I need to replace my tires and am considering non-RF options, but am concerned about the sealant kits. The idea of filling my tire (in case of flat) with "goo" just gives me the jeebies. Can someone please take the time to discuss the effects of using the sealant, both short-term (handling and weight addition) and long-term (messing up the inside of the wheels?). If there is a thread on this I'd be glad to read more.

Thanks!

 

many threads that recommend a sealant but like you I'm not really a fan...I used it once and felt the tire was WAY out of balance so ended up replacing it soon after. I probably could have just plugged the tire but used GOO to try and handle a slow leak. BIG mistake.

an option is to carry a pump and a DYNAPLUG ... this tool can allow you to plug a simple puncture in a flash ... then use the compressor to re-fill. (keep a pair of pliers in the car to pull out a nail - screw )

http://www.dynaplug.com/

it works great and I've run tires so plugged for years and plenty of miles.

On the other hand, if you get a puncture in an unpluggable place (sidewall) or completely shred a tire (also possible with r/f's) you are still stuck which is why I also joined AAA for the first time when I put non-R/F's on the 02

 

+1

Another happy runflat-less Dynaplug + compressor owner.

 

I carry slime, plugs (Tire Plugger), and air compressor plus AAA.
I have never had to use the slime and I know it can cause tire balance problems so many people end up replacement the tire after slime use.
It is a good question about slime being all over the inside of the wheel and if there are any ill affects, such as is it hard to get the dried slime of the wheel? Anyone used slime and then tried to get it off the wheel when the tire was eventually replaced? I suspect most tire shops would just ignore the dried slime and rebalance the wheel/tire combo without even trying to remove the dried slime from the wheel.

 

I have the slime kit -- Would ask the tire shop before repair about cleaning the mess - would not let them leave it in the tire.

 

Tire places have a cleaning agent they use to remove the slime mess. They sometimes will charge you extra, about $5-$10, to clean it out. Slime should only be used for short term emergencies. It should not mess with the TPMS once cleaned.

 

Exactly!

Don't count on fix-a-flat sprays to be a permanent fix. They are meant to get you the next 50 or so miles to a repair station, that's it.

Watch this video for alot of answers to the myths about fix-a-flat sprays.
http://www.brentonftp.com/video/truc...xAFlat_509.mov

 

Thanks. Great video on Fix-A-Flat.

 

Another +1 for plug kit and compressor.

 

Any suggestions on compressors?

I've used a couple in the past and they really weren't worth a darn!!

thanks,

Brian

 

I have the Slime kit with compressor and looks good and works well, but it is only a year old.

 

I carry a can of Fix-A-Flat in-case I'm lazy, but I also carry plug kit and a compressor...sort of like belts and suspenders I guess!!

 

I carry the Continental Tire ContiComfortKit that TireRack.com sells. It is one of the more expensive compressor/sealant kits at $80. I've not had to use the sealant, but have tried the compressor. It is slow, as I suspect all 12v compressors would be. It would take awhile to fill a completely flat tire.

I also carry a Dynaplug kit, but haven't needed to use it either.

If I could find a high-quality foot pump I'd probably carry that, a can of Slime (or some brand of water-soluable sealant), and the Dynaplug kit. I'm not too keen on relying on a 12v compressor. However, the inexpensive foot pumps, you find in auto supply stores, now have plastic connectors that break off easily. So, I don't feel they are any more reliable that the compressor.

It used to be that Fix-A-Flat was not water-soluable. The rumor was that using it on a tire meant death for that tire. It would get you to safety, but at the expense of the tire. Slime used water-soluble latex solution so a tire place could clean the tire out and fix it. From that video, it looks like Fix-A-Flat is now water-soluble.

 

This is a compact & complete kit that I use, from Adventure Designs:
http://store.advdesigns.net/mitipukitwit.html

The compressor is very small and the pouch fits in the well next to the jack if you discard the foam piece. This kit has saved me once, well worth the money.

 

I carry the slime, 2 cans of fix a flat, Dyna plugs and 2 air pumps. Even with this you can still whined up being stranded if you get a sidewall blow out as I had back in August. I was lucky to be about 2 miles from home and made it just as the tire went flat. In 30 years of driving well over 30 K a year I only had 1 flat tire, with the Mini I have had 2 in 19 months. SO in addition to the above I now have a full size spare behind the rear seats.
As for the slime, and the fix a flat it will for sure throw the tire out of balance, and I would not leave it in any longer then you have to. Get the tire fixed correctly. Most claim that it will not harm the TPMS sensors, I have however seen some of these sensors In Op after use of slime and or fix a flat, but that was not on a Mini.