R4P... Emergency tyre inflation?

[Nick72]

I've been putting a lot of mileage on the PHEV just recently. A lot up in the forests and mountains in the Lakes. No spare tyre with the car and no wrench supplied (no point I guess if no spare). Whilst our company (it's a company car) has an emergency call line for repair and or recovery I'm not terribly confident in this approach and would sooner just swap the wheel myself (ideally with a full size spare than a space saver wheel). 

So I've been wondering, the emergency repair solution that comes with the car instead of a spare wheel, just how effective are these against minor punctures (nails, screws, etc)? Never ever used one before. Any experiences from anyone?

[paul9]

I recently rescued one of the lads from work when he had a puncture in the Lakes. He tried two cans of tyre goop, but said the puncture was too big for it to work. He had also driven on the puncture for a while. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, it ended up that we drove out, recovered his wheel, leaving the car on an axle stand in a carpark overnight and bought a new tyre locally to us the next day. There wasn't anywhere open local to where he had been punctured by the time we had gotten there and removed the wheel, that we could find. I've never personally used the tyre goop, so couldn't tell you how well it works. Apparently well enough that most car makers will cheap out and give you a can of goop and an electric inflator instead of even a space saver wheel, nowadays. Do give your tyre shop a heads up that the stuff is in your tyre before they work on it, as it can cause a mess for the unsuspecting tyre tech.

It was a lovely drive out, except for the camper van that was like a rolling roadblock on the narrow mountain roads and the lack of mobile phone signal making my satnav act a bit flakey.

TLDR; I'd personally buy a space saver and a few tools when I got the chance.

[Nick72]

2 minutes ago, paul9 said:

I recently rescued one of the lads from work when he had a puncture in the Lakes. He tried two cans of tyre goop, but said the puncture was too big for it to work. He had also driven on the puncture for a while. As it was a Bank Holiday weekend, it ended up that we drove out, recovered his wheel, leaving the car on an axle stand in a carpark overnight and bought a new tyre locally to us the next day. There wasn't anywhere open local to where he had been punctured by the time we had gotten there and removed the wheel, that we could find. I've never personally used the tyre goop, so couldn't tell you how well it works. Apparently well enough that most car makers will cheap out and give you a can of goop and an electric inflator instead of even a space saver wheel, nowadays. Do give your tyre shop a heads up that the stuff is in your tyre before they work on it, as it can cause a mess for the unsuspecting tyre tech.

It was a lovely drive out, except for the camper van that was like a rolling roadblock on the narrow mountain roads and the lack of mobile phone signal making my satnav act a bit flakey.

TLDR; I'd personally buy a space saver and a few tools when I got the chance.

Good advice and an interesting experience. We are up in the North lakes a lot. Nothing for miles. I've been making a note of nearest tyre repair and replacement options should the roadside assistance not offer a good option... Which is me carrying on with my long weekend or week away. 

From what I've read the goop seems fine for slow or small punctures but not anything more. 

[Mojo1010]

Buy this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404174313883

Watch YouTube video on how to do it. It repairs screw/nail puncture. Safe and last the life of the tyre. I and some members have successfully done it ourselves. 

PS: The rubber strings that come with most of these kits are quite thick, so it's better to trim it's thickness beforehand.

Buy 3.5mm one extra in the future, Even these ones are not too easy to put through. Takes some practice. 

[ernieb]

I have bought a space saver as a get you out of trouble. I’ve never used gunk myself but know a few people who have. From their experience I’d suggest that if it’s a simple nail or something in the tread the gunk can be used if applied correctly. Emphasis on correctly.

It’s very likely in the situations you’ve highlighted Nick that it’s not going to be a simple puncture as the terrain you mention is just as likely to cut a sidewall. You may equally out of range of a decent phone signal so I’d probably suggest you get a space saver as a minimum with all the kit you take you’re hardly likely to have enough room to also cram in a full size wheel. At least with acre you’d be able to get back to civilisation and then maybe sort out something to drive home with or wait for your recovery service.

[paul9]

Yeah, Andre had hit a rock. Personally, I've had punctures and not realised until I'd driven on the bad tyre and killed its chance of being repaired a couple of times. The tyre goop might help avoid the work of changing the tyre, but not always. I just bought a plug kit yesterday from an autoparts shop for a tenner. Should probably get a second kit to chuck in the Merc, as that has been my screw-finder general, lately.

[FROSTYBALLS]

One thing to bear in mind if keeping the tyre repair kit, is that the tyre repair stuff used to have a 'use by date' - around 3 years from previous posts. 

Don't know whether using after the date affects the ability of the stuff to repair punctures.

OE goop quite expensive to rep!ace - members have previously bought the Slime car tyre puncture repair kit as a replacement (on Amazon for around £25):

 

[Cyker]

It depends on the formulation, but a lot of them tend to separate over time which is partly why they have the use by date. Also some of the polymers used tend to harden and stop being as effective.

TBH, most of these goops are only good on the sort of puncture where, if you left the nail/screw/whatever in the tyre and inflated it back up to 50+psi, you could probably get to a tyre repair place before it deflated past 20psi again.

They also make it so you have to buy a new tyre as the vast majority of tyre shops won't even attempt to repair a tyre that's had the goop used in it.

I'm quite sold on the sticky strings at the moment as they gotten almost universally good reviews, with the caveat that you have to use them ASAP and not drive for miles on the flat tyre before using them, as by that point the tyre is probably dangerously damaged inside, where you can't see.

Not had to use any yet, touch wood, but it looks like you need to be quite strong to push it into the tyre so I think I might struggle!

 

If you only drive at  urban speeds, there was some stuff I tried out years ago called PunctureSafe, which was basically a gel that was injected into the tyre before you had a puncture, and when you did it would seal it instantly. It worked very well, and paid for itself (I was going through a really unlucky period with punctures!) but I stopped using it because it has one really huge drawback, which is the gel moves around in the tyre, and at certain speeds it starts to resonate and shake the whole car, like having all 4 wheels imbalanced (In fact that's literally what was happening!)

I'd really love to get some tyres with the tyre manufacturer versions, which work like PunctureSafe but are fixed and don't slosh about, but they really aren't pushing it as I've never been able to source any!

 

[Derek.w]

Tyre repair fluid its just to get you home its not a permement fix so eventually fails but this can hoppen after a year or two if its only a small leak a better fix is a puncture repair from a tyre specilist.

Once you use this fluid then its a new tyre as all repair shops wont repair them once you used this type of liquid.

[Cyker]

That was one difference with the PunctureSafe stuff - It was designed to seal the puncture permanently (Or at least for the life of the tyre!). It did work well - IIRC we found one of my tyres had 4 nails/screws in it when it came time to replace the tyre, but not even a PSI lost!

[Rhymes with Paris]

11 hours ago, Cyker said:

Not had to use any yet, touch wood, but it looks like you need to be quite strong to push it into the tyre so I think I might struggle!

My pal uses those successfully, and he is far too strong for light work.

I know I haven't got the agility or strength to use them now, only wish I had,as it looks like you can do a repair on the go at the roadside.

 

[Mojo1010]

Get the rubber solution if it the kit doesn't come with it, makes it easier to put through. I can manage without it, though I do workout 😄

The rubber strings imo needs to be 3.5mm and no bigger otherwise even a very strong person would struggle. It feels great when u can manage plug it. 

[Nick72]

19 hours ago, Mojo1010 said:

Buy this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404174313883

Watch YouTube video on how to do it. It repairs screw/nail puncture. Safe and last the life of the tyre. I and some members have successfully done it ourselves. 

PS: The rubber strings that come with most of these kits are quite thick, so it's better to trim it's thickness beforehand.

Buy 3.5mm one extra in the future, Even these ones are not too easy to put through. Takes some practice. 

Whoa. Never seen this before. Thanks. Need to watch some YouTube videos on that.

[Nick72]

18 hours ago, ernieb said:

I have bought a space saver as a get you out of trouble. I’ve never used gunk myself but know a few people who have. From their experience I’d suggest that if it’s a simple nail or something in the tread the gunk can be used if applied correctly. Emphasis on correctly.

It’s very likely in the situations you’ve highlighted Nick that it’s not going to be a simple puncture as the terrain you mention is just as likely to cut a sidewall. You may equally out of range of a decent phone signal so I’d probably suggest you get a space saver as a minimum with all the kit you take you’re hardly likely to have enough room to also cram in a full size wheel. At least with acre you’d be able to get back to civilisation and then maybe sort out something to drive home with or wait for your recovery service.

Starting to think this way Ernie. Thanks. Space saver spare. 

[Nick72]

18 hours ago, paul9 said:

Yeah, Andre had hit a rock. Personally, I've had punctures and not realised until I'd driven on the bad tyre and killed its chance of being repaired a couple of times. The tyre goop might help avoid the work of changing the tyre, but not always. I just bought a plug kit yesterday from an autoparts shop for a tenner. Should probably get a second kit to chuck in the Merc, as that has been my screw-finder general, lately.

😂 My Merc was the same. 20 or 21 inch wheels (can't recall), low profile tyres, and I had several punctures all from screws! And all over the country. 

[Nick72]

18 hours ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

One thing to bear in mind if keeping the tyre repair kit, is that the tyre repair stuff used to have a 'use by date' - around 3 years from previous posts. 

Don't know whether using after the date affects the ability of the stuff to repair punctures.

OE goop quite expensive to rep!ace - members have previously bought the Slime car tyre puncture repair kit as a replacement (on Amazon for around £25):

 

Thanks Frosty. I think I'll be ok. The car gets swapped every 3 years and 1.5 years to go. Looks like a good value kit!

[Nick72]

17 hours ago, Cyker said:

It depends on the formulation, but a lot of them tend to separate over time which is partly why they have the use by date. Also some of the polymers used tend to harden and stop being as effective.

TBH, most of these goops are only good on the sort of puncture where, if you left the nail/screw/whatever in the tyre and inflated it back up to 50+psi, you could probably get to a tyre repair place before it deflated past 20psi again.

They also make it so you have to buy a new tyre as the vast majority of tyre shops won't even attempt to repair a tyre that's had the goop used in it.

I'm quite sold on the sticky strings at the moment as they gotten almost universally good reviews, with the caveat that you have to use them ASAP and not drive for miles on the flat tyre before using them, as by that point the tyre is probably dangerously damaged inside, where you can't see.

Not had to use any yet, touch wood, but it looks like you need to be quite strong to push it into the tyre so I think I might struggle!

 

If you only drive at  urban speeds, there was some stuff I tried out years ago called PunctureSafe, which was basically a gel that was injected into the tyre before you had a puncture, and when you did it would seal it instantly. It worked very well, and paid for itself (I was going through a really unlucky period with punctures!) but I stopped using it because it has one really huge drawback, which is the gel moves around in the tyre, and at certain speeds it starts to resonate and shake the whole car, like having all 4 wheels imbalanced (In fact that's literally what was happening!)

I'd really love to get some tyres with the tyre manufacturer versions, which work like PunctureSafe but are fixed and don't slosh about, but they really aren't pushing it as I've never been able to source any!

 

Thanks Cyker. It's a wonder tyre design hasn't changed but I guess it comes down to volume production and cost. I imagine a sticky internal wall that could self seal. So like the gel you mentioned but encapsulated on the inner tyre walls?

Especially as manufacturers are increasingly leaving out a spare wheel.

Looking into the sticky strings.

[Cyker]

Yeah, I forget what they call most of them, but Continental's version is called ContiSeal and it's basically a tar-like layer (It looks very similar to that horrible super-tacky black glue they often use to stick the weathersealing plastic to the door) that's painted to the inside of the tyre, so it doesn't move around, and when punctured gets pushed into the breach where it seals it permanently.

I don't know why they don't promote them more as, if they're anything like puncturesafe, they'd be far better than things like runflats, which badly compromise the ride quality. I'm sure painting that tacky layer onto the inside can't cost that much, certainly nowhere near as much as developing a whole new tyre!

 

[Nick72]

2 hours ago, Cyker said:

Yeah, I forget what they call most of them, but Continental's version is called ContiSeal and it's basically a tar-like layer (It looks very similar to that horrible super-tacky black glue they often use to stick the weathersealing plastic to the door) that's painted to the inside of the tyre, so it doesn't move around, and when punctured gets pushed into the breach where it seals it permanently.

I don't know why they don't promote them more as, if they're anything like puncturesafe, they'd be far better than things like runflats, which badly compromise the ride quality. I'm sure painting that tacky layer onto the inside can't cost that much, certainly nowhere near as much as developing a whole new tyre!

 

I'd pay extra for that, just as another layer of insurance and avoidance of faffing.

[TonyHSD]

4 hours ago, Nick72 said:

Whoa. Never seen this before. Thanks. Need to watch some YouTube videos on that.

I would say these are the best of all options if no spare tyre is available. Even with a spare tyre in the boot these strings are always my first intention of repair if the puncture it’s just a nail or screw. The slime shared by frosty I have tried on tubes on my electric scooters and it works fine but it’s an temporary solution while these strings can be a lifetime fix. 👍

[Eddie G]

When i asked a salesman once what would happen if the tyre gunk didn't work or sidewall puncher and gunk would not work he said "Well that's what the AA is for" fine to a point if your not over some country road in the middle of nowhere with no phone signal 🤦 

[paul9]

Andre joined the AA, I think they brought them home, but that was about it.

My Citroen C5 came with one of those Slime and a compressor kits as factory standard, but IIRC it was used when I got the car. 😂

[Rigsby]

My Dynamic didn’t come with a space saver because I ordered the panoramic roof, so I picked one up off eBay plus the jack and tools.

Carry the space saver and the TRK covers most tyre related issues, “Belt and Braces”

[Nick72]

Thanks all. I ordered a plasticy string and repair kit. If I ever get a puncture anywhere other than the motorway hard shoulder or the inside lane of an (un)smart motorway then this will be my go to. Fix it myself.

[ernieb]

@Nick72, I’ve ordered a similar kit as an additional back up.