Flat tire kit instead of spare

[veloman]

I know there are compressed air sealants that are for this purpose. But the other day I plugged my tire at home really easily. I had a 3/16" screw to pull out.
Why not just carry those slim jims, simple tools, a bike pump(yes I've filled a car tire with one. Its a workout. Though if the bead is broke it wouldn't work) and also the rubber cement (I bought a can, shouldn't dry out nearly as fast). Isn't it better to plug the tire properly anyway?

Of course this doesn't help with a sidewall cut. But for the cost and weight savings it seems a lot better than having nothing.

Or should I just buy the flat fix can? What's the success rate with those?

For long trips I'd carry the spare.

[nemo]

Or just a plug kit and an electric inflater. While this is not the ideal way to repair a tire it can save your behind.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Reminds me of some women who told me they prefer to call their insurance instead of learning how to change a flat tyre. As long as there is no sidewall cut, maybe those quick sealing kits would still make more sense than waiting for someone else to change a tyre in rush hour, while a car stopped at some odd place because some selfish Ashley doesn't want to get her nail polish damaged might become a traffic nuisance for everyone else.

[redpoint5]

It's been discussed before, but it's been a while. You're not going to see any improvement in fuel economy unless you're exclusively in stop and go traffic.

In my view, if you need the extra space, then ditch the spare tire. Otherwise, you might as well leave it in.

I consider tire plugs to be a permanent fix, and capable of fixing ~90% of tire "incidents". My preference is to plug even when a spare is available.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

It's been discussed before, but it's been a while. You're not going to see any improvement in fuel economy unless you're exclusively in stop and go traffic.

In my view, if you need the extra space, then ditch the spare tire. Otherwise, you might as well leave it in.

I consider tire plugs to be a permanent fix, and capable of fixing ~90% of tire "incidents". My preference is to plug even when a spare is available.

Carry a spare. I ran over some dropped metal on the highway and put a hole in the middle of the tire I could almost stick my pinky finger in. No plugging that.
I see people complaining all the time on the leaf forum that the leaf doesn't have a spare.

[jakobnev]

Also: Don't forget to check the tire pressure of the spare! When I did that it had 10PSI in it, it's supposed to be 60.

[Piotrsko]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Carry a spare. I ran over some dropped metal on the highway and put a hole in the middle of the tire I could almost stick my pinky finger in. No plugging that.
I see people complaining all the time on the leaf forum that the leaf doesn't have a spare.

Btdt also, ended up costing me a $ grand for 2 replacement rims and tire as the spare donut is useless, has to be swapped/ installed on the rear, limits you to 45 mph .......

[California98Civic]

Any benefit happens mostly at acceleration, when you have to haul your weight to speed. Stop/go traffic and pulse and glide. Steady cruising at speed technically must mean a benefit but you are not going to detect it and it will be very very small.

I hate the sealants in cans. Worse than useless. I love the plug kits. I still have a plugged tire in service 10s of thousands of miles later. Awesome.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I see people complaining all the time on the leaf forum that the leaf doesn't have a spare.

I imagine they have a goo kit and not a plug kit. I'm not a fan of goo because it's less effective at plugging holes and ruins TPMS sensors. I've used goo successfully once, and unsuccessfully a couple times.

One time I drove home from hiking and the next day had a low tire. Figured it was a fairly minor leak since I was able to get home without issue. Wanted a quick fix so I put goo in the tire. Then I found the puncture, a 9mm bullet lodged in the tread. I pulled the bullet out and the goo puked onto my garage floor. Perhaps I'd be able to stuff a bunch of plugs into that hole, but that was one situation where having a full size spare was nice.

[MeteorGray]

I consider tire plugs to be permanent fixes too. Been using them for the past 50 years. I always have a 12vdc compressor along for the ride as part of my plug kit. I only use the spare tire or factory-supplied donut when the problem is a sidewall breach or serious tread separation.