I have a pretty slow leak in my front right tire, and I am forced to fill it up about once every week because I dont have the money for new tires. I was wondering if any one had any experience with any type of fix a flat product and if it would work to just put a little in my tire to try and seal the leak.

 

Take it to a tire place, they should be able to plug it as long as the leak isn't in the sidewall.

 

I'm in the same prediciment (sp). I don't wanna take to a tire place and pay all sorts of $$ to plug the leak if a 5 dollar can of Fix-A-Flat can do.

 

Spend the $20 to get it plugged. The cost and work involved in cleaning up your wheel after using fix-a-flat will be well worth it.

 

Buy a tire repair kit.....less than $10 and you'll still have a couple of plugs left over for another leak. But if you dont like the plugs, patching it for a bit more cash is another route.

 

Ive always heard that fix a flat and those other type of spray in tire sealants in time are bad for the wheel.
A plug would only cost any where from 7-12.00 dollars, a patch should be 15-20.00 at the most.
Take it to a shop.

 

spend $8 and buy a plug kit at ur local auto store.
spend less than 20 mins finding the leak and plugging it urself.
done deal.

 

I had a slow leak once on one of my tires.
It wasn't a hole from a screw or nail though.
Turned out to just be the tire not sealing against the wheel correctly. The guy at the tire place had to take off the tire, put some sort of paste around the inner rim of the tire, and put it back on the wheel. Fixed it right up.

I guess that paste hardens and seals any imperfections.

I forget how much it was, but it wasn't that bad.

 

How do I find the leak? I'v heard of putting water on the tire? Is that what I do?

 

I've used fix-a-flat a couple of times and it works. The only problem is that your tire shake real bad at certain speeds. I think I've used a tire with fix-a-flat in it for about 2 months or more and that was the only problem. But I would definatly try to get it plugged first.

 

Yup, you need a large tub or soething of that sort, fill the tire with air and slowy turn the tire in the water and look for the escaping air (tiny bubbles)

 

ok thanks for the help I think I will just take it to a tire shop and see if they can plug it.

 

Good choice, fix a flat should only be used if your stuck out in the middle of the highway and need to get a bit down to road, ect... That stuff makes a mess.

 

put some soapy water in a spray bottle and spray the tire surface.
look for bubbles.
no need to remove the tire. but its easier to remove it

 

Make sure to check the valve for the leak. They often go bad. It's a couple bucks for a package of valve stems.

CM.

 

Just take it to a tire store. You might as well pay $15-$20 for a professional to look over your tire and determine exactly what is wrong and where the leak is, then fix it properly. That's what those guys do for a living every day.

Most shops have free hazard repair if you buy tires there. If you bought tires from a place, take it back there. If you know a place that has good customer service (like Les Schwab on the west coast) just go in and tell them you just got the car a few months ago, but you always buy tires from them. They will often times fix it for free.

They also take the tire off the rim, check it, fix it, replace the valve stem if necessary, rebalance the tire and remount it.

I do buy most of my tires from Schwab and I had a big nail in the tire on our QX4 (still has the factory tires) and they fixed it for free. I think they only charge like $12, anyway.

 

FYI plugging a tire w/ a worm general void's the mfgs warranty

 

Quick tireshop lesson:
I was on my way to work and had no choice but to use the fix a flat last summer. The quick version is the stuff is like liquid glue, it will muck up the inside of your rim, since its like having a liquid ball that melts everytime the tire warms up again it becomes unbalanced. The tire shop manager showed me the mess it made. Since my tire was getting on in mileage I just went all new set at that time.

Long story short once you use that stuff the tire is lost and most places can no longer patch it, since the gunk is all over the inside of the tire, the glue wont' stick. Think they can still plug it though, not sure on that. Either case I'd save it for emergency only not a first resort. Better to donught and get it to a professional unless you're a do it yourselfer.

 

most tire shops hate fix a flat, and will not patch it, I've worked at one and every single time soon as we deflate the tire the fix a flat goes everywhere. just either get a patch done or get another tire. it will be more cheaper in the long run anyways.

 

The best way to find a leak is use a spray bottle and put a little dish soap in there with water, spray the tire a little at a time and watch, the bubbles will show the leak.