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Old 11-08-2012, 05:56 PM   #1
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Flat tire tip

Picked up a nail in RAV front tire the other day. Tire did not go flat, but I dared not pull it out for fear it would.
Took it to my mechanic and they fixed it without removing the wheel.

And, then advised me that I should carry a few drywall screws in the vehicle. If you are far from help and pick up a nail, you can pull it out and screw in the drywall screw, and fill the tire. The wide threads on that type of screw will keep it from coming out, and will keep the air in until you can get to a shop.
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Old 11-08-2012, 07:57 PM   #2
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I'm not sure replacing a nail with a screw is a solution. That screw can make that hole bigger and then you have a blow out. I'd use a rubber plug made for tubeless tires like here, these can be used with the tire on the vehicle, remove the foreign matter and insert plug, done.
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Old 11-08-2012, 08:34 PM   #3
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A drywall screw would not affect the hole size at all, the shaft of them is thin. Besides, when they repair, they actually ream the hole out, put in a plug AND patch on the inside to hold the pressure. Those plug kits are only a temporary fix anyway. I think it is a dandy idea.

Besides, if it was icy out, you could put in a whole bunch and have some awesome studded snow tires.
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Old 11-08-2012, 08:40 PM   #4
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The radial cords in a radial tire is suspect to tearing and weakening when metal screw threads are flexing in and out and around as the tire flexes on the road. I'm sticking with rubber plugs.
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Old 11-08-2012, 09:01 PM   #5
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The plugs that can be put in from the outside without removal of the tire are only a temporary fix, I would only use them in a last resort situation. The tire should always be removed from the wheel so the inner liner can be inspected for damage. Often a tire that has been driven on while underflated can show no sign of damage from the outside while the inner liner is destroyed. This is why it should be removed and patched from the inside with a patch/plug combo. I have to fail a vehicle in a alberta "out of province" inspection if the tire has been repaired from the outside.
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Old 11-08-2012, 09:17 PM   #6
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Good advice Dave. Only the last time I watched a tire repair did they use the all-in-one combo plug/patch. A great idea. How long have they been doing that? I gotta admit, it has been near 40 years since I worked repairing tires.
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Old 11-09-2012, 12:38 AM   #7
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I'm talking about when you are 45 minutes up a gravel road, a good hour from a a tire store ( that is closed on Sunday ) and it's back in the other direction. You are hungry and you have fish to catch the next morning, after setting up camp.
Seems to me, that running a drywall screw into the tire could be a practical solution.
As for my recent experience, the tire was fully inflated ( I have the tire pressure warning system on my RAV ) so it lost about 2psi when the nail was pulled out. If it was flat, that would be a different story ( as per Dave ).
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Old 11-09-2012, 09:10 AM   #8
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A few months ago I had a flat tire on my Pilot that was caused by a drywall screw. It was a very slow leak (+24 hrs). I easily drove to a tire repair place that fixed it for $15.00.

So, it sounds like a good temporary fix to me.

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Old 11-09-2012, 01:28 PM   #9
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Jim i believe we have been using the patch/ plug combo for 10-15 years now. I think if it were be Baglo I would just put my spare on.
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Old 11-12-2012, 07:48 PM   #10
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My plan A: Change out the wounded tire with the spare. Get it fixed ASAP.

My Plan B (in case Plan A develops a kink): I carry a can of Flat Fix and a 12v inflator. (I know, tire shops hate the stuff because it makes the tire harder to get off the rim. My response -- crank up the big tire removal machine.) I have yet to use either, but I figure that combo will get me down the road until I can get to a shop.
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Old 11-12-2012, 08:06 PM   #11
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Plan A obviously works, but there are circumstances where it might be safer to drive a drywall screw instead of jacking. It's not like they take up a lot of space.
And, just to be safe, I carry two 12V air compressors. Actually, I just ended up with two and they both ended up in the tow. Which reminds me, it's a good idea to carry a 12V extension cord ( about $10 from The Source ), so your air compressor will reach the tire that needs attention.
As for the canned air, store it carefully. Mine went off in my emergency bag and you don't want that.
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Old 11-12-2012, 08:14 PM   #12
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I think plan A should be to put the spare on, Plan B leave what ever is in the tire in it and inflate with compressor and head for home, plan C if hole has nothing in it and is leaking like crazy, jamb what ever will fit in there and if that is a dry wall screw then so be it. That tire repair in a can crap is seriously junk and dangerous to who ever is taking off the tire and makes a big time mess inside the tire I think I would walk before I used any.
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