Tire sealant
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 394
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
Forget it. Don't ever use it. There's a reason why they sell it at WalMart. I tried it on my GF's Mercedes with custom wheels and tires akin to our Vettes; and it was total waste of time, money, and energy to clean that nastiness. I had to have the wheels/tires broken down, take them home and pressure wash them all; and then start over.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
Last edited by Sydwayz; Sep 15, 2016 at 02:55 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Forget it. Don't ever use it. There's a reason why they sell it at WalMart. I tried it on my GF's Mercedes with custom wheels and tires akin to our Vettes; and it was total waste of time, money, and energy to clean that nastiness. I had to have the wheels/tires broken down, take them home and pressure wash them all; and then start over.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
It saved me a ton of money, didn't have to get a tow and was back on the road in a minute. Seven bucks for the can of sealant and 15 bucks to get the tire patched. That was three years ago and not a problem with that tire since. The TPMS works fine.
Last edited by JR-01; Sep 15, 2016 at 07:35 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 100
Likes: 12
From: Omaha Arkansas
Thanks for all the replies. My thought in possibly using a tire sealant was the fact that i do not have the "run flat" tires on the car now and having the sealant in each tire might prevent a costly flatbed charge to a tire shop if i had a flat tire. I really wouldn't use it to permently seal a leak, but rather just get me to a shop to have the tire repaired/replaced.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Thanks for all the replies. My thought in possibly using a tire sealant was the fact that i do not have the "run flat" tires on the car now and having the sealant in each tire might prevent a costly flatbed charge to a tire shop if i had a flat tire. I really wouldn't use it to permently seal a leak, but rather just get me to a shop to have the tire repaired/replaced.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 501
Likes: 44
From: Aurora Colorado
I went through this about a month ago. Used the Slime that is TPMS safe. The tire shop had no problem wiping it out and patching the tire.
Last edited by JEH03Vette; Sep 15, 2016 at 09:33 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
It can save you a bunch of money and get you home when you get a flat. Despite what some people believe, it really is a great product.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 100
Likes: 12
From: Omaha Arkansas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Another option is to buy a portable 12DCV air compressor and keep it in your car for those times when a nail is in the tire or a slow leak occurs. Using the compressor, just pump your tire up to 45 lbs and drive until you reach home or a repair shop. If the warning pressure warning comes on again, just stop, put more in, and to go again.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 612
Likes: 74
From: Ontario
My car is really low so if a tire deflates on the road I am potentially in deep trouble. I do not have runflats so carry both a mini compressor and the sealant. Sealant is not much good unless you can get air into the tires!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
To me, using a sealant is the last resort. First I would try just airing the tire up with a portable air compressor I carry in one of the rear compartments and see how far that would get me (if the air leak is slow). If I couldn't get very far without having to air it up repeatedly, I would then go to removing the screw/nail and plugging the puncture with a plug kit I carry (which should get me where I need to go, a tire shop where it can be properly repaired with a plug/patch combo). As I said, a sealant would be the last resort because of the mess it makes inside the tire. I know some people don't have a problem with that, but the stuff is not for me, which is why I don't carry it.
Would you rather be on the side of a busy freeway for 60 seconds or 5-10 minutes? Your choice.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Who says you have to be "on the side of a busy freeway" for ANY amount of time? Even if the tire is losing air pressure, I could still drive to where it's safe to either air it up or use the plug kit to fix it (if need be), like in a parking lot or a side street off a busy street. You're making the false assumption that punctures seem to occur only on a "busy freeway" and that's where you have to deal with it. You don't, and that's my point.
The inflator/sealer is the quickest and easiest way to deal with a flat tire and get back on the road. Now if you can't handle the mess inside the tire then don't use it.
I never said punctures only occur on busy freeways. It was just an example of where it would be dangerous to deal with a flat and mess with a compressor. I do carry both.
Last edited by JR-01; Sep 15, 2016 at 07:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Tires don't usually go down real fast. Usually when you pick up a nail or screw, which is typically why a tire loses air pressure, the tire goes down rather slowly, slow enough to be able to pull off the road to a safe location to deal with it. Especially if you've got TPMS that's working for you to alert you to the loss of air pressure.
Good for you, Jr, that you carry both. I'm happy for you!
Good for you, Jr, that you carry both. I'm happy for you!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 460
From: East Windsor NJ
Forget it. Don't ever use it. There's a reason why they sell it at WalMart. I tried it on my GF's Mercedes with custom wheels and tires akin to our Vettes; and it was total waste of time, money, and energy to clean that nastiness. I had to have the wheels/tires broken down, take them home and pressure wash them all; and then start over.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
PS, you can't pressure wash the inside of a tire without getting whatever is in the tire all over you. Ask me how I know. that.
If you don't have a leak in the tire, you likely have a cracked wheel or some corrosion around the bead somewhere allowing air to escape. Get it fixed right. One of the best tire shops I have found is the Quick Lane Service attached to my local Ford dealer. Yes, they take care of my Corvette wheels/tires and everything else too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Au contraire, I in fact do understand. I plan for the far more likely scenario (which still is not that likely to happen), not for something that is even further less likely to happen. But if that further less likely to happen scenario does actually occur, I've got a phone to get me out of a jam. That's my plan for handling those scenarios that happen so very rarely that it's just not worth it to me to carry something I don't even want to use.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
You make a good point about a gun in the house. However, I want a gun in my house for protection, while not wanting a can of slime in my Vette, because I'll never use that can of slime in my tires, while I will use a gun in my house for protection should the need arise. Do you see the difference now?
Why don't we just agree to disagree, ok, Jr?
Why don't we just agree to disagree, ok, Jr?
I agree that we disagree.