If I choose to go the route of no run flat and no spare, and instead carry a fix a flat type of solution, what is the best one out there? Has anybody actually used one and did it work?

-Jim

 

I like Slime - it works and then rinses out easy for permanent repair.

 

+1

 

Looking at their website they have a lot of products, which do you use?

Jim

 

http://www.slime.com/product/871/Quick-Spair.html

 

I found the whole kit, which included a 12V air pump w/built in gauge and zipper case for $19.99 at Autozone last year....

 

This is the same kit I had in my 04 MSC for 6 years; had to use it only once and it did the job well. I kept the kit when trading-in for 2010 MSC. Will start carrying it again as soon as I dump the OEM RF's. I will replace the slime bottle because of age, the slime may still work very well, but I don't want to chance it.

 

I saw that air compressor at Pep Boys and thought it was pretty small and would take a long time to inflate a flat tire. There are some high volume pumps on eBay for $20+shipping that look like they can inflate a Mini tire rather quickly.

Looks like the Slime in a can would be a good way to go for installing the Slime AND inflating the tire partially. I'm going to get a couple of those. You can spend a lot of money to get around those darn run-flats.

 

How big a slim bottle do you get for 17" tires?

 

Looks like they have a calculator on the website.

http://www.slime.com/how_much_slime.html

 

+1

Just got a couple cans. Got a compact spare, high volume air pump, Slime plug kit. Now is Conti DWS would just get in stock, I can get rid of the runflats.

 

Ok guys-

I've had slime in my car for the last two MINIs but have never had to use it 'til today. Had something done with my wheels at the tire shop and I jumped on the highway the car was shaking some (but I attributed this to some other wheel issues- only 3 lugs and no hubcentric-) yeah it's been a good day )... but I get to the gas station and the left rear is totally flat. I fill it up with air drive about a mile and flat... get out the compressor and refill... go about 1.5 miles and flat. Actually it was dropping from about 38psi down to 20 or less so I consider that flat. Did this 6 times 'til I finally made it to the closest tire shop... that was CLOSED! These are NRFs.

So I was trying to get back to the original tire shop to have them check it out thinking maybe it's a bad seal since they just redid the wheel and tire. Didn't hear air coming out of the valve and couldn't find any holes but I was needing to drive. No spare. NO problem I've got my trusty SLIME and I know how to use it... just pour it in, right? Well, it wasn't going in at all and so I squeezed harder and harder until finally it just exploded all over me! My shirt, my pants, arms, hands, feet and shoes and even parts of my hair covered in green slime. And I'm doing all of this in the parking lot of a closed tire shop with security cameras. (I don't know if they can watch recordings or not but I imagine it would be quite hilarious to see.)

SO IS THERE A SECRET to using SLIME? It doesn't seem like rocket science. I followed the directions, and had removed the seal from inside the bottle. Connected the little hose and all. Any ideas on why it wasn't going into the tire?

I ended up taking the wheel off to put on a spare that my mom had with her but it didn't fit. Wrestled with putting the tire back on. *****' F that sucked... bet the hubcentric ring would have helped. Still covered with green slime. It ended up being a loose valve stem. If I hadn't messed with the slime I may not have figured that out (since after trying that a few times it loosened up the valve stem enough that I could definitely hear air coming out).

And... can you guys believe that on one of my first stops on the side of the road (out there with my little air compressor pumping up the tire), another MINI Cooper drove by me and he didn't even wave? And I was in girly clothes and 4" heels and everything! Not that he's on here... but to the guy that was driving the Pepper White MINI Cabrio (just like mine) on Honore Ave this afternoon in University Park- I am NOT waving to you again. EVER.

I also found out something I did not know about Roadside Assistance- they could tow my MINI to the nearest dealership (1+ hrs away) but could not tow me to the tire shop that was 10 minutes away. My guess is that even if I had let them tow me to the dealership they wouldn't have done anything with my tire because it was a NRF. I'm glad I had the opportunity to find out all of this while I was close to home.

 

OMG I just checked out hte site and they have SLIME APPAREL!!! I think I'm good.

 

-1 for DIY Slime apparel...

 

In addition to a Slime/compressor kit, I also carry a Dynaplug kit. I'd rather plug the tire (and get it patched later) than fill it with Slime.
Just a thought.
http://www.dynaplug.com/


Jim

 

Dynaplug looks like a very good product!

Miniola, sorry to hear about your ordeal. That's why I also carry road service with my insurance, AAA. They will tow to anywhere you want and they're a lot more flexible than the factory programs.

 

So I contacted SLiME and asked what the secret was to using this stuff. Ummm... turns out there's this little thing called a valve core. I couldn't ever figure out how SLiME would bypass the air pressure that was coming OUT of the tire but the instructions weren't exactly clear and anyone I had ever asked about using this stuff (tire shop included) just said, "It just pours in". Turns out there's a little cap on the end of the bottle that is used to remove the valve core. My bottle didn't have a cap. So the only thing I could figure out from the bottle instructions was that they were removing the valve stem cap. Learn something new everyday... and now I will probably be a SLiME expert next time I need to use it (which is hopefully never).

Anyway, SLiME is sending me a whole new bottle for free.

 

You can also find this kit on Amazon, though the zipper case seems to be clear plastic/vinyl instead of a nice nylon one. http://www.amazon.com/Slime-Smart-15...5493957&sr=8-5

 

I got the Slime kit that included that small air compressor (I think it was a Pep Boys). I use that little air compressor every month to increase air pressure when I am at autocross events. It is plenty fast. It is an amazing little air compressor.

 

I've had the same problem with new tires. New valve stems/cores, for whatever reason seem to be quite sticky, as in, they stick open. I've been through two sets of tires from Discount Tire and almost all of them stick. Then I go to Les Schwab and have them replaced. Don't know if it's something they do different or if theirs are from a different manufacturer but they always get them fixed permanently.

 

I carry a Dynaplug, a Stop n Go tire plugger (the gun model), the conventional sticky worms (that come with the Slime air compressor kit) and of course, the Slime. Slime is a last resort when all the other options fail.

Also, aren't you supposed to remove the valve from the tire's valve stem before trying to get the Slime in?

 

Yes.

 

I called DynaPlug a moment ago seeking retailers in my area.

There are none. Harbor Freight used to carry this product, but no longer.

So, don't wait until the last minute to get your DynaPlug as it's mail order only. At least in my neck of the woods.

 

Amazon carries it. I also highly recommend getting a Stop n Go plugger kit as well. The Dynaplug is a small plug and may not work for larger punctures.

 

Poor thing. I would have AT LEAST waved. Maybe the guy thought you are bat crazy and trying to flag him down and steal his PW I would think I would have pulled over and helped...

Good thing you figured it out, and a slime expert now