fix-a-flat: does it work?
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From: Tomball, Texas
fix-a-flat: does it work? well i just walked out side and on of my rear tires is deflated. im getting new ones soon anyway so i was thinking about just using fix-a-flat but wanted to see how well it worked. i have a 2 hour drive to make on it so should that be good enough?
I work at a tire shop and from experience of seeing NEVER use fix a flat because it ruins the tire....if there is a possibility of using a plug to fix it instead of buying a new tire...it is no longer an option if you've used fix a flat...it slowly eats away at the tire therefore no shop will reuse that tire and it is definatley not a fix to a problem...id say see if you could get it plugged if not the buy a new tire...
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yea, i would definately only use it as a last resort if your stranded somewhere and no spare....but right now i have crappy runflats! oh yea, and its a bitch getting those off the rim, its glues the tire to it..
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PUT THE CAN DOWN!!! I'd have to hate you. I work at a tire shop too. It does make a huge mess with your stuff, our machines, and smells horrible. Most of us don't clean up your rim or tire if you put that crap in. You paid for it, you'll get most of it back is how I see it. It does eat the wheel and tire too. Ever hear of chrome peel?
Bleh.
I have used it twice in ten years for emergencies, and it works fine. Tire place will charge like $10 to clean it out but what can you do.
My 95 Lumina had a flat, I used a can, it only got the tire up to like 18psi but it was enuff for me to get the car to a tire shop and get it plugged. I would only use it to avoid a tow not to drive around in for hours and hours.
I have used it twice in ten years for emergencies, and it works fine. Tire place will charge like $10 to clean it out but what can you do.
My 95 Lumina had a flat, I used a can, it only got the tire up to like 18psi but it was enuff for me to get the car to a tire shop and get it plugged. I would only use it to avoid a tow not to drive around in for hours and hours.
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I worked at a tire shop for years... First of all, it DOES NOT GLUE THE TIRE TO THE RIM. What the hell? lol... It won't hurt the rubber at all and the tire shop WILL reuse the tire. (unless they are pissed for you making a mess and want to screw you over)
With that, get the tire plugged... shouldn't be more than 20-30 bucks... Fix-A-Flat is only good for short trips and can break down with heat after time... Get it fixed properly
With that, get the tire plugged... shouldn't be more than 20-30 bucks... Fix-A-Flat is only good for short trips and can break down with heat after time... Get it fixed properly
Originally Posted by KillerKlown
Besides, read the can label, its not made for low profile tires (if thats what your on). Plug it, save the headache. 
I have been told by several people from various tire shops that this stuff is horrible to use on speed tires because it can affect balance and sometimes not seal the hole or cause a blowout. Just wondering though
makes a mess. but at the tire shop i work at all we do is just wash it off. problems start when you use fix-a-flat and just keep airing up the tire every couple of days until it doesnt hold air well enough anymore...
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I wouldn't use it. I used it on one of my tires and now the chrome on the inside lip is peeling and won't hold pressure so theres a slow leak. Have to top it off just about everyday. Good thing I have a compressor.
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Originally Posted by spy2520
makes a mess. but at the tire shop i work at all we do is just wash it off. problems start when you use fix-a-flat and just keep airing up the tire every couple of days until it doesnt hold air well enough anymore...
On another note, I was just told how much tire shops are charging for patches! WTF!? It takes no more than 10 minutes to break a bead, ream the hole, apply the glue/patch, trim off the excess...remount the tire and balance it. My buddy just got charged 50 bucks!!!!
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From: Vancouver,[KITSILANO].B.C. Canada *WestCoast*
never used it on low profile tires..have used it 5-6 times on my trucks though..always worked fine..tire shop just cleans up the inside of the tire..no big deal ...as far as a mess/cleaning the stuff up--it is synthetic RUBBER...
i worked at a tire shop. would never use it. iv seen it eat chrome. its a bitch to clean. smells and burns what ever cuts u have on ur hand like a mother ******. also if u do use it tell the tire guy bc it can blind you.
