Does Fix-a-Flat mess up your tires? Told so by dude at car tire place
Wife's car, she isn't paying attention to cars in front of her swerving out of the way of something in road, she runs over a piece of wood with nails in it (she thinks), ends up with driver side front and rear tire flats. Next morning tires are totally flat so I fill em each with one can of Fix-a-Flat, air from compressor to get them to proper inflation level, then drive the 10 miles to the tire place. Guy working the counter tells me they probably won't be able to repair the tires due to the Fix-a-Flat, but they will look at it and call me. Says the stuff is corrosive and once it is inside the tire the chemicals make it so they cannot repair the tire.
Any truth to this, or are setting me up to be bent over for a ride that ends with me buying new tires? Seems kinda illogical that the stuff (FIx-a-Flat) that is supposed to be a temporary fix to get you to a place to repair your flat tire would be so bad for the tire itself that they couldn't then fix the holes.
Thanks.
Max
I know it can corrode the wheels.
Honestly, don't use the stuff.
Ive seen it completly corrode the crap out of steel rims. But no it doesnt mess up the tire. The reason the guy doesnt want to mess with it is because it makes a huge mess inside the tire that you have to clean very well before you can apply a patch. Its not worth most tires places time to mess with the mess so usually they wont and will just sell you a new tire or in rare cases give you the option of paying for a hours labor to clean it(usually at 80 bucks a hour).
Edit- Nevermind...
I think they hate it because it spews that stuff all over the place (and them) when they change your tire.
I could see making it difficult for a patch to stick if you didn't clean it off the patch area.
It will make a big honkin mess of the wheels - and the tires. Shop will probably charge you extra to deal with that mess (I would).
Originally Posted By Justa_TXguy:
I know it can corrode the wheels.
Honestly, don't use the stuff.
Guy from tire place just called and said the cannot locate any puncture holes in the tire. Probably because the Fix-a-Flat sealed them. He said at some point the chemicals will deteriorate opening the holes again. I asked him at that point if they could then fix the holes and he said no.
Its hard on the tire, it breaks down the rubber.
I wouldn't use it unless I was stranded without a spare.
It will destroy tire pressure sensors on newer vehicles.
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In the old days the propellant was flammable and there were reports of people getting hurt while reaming a hole for a plug. Seems a spark could ignite the gasses inside the tire and and cause an explosion. It may be a holdover from that time. New guys don't know why its supposed to be bad but it is cause an old guy said so.
Most contain ammonia which is very corrosive to both wheels and the cord material used in the construction of the tire. I would not recommend its use in any but dire circumstances.
Hated the stuff when I was doing tires.
If you didn't tell us before we started that you used it you would most likely get a tire and wheel thrown at you.
Some of the old stuff had a nasty habit of blowing up mechanics that wet to ream a hole. I don't like getting blowed up.
Im not a mechanic and I don't have any proof but I have always heard that it is flammable and it it is dangerous to use those wheel seating machines on. Not sure about corrosion but it wouldn't surprise me. I always have used slime in atv tires but I wouldn't do that in a car tire
Originally Posted By godzillamax:
Originally Posted By Justa_TXguy:
I know it can corrode the wheels.
Honestly, don't use the stuff.
Guy from tire place just called and said the cannot locate any puncture holes in the tire. Probably because the Fix-a-Flat sealed them. He said at some point the chemicals will deteriorate opening the holes again. I asked him at that point if they could then fix the holes and he said no.
So basically he told to come get you car and leave.
Technically speaking, if you are using the stuff your tire is already fucked up.
Anyone know what stuff OEM car makers are using? My '12 Challenger R/T has the spare tire delete package due to the Harmon-Kardin speaker in its place. Instead of a spare tire it came with a portable air compressor and that also applies some sort of sealant. I have seen other car makers with similar setups.
It's nasty shit that makes a huge mess and is a pain in the ass to deal with.
Do yourself a favor and buy a ~$10 plug kit. That way you won't even have to deal with a shop when you get a simple puncture.
Originally Posted By 220ST:
Originally Posted By godzillamax:
Originally Posted By Justa_TXguy:
I know it can corrode the wheels.
Honestly, don't use the stuff.
Guy from tire place just called and said the cannot locate any puncture holes in the tire. Probably because the Fix-a-Flat sealed them. He said at some point the chemicals will deteriorate opening the holes again. I asked him at that point if they could then fix the holes and he said no.
So basically he told to come get you car and leave.
Turned out they found two holes in each of the flat tires. Each hole was about 5-6" from the other one. Guy said they wouldn't have been able to patch it any way. Something about only being able to have one patch every 45 degrees or something like that. Ended up buying two new tires. Lesson learned, only use Fix-a-Flat if you are in the middle of the desert and get a flat and don't have a spare and it is a last resort to get you back to civilization. Lesson learned for wife? Probably nothing. She is a woman so she will continue to drive like shit.
durrr.
A properly installed patch and even a good plug (the mushroom patch / plugs being best) becomes part of the tire once glued in place. If it is in the steel and not on the sidewall or a big slit you can patch and plug all you want.
4-5" spread is better as you can fully seal a few patches.
