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If I get a flat tire in UK what’s my options?

Discussion in 'The UK and Ireland' started by Sixer, Jan 16, 2020.

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  1. Rajanm1

    Rajanm1 Member

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    Only one for a jack but handy to have 4 if you go to a tyre place and they had a lift to raise the whole car
     
    • Like x 1
  2. fumusic

    fumusic Member

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    Thanks for the answer. I'll get four then.
     
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  3. Jeeves

    Jeeves Member

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    I bought four and routinely carry them in my boot. When you take it to a repair place of any kind, they often want to work on multiple corners, so it is worth having them.
     
  4. AndyS3

    AndyS3 Member

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    Ive bought a Ring 635 tyre inflator. Its a 10amp version so wont overload the 12v fuse. I also bought a cycle worm insertion kit to plug small nail punctures. That should cover most minor tyre failures and get me going again
     
  5. M3noob

    M3noob Supporting Member

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    Get four. They are cheap. Cheaper than a new battery! If you take the car to a shop that uses a four-way lift, you're covered
     
  6. pgkevet

    pgkevet Active Member

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    You all need to cultivate a garage like my local one. I've just been back after the (same as three times before) tyre started losing pressure the last few days. They still have my wooden blocks from the first time they lifted the S, still have the marks on their big hoist for exactly where to position it for their sub-lift system. It turned out to be one of the previous plugs leaking so they refused money even when i tried to press them to take it. They only charged me a tenner last time anyway...
     
  7. KennethS

    KennethS Supporting Member

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    Thanks for the Dynaplug repair kit recommendation. I just ordered the one you linked to at Amazon. I figure it is better to have and hopefully not need.
     
    • Like x 1
  8. fumusic

    fumusic Member

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  9. pgkevet

    pgkevet Active Member

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    Usually claimed to fail and ruin foam lined tyres and in any event the one you linked to states for max 16" tyres..
     
  10. M3noob

    M3noob Supporting Member

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    I just got my plugged flat tyre properly patched at a local Just Tyre. Very helpful and willing to listen to the 101 rules for lifting the car and repairing the tyre. They knew how to do it and did a professional job. Used my puck and a floor jack.

    IMAG1600.jpg
    Replugged from the inside, patched, reglued the acoustic insulation, balanced and remounted the wheel with a torque spanner. £25.
     
  11. Mr H

    Mr H Active Member

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    We have a tyre bay at work, i get tyres at cost for personal cars and punctures for free
     
    • Like x 1
  12. Adopado

    Adopado Active Member

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    I've never paid for a puncture ...
     
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  13. Mr H

    Mr H Active Member

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    download.jpeg
     
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  14. VanillaAir_UK

    VanillaAir_UK Supporting Member

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    Going back to tyre plugs, I keep looking at a set on Amazon that comes in a number of different guises - strength of case and number of tools/plugs.

    I'm trying to fathom what is needed in the car to use these when a air compressor doesn't temporarily sort.

    Say you got a screw lodged in the tyre, presumably you need to screw it out first so need to carry an assortment of screw drivers. What if its say a drill or blind screw. Some form of plyers?

    Also, what sort of force is needed on the plugging tool when inserting. I see some are plastic handled tools, whilst some are metal. Presumably some force is needed to twist the plug into the hole so metal is better?
     
  15. GeorgeSymonds

    GeorgeSymonds Member

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    #96 GeorgeSymonds, Jun 7, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2020
    I've done a few now but others may be more experienced or have better suggestions:
    Getting the screw out, you rarely find it still has a viable head and its not been screwed, so just leveraging it out works, I carry an electrical screwdriver and a pair or pointy pliers.

    If its a really slow puncture it can be quite hard to plug. The one type of kit includes a spike to open up the hole to the right size. Feels counter intuitive to make the hole bigger. Thats a one way trip as the tyre won't hold air until plugged, so I'd be reluctant to do this unless at home. The strips on that type of kit are thick and you cover them with goo which also helps to lubricate them, Force wise, its impossible but not for the elderly, hard to describe but imagine 2 maybe 3 boxes (24-36) bottles of wine piled up on the floor, you'd need to be able to push them single handed across the floor usually lying next to them. The angle of attack is often the enemy more than the force, front tyres are much easier or if at home, take ther wheel off if you can.

    The dynaplug thing is slightly different in that they're smaller. But same problem, if the puncture is slow the hole is likely to be too small. I think the instructions even suggest drilling a small hole if you can't get the plug it, and its not practical to carry a drill. I spent ages the first time trying to use the damn thing on slow puncture that was losing 2psi a day.. and no amount of force was going to work. So if its a small hole/slow puncture then top up and limp home and maybe drill out if you can't push the plug in. I find the handles of those to be a little awkward to apply pressure but you need a little less force to use than the stips, but its still not something to attempt unless you have a modicum of strength. Once in, tool removal is easy.

    The last one I did during lockdown at home. I ended up using the spike to open the hole but the strips had gone off and the slime had dried up so I couldn't get the stip in far enough and ended up breaking the handle. I then switched to the dynaplug and it needed 2 plugs (they say this is not unusual) to seal the hole and its been fine since.

    The dynaplug things can go off once opened too, I had an unopened set I ended up using. So my advice is if you open strips or the glue from either set, its worth getting fresh in for next time, the handles etc are reusable. .
     
    • Informative x 2
  16. VanillaAir_UK

    VanillaAir_UK Supporting Member

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    Thanks for reply

    I was kind of thinking either

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRIUMPH-DYNAPLUG®-TUBELESS-PUNCTURE-REPAIR/dp/B00LO86HG8/ref=pd_sbs_263_32?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00LO86HG8&pd_rd_r=30832019-86e4-44db-9512-b28d43e81005&pd_rd_w=sVgOZ&pd_rd_wg=TKQ00&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=A2NJ650RP6M23WG4EYGV&psc=1&refRID=A2NJ650RP6M23WG4EYGV

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dynaplug-Ultralite-Tubeless-Tire-Repair/dp/B00B7FC4DI/ref=pd_di_sccai_75?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00B7FC4DI&pd_rd_r=85bc4e08-6f3f-4073-8877-eaefb6a7164f&pd_rd_w=bqDFu&pd_rd_wg=sATeP&pf_rd_p=08710768-875d-48b8-9dd1-e960a266ba51&pf_rd_r=Q8GKJEF4GT5ZQSW12Z3G&psc=1&refRID=Q8GKJEF4GT5ZQSW12Z3G

    or

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/DYNAPLUG®-ULTRALITE-TUBELESS-PUNCTURE-MOTORCYCLES/dp/B00UQPUZUE/ref=pd_sbs_263_1/260-5261014-7755444?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00UQPUZUE&pd_rd_r=30832019-86e4-44db-9512-b28d43e81005&pd_rd_w=sVgOZ&pd_rd_wg=TKQ00&pf_rd_p=2773aa8e-42c5-4dbe-bda8-5cdf226aa078&pf_rd_r=A2NJ650RP6M23WG4EYGV&psc=1&refRID=A2NJ650RP6M23WG4EYGV

    I thought the additional tools in the first one may be useful, plus it looks a bit stronger.

    Interesting that you say that even these can go off once opened. I had hoped not seeing. I've not got much reference to size but wondering if a relatively small air tight container would be a good way to store everything in and solve that problem? Its not really clear to me what the viscose plugs are and how they are supplied and stored.

     
  17. GeorgeSymonds

    GeorgeSymonds Member

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    #98 GeorgeSymonds, Jun 7, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2020
    That first set looks quite good, not seen one with the borer as part of the set. One set also looks like it has a larger palm sized end which would make pushing it in easier.

    I know mine seemed to lose some of their properties, maybe its a function of handling them rather than just exposure to air. They feel ever so slightly tacky when new and mine lost that but they'd been dumped on the floor when previously using the set.

    They're still expensive compared to the non branded but slightly more brutal kits like this one that you can just replace after use. I'd chuck on in the car for £4 as a backup https://amzn.to/3eXJpYt but given a choiuce I'd start with dynaplug, except it can work out more expensive than a repoar at a garage, but on a Sunday when they're all shut, they've both got better odds than nothing.
     
    • Like x 1
  18. M3noob

    M3noob Supporting Member

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    The mushroom shaped plugs that the AA used on my tyre were like the ones included in the Amazon set I bought/

    https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07YZ3GZX6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    The pistol grip device enlongates the very flexible plug so that it can get into a rather modest screw hole after a gentle reaming with the fluted prong.
     
  19. kuruma

    kuruma Member

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    Aug 29, 2019
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    Location:
    Northeast
    hmmm... well, guess what, my RTC500 just blew the glass fuse inside the plug. First time it's done this in the 8 months I've had it although I must have used it to do the tyres maybe three or four times before this. Irritatingly, it got through three of the four tyres before it blew so I'm now in the market for a glass fuse while the front left throws warnings at me constantly.

    Anyone know whether I'm safe swapping the dead 10A fuse out for a 20A or would I be risking a meltdown? I don't want to have to keep a pile of 10A fuses in the car just in case.
     

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