Anticipating a flat

[desura]

Im considering buying a pair of all-season tires in the event that i get a flat and need to replace. Good idea? Im thinking do this now so i dont get caught up in anhasty decision that costs lots of money if i get a flat.

 

[Z15CAM]

Put a tube in it.

Aluminum Rims SUCK and break.

If you want to go tubeless use steel rims.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Put a tube in it.

Aluminum Rim SUCK.

If you want to go tubeless use steel rims.

The heck are you talking about? You don't put tubes in car tires!

And there is nothing wrong with aluminum wheels on cars. Aluminum wheels don't cause flats.


To the OP:

I wouldn't bother buying extra tires for your car just in case you get a flat. That would likely be a waste. You have a spare wheel in the car in case you get a flat (if you're lucky it is a full size spare, most cars have small "donut" spares though). Then you go and get the flat tire fixed if it is repairable, or replace if you're unlucky enough to have irreparable damage.

I've driven over 180,000 miles and only ever had to use my spare once.

 

[Z15CAM]

The heck are you talking about? You don't put tubes in car tires!

And there is nothing wrong with aluminum wheels on cars. Aluminum wheels don't cause flats.

Apparently you don't live in Northern Ontario where Aluminum Rims disintegrate in salt or find it necessary to climb a curb or 2 to get out of the way without them busting.

Tubless Aluminum Rims corrode and cause flats and break - Period.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Apparently you don't live in Northern Ontario where Aluminum Rims disintegrate in salt or find it necessary to climb a curb or 2 to get out of the way without them busting

Most people drive on the roads, not over curbs.

And I live in Ohio where we use PLENTY of salt on the roads, as my 02 Trailblazer testifies from the copious amounts of rust. But guess what? The aluminum wheels on it, while corroded a bit, are not "disintegrating" nor do they lose air.

My parents' old vehicles? Aluminum wheels. No problems.
Brothers? Aluminum wheels. No problems.
Most of my friends? Aluminum wheels. No problems.

Can you get corrosion on aluminum wheels that causes the bead to leak? Absolutely. You can also get rust on steel wheels that can cause the same thing. Both can also have the bead areas cleaned up and they'll seal again just fine in most cases.

Here's a hint to you - stop driving over curbs, or if you insist on driving weirdly get tires designed for rougher terrain. Even serious off roaders don't use tubes in their tires, they just use the right tire for the job!

 

[WoodButcher]

Anticipating a flat is like watching paint dry.

 

[Z15CAM]

Most people drive on the roads, not over curbs.

I guess Ohio drivers can see curbs over laid with snow and never be cut off by an insane driver.

I got a very good American friend that lives in "O-O". He is a Navy Seal.

As a Canadian, I can out shot my American friend with a 1911 because I'm a great pistol shooter. Great guy and I would want no other as a back up with a pistol or rifle. I prefer the Herstal P35 Belgium FN Browning 9mm Hi-Power.

 

[iamwiz82]

My brother had his wheels fail from salt in Michigan, but it took 13 years of winter driving to do it.

Regardless, getting a pair of tires solely because you might get a flat is pretty crazy. If you are experiencing flat tires so often that you think that you need a pair on the side you need to look at what you are doing to cause that.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I guess Ohio drivers can see curbs over laid with snow and never be cut off by an insane driver.

I got a very good American friend that lives in "O-O". He is a Navy Seal.

As a Canadian, I can out shot my American friend with a 1911 because I'm a great pistol shooter. Great guy and I would want no other as a back up with a pistol or rifle. I prefer the Herstal P35 Belgium FN Browning 9mm Hi-Power.

Sounds more like a fault of your defensive driving tactics than a fault of the wheel.

Not sure what your shooting prowess has to do with your curb jumping, wheel breaking habits, but OK.

 

[desura]

My car doesnt have a spare. It only has a fix-aflat.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I've noticed some cars are coming like that now. What car is it? Not sure if there would be even a spot for a donut spare if it didn't originally come with one.

 

[thedarkwolf]

My car doesnt have a spare. It only has a fix-aflat.

So why two tires? I you just want a spare buy one of the little doughnut tires in the right size and throw it in the trunk. No point in buying two tires just to have them sit around and dry rot. Most of the time a tire shop can plug/patch your current tire anyway assuming you don't destroy it driving on it flat.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have little to add to this thread but I grew up in upstate NY and learned how to drive there and most of the cars I drove there had steel wheels but I've NEVER heard ANYONE advise someone to use tubes in an aluminum wheel... or any other wheel other than a spoked wheel. I've also driven in some pretty heavy snow and NEVER driven over curbs intentionally or unintentionally.

Christ, I had a 1979 Honda motorcycle that didn't even require tubes.

 

[pauldun170]

Im considering buying a pair of all-season tires in the event that i get a flat and need to replace. Good idea? Im thinking do this now so i dont get caught up in anhasty decision that costs lots of money if i get a flat.

Bad idea.
Where and how are you planning on storing these tires that will likely be old and dusty by the time you eventually use them? How would you feel about spending hundreds of dollars on tires and then having to throw 1-3 of them out years from now because they are dry rotted and unsafe to drive?

If your car doesn't have a spare and you are worried.
AAA membership + keeping moderately up to date on tires and check out tires and pricing for your car. Once a year hop on tirerack and read a couple of reviews. Can be done on the toilet during one shitting session.

Otherwise, if you get a flat use the fixaflat and get it to a place where they can plug the leak for whatever they charge nowadays ($10-$20?)
If the tire is completely shot, just buy what ever is the appropriate tire at that time.
As long as you walk into a shop with a clue about what tire you want, your chances of being screwed over drop significantly.

 

[JulesMaximus]

BTW-I owned my last car for 10 years and 130,000 miles and never used the spare tire once during that time.

Personally, I wouldn't waste the money.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Guess I'm unlucky. So many flat tires lol. I pick up nails fairly regularly. Luckily the last two times I heard it clicking while driving and was able to get to a tire shop and get it plugged before the tire went flat. They charged $5 here for a plug.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I had a 99 Chrysler 300m, the alloy used with shit crap terribad. rims were more or less shot after 6 or 7 years, constantly slowly leaking.

My 08 forester has alloy rims, thus far, no problems ...

I replaced the stock/OEM tires at around 90K. Never had a flat.


Anyhow, no, dont pre-buy tires for when you get a flat .... by the time your ready to use them, they will be dry rotted.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I had a 99 Chrysler 300m, the alloy used with shit crap terribad. rims were more or less shot after 6 or 7 years, constantly slowly leaking.

My 08 forester has alloy rims, thus far, no problems ...

I replaced the stock/OEM tires at around 90K. Never had a flat.


Anyhow, no, dont pre-buy tires for when you get a flat .... by the time your ready to use them, they will be dry rotted.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I had a 99 Chrysler 300m, the alloy used with shit crap terribad. rims were more or less shot after 6 or 7 years, constantly slowly leaking.

My 08 forester has alloy rims, thus far, no problems ...

I replaced the stock/OEM tires at around 90K. Never had a flat.


Anyhow, no, dont pre-buy tires for when you get a flat .... by the time your ready to use them, they will be dry rotted.

Well, Chryslers are crap. Everything about them is garbage. I'd never buy one.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Well, Chryslers are crap. Everything about them is garbage. I'd never buy one.

It was the first and last Chrysler for me.
That being said, the power-train was very solid, all the problems were everything else. Fan Assemblies, rims, electrical problems, etc....

The person who I gave it to for dealer trade in value (2k), managed to put several more years on the car, and all they really had to do was replace the rims....

My Subaru at 115K miles is in better shape than that Chrysler was at 40K miles ... though I'm worried about gasket problems ....

 

[desura]

I had a 99 Chrysler 300m, the alloy used with shit crap terribad. rims were more or less shot after 6 or 7 years, constantly slowly leaking.

My 08 forester has alloy rims, thus far, no problems ...

I replaced the stock/OEM tires at around 90K. Never had a flat.


Anyhow, no, dont pre-buy tires for when you get a flat .... by the time your ready to use them, they will be dry rotted.

Yeah, all right.

It's just...assuming that a tire blows out one day on my car.

I put on the spare and limp home.

What if I can't find a reasonably priced tire locally? I might be out of it for a while.

And how do tires dry rot? Wouldn't they rot anyways sitting at a warehouse?

 

[boomerang]

What if I can't find a reasonably priced tire locally?

You'll have two choices. Pay a little more for a tire readily available or order one and wait.

You're worrying unnecessarily about something that has a simple solution. People get flats, people get the flat fixed, people ruin tires, people replace tires. It happens countless times on a daily basis. Lighten up.

Tires Expire in Six Years

 

[Ferzerp]

Yeah, all right.

It's just...assuming that a tire blows out one day on my car.

I put on the spare and limp home.

What if I can't find a reasonably priced tire locally? I might be out of it for a while.

And how do tires dry rot? Wouldn't they rot anyways sitting at a warehouse?

Tires don't sit in warehouses for years....

 

[WoodButcher]

Tires don't sit in warehouses for years....

They sit in peoples garages unused waiting for a flat that will never come while the owners is watching his paint dry,,,

 

[JulesMaximus]

They sit in peoples garages unused waiting for a flat that will never come while the owners is watching his paint dry,,,

Or in trunks, neglected for a decade and only checked for proper air pressure once or twice during that time.