to the tire BEFORE it is punctured & goes flat. Somehow when the tire is punctured the goopy material in the tire finds and plugs the leak preventing a total deflation. Centrifugal force from the rotating tire reportedly distributes the material.

There may be some products that cross over between these two types.

Some Mfg's claim that the pre-treat kind will dynamically balance your tire in addition to being ready to plug your leak when it happens.

If it works to get you home that is great, but be prepared for some grousing from the tire repair tech as the stuff makes his job very sticky & messy.

That is true! I know! I am my tire tech. The truth is that once I know it is in there it is pretty easy to deal with. It's the surprise that can get very messy.

[DARRYL CAINEY]

I run it in the 50cc dirt bike our grandsons ride and in the tires in the old garden tractor I haul stuff around with at our place in the desert in Texas. I does a great job with cactus thorns. I've not run it in our road bikes but have used it once when a plug was seeping after I plugged a tire. It got me home.

Hi Guys! Thanks for all your input!
There seems to be many Tire Sealant Products out there, I was going to keep a can in my saddlebags for emergency only in the event I got a flat.
This would allow be a short sprint to either get home or get to a shop to repair the tire properly.
Since I run tube tires the problem with tires being totally coated on the inside won't apply as I will replace the damaged tube.
Darryl

[amiles]

Since I run tube tires the problem with tires being totally coated on the inside won't apply as I will replace the damaged tube.
Darryl[/QUOTE]

Not to rain on your parade

Remember that the reason you would introduce this into your tire valve post puncture is that the inner tube is leaking air. The product "leaks" through the unwanted orifice, then solidifies to some degree slowing or stopping the leak. You will likely find that some of the product has found it's way out of the tube into the tire.

[tghsmith]

when used in a tire with a tube , the sticky gunk most often gets between the tube and tire, making a big mess(the holes don't line up), you have to clean and dry the inside of the tire completely (the rim is coated as well)so that new tube can be installed correctly(no pinching binding folds, ect.)we used to charge extra for this.....