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Wow, you guys have a lot of stuff in your car! I feel like I need to buy more stuff now!

How does the Tesla tire inflator, work? I get a flat, I use the gunk first or in combination with the inflator and inflate tire+gunk to seal and inflate? Do I need a jack also?
Also, do all Model S's have the spot for the J1772 plug in the glove box? I don't see a spot in mine (early 2016) that it fits into securely.

Planning a road trip next month, wanted to have everything I might need.
Thanks!


Be aware that if you put the gunk in it, that tire and your air pressure sensor are toast. You are better of trying to plug it if you can find the hole. It isn't that difficult.
 
Be aware that if you put the gunk in it, that tire and your air pressure sensor are toast. You are better of trying to plug it if you can find the hole. It isn't that difficult.

Thanks for the heads up. I've plugged tires before, but when I picked up my car, the delivery specialist said not to plug these tires. Not sure if that's BS or not.
Plugging would also involve jacking up the car and removing a tire. I haven't purchased a jack yet, is there something special to look for in a jack? I was thinking of the compressor and tire gunk for an upcoming road trip to FL.
 
Thanks for the heads up. I've plugged tires before, but when I picked up my car, the delivery specialist said not to plug these tires. Not sure if that's BS or not.
Plugging would also involve jacking up the car and removing a tire. I haven't purchased a jack yet, is there something special to look for in a jack? I was thinking of the compressor and tire gunk for an upcoming road trip to FL.

Lots of cheap jacks available on Amazon. I personally like scissor jacks due to ease of operation Be sure to get one rated at 5000 lbs or higher because the car weighs 2 tons.
 
Lots of cheap jacks available on Amazon. I personally like scissor jacks due to ease of operation Be sure to get one rated at 5000 lbs or higher because the car weighs 2 tons.
But if you're jacking up the car, you're not lifting the entire car, do you need a 5000 lb jack?
So those of you that keep a tire plug kit in the car, I assume you also keep a jack and wrench in the car to remove the tire to fix? Just curious, I'm not sure what I'd need for my road trip, just a patch kit and air compressor, or patch kit, compressor, Jack and wrench. Or just a fix a flat kit and compressor.
 
But if you're jacking up the car, you're not lifting the entire car, do you need a 5000 lb jack?
So those of you that keep a tire plug kit in the car, I assume you also keep a jack and wrench in the car to remove the tire to fix? Just curious, I'm not sure what I'd need for my road trip, just a patch kit and air compressor, or patch kit, compressor, Jack and wrench. Or just a fix a flat kit and compressor.

I have it to remove the tire and and plug if ther is a obvious cause for the flat such as a nail.
 
Plugging a puncture in the tread from a screw or nail is not the same as from a larger road hazard, bolt, spark plug, etc.. If this is your plan for such an emergency, it is highly recommended that you practice this before addressing the learning curve on the side of a busy expressway.

Other than the obvious, jack up car, remove tire, find leak, remove screw or nail; have a couple of "successful" repairs under your belt. Plug repairs can be tricky and don't always plug the first try. You will loose air in the process and need to re-inflate the tire to the recommended psi. An air-compressor or pump is required along with several plug strips, glue and a sharp wire cutter to trim off the excess plug material. Have a few pair of nytril disposable work gloves. This is always dirty task!

My tool kit includes:
Plug kit, torque wrench, breaker bar, 21mm socket, scissors jack, air compressor, air guage, disposable gloves and pad to kneel on, hazard triangles and head lamp for night work. Also a small tool kit of assorted items from WalMart for under $150.

Or call AAA and wait.
 
Plugging a puncture in the tread from a screw or nail is not the same as from a larger road hazard, bolt, spark plug, etc.. If this is your plan for such an emergency, it is highly recommended that you practice this before addressing the learning curve on the side of a busy expressway.

Other than the obvious, jack up car, remove tire, find leak, remove screw or nail; have a couple of "successful" repairs under your belt. Plug repairs can be tricky and don't always plug the first try. You will loose air in the process and need to re-inflate the tire to the recommended psi. An air-compressor or pump is required along with several plug strips, glue and a sharp wire cutter to trim off the excess plug material. Have a few pair of nytril disposable work gloves. This is always dirty task!

My tool kit includes:
Plug kit, torque wrench, breaker bar, 21mm socket, scissors jack, air compressor, air guage, disposable gloves and pad to kneel on, hazard triangles and head lamp for night work. Also a small tool kit of assorted items from WalMart for under $150.

Or call AAA and wait.

Thanks for the info, I've plugged a few tires successfully using the plug kit, usually from a nail or screw. Anything bigger, if leave it to the pros.
Yeah, so maybe a fix a flat kit would be best, if that doesn't work, Tesla service or AAA like you said.
 
It may look easy but, one still needs to have the experience before they find themselves on the side of the road, traffic whizzing by, dark, possible rain. Preparation is the key. Before you pull the nail, screw or whatever is creating the puncture, have the plug rubber threaded thru the eye with glue applied and ready to install into the newly reamed hole. You will loose less air.

BTW, the reamer is used to puncture the steel belt which is not the easiest to penetrate. Sometimes when you pull the plug installer out the plug comes with it. These tools will only work on tread punctures. Anything past the tread is considered in the "side wall" and this type of repair is not recommended.
 
Hello,

I pick up my Tesla Tuesday. I was wondering if anyone had a list of supplies they keep in their car? Things like quick cleaning wipes. I have a dog that will travel in the car as well. Maybe there are something people bought that are helpful.

Thanks

A friend of mine uses eScreen (spray and microfiber cloth) for cleaning the screen, windows and most glass like surfaces in his Tesla. Sold on Amazon.
 
Wow... so much misinformation in one spot...

Plugging is dead simple, never requires a jack or a wrench, and can be used for the vast majority of punctures. Anything on the tread can be done this way. and in a pinch you might be able to limp home fixing a sidewall puncture too (though not recommended)
As for "practicing", I wouldn't puncture a perfectly good tire to practice, and it's such a ridiculously simple skill that there's no need to anyway. Read the directions on the package carefully, and keep the directions with the kit.

The reamer isn't "puncturing the steel belt", it's enlarging (and more importantly roughening) the hole that already exists from the screw/nail/glass/rock you hit. It takes some force, but it's not that hard (especially if your kit has the "T" handle tools)

Plugs are a permanent fix too (I know, the package says they aren't, but I've never had one fail in thousands and thousands of miles driving on plugged tires) and worst case, if they fail you're left with exactly the same easily pluggable hole you started with.

There is no reason not to use a plug, if you want a professional repair later, it's easy for them to remove the plug and insert their own.
 
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Wow... so much misinformation in one spot...

Plugging is dead simple, never requires a jack or a wrench, and can be used for the vast majority of punctures...
One possible need for a jack mentioned by others in a tire repair thread is in the case the tire becomes so flat the bead doesn't seal well. A small 12 V pump might not be able to inflate the tire. Jacking the car up enough to take the weight off the flat tire ought to allow the bead to seal well enough to allow a small pump to inflate it. FWIW.

I carry a spare tire on long trips because I am often a long way from cities and calling for a tow is very impractical. I'd rather be able to self-rescue and be on my way, as I've done with previous cars. So, first option: plug the tire. Second option: change to spare. I carry a plug kit, pliers, 12 V pump/light, jack, breaker bar, folding tire iron, torque wrench, 21 mm socket, gloves, ground cloth to kneel on. And a spare tire on long trips.

I have some micro fiber cloths for cleaning the touch screen and gently removing bugs when washing or using waterless wash solution (something to do while Supercharging). I also carry a TT-30 adapter for my UMC to use at campgrounds that only have "30 amp service" and some bungee cords to help hold it securely to the pedestal. I carry a sleeping bag in the car in case I have to spend the night in it (mountain safety consideration).

In winter I carry a snow brush and cable chains (since I don't have AWD). But the main purpose of the chains is to get up my long, steep, curved driveway in winter when it is slick; otherwise roads are usually plowed and sanded here by the time I head out.

Oh, and most important: a squeegee and bucket for cleaning the windshield on road trips. Learned that one the hard way after a trip during bug season!

And I carry an RF transmitter so that I can use my MP3 player via the radio, since Tesla, to my considerable ire, couldn't be bothered to include a 3.5 mm jack like most modern cars have. I use this one:

AUKEY FM Transmitter Car Kit with 1 USB Charging Port

 
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One possible need for a jack mentioned by others in a tire repair thread is in the case the tire becomes so flat the bead doesn't seal well. A small 12 V pump might not be able to inflate the tire. Jacking the car up enough to take the weight off the flat tire ought to allow the bead to seal well enough to allow a small pump to inflate it. FWIW
Sorry, no.
Either the bead is still sealed (99.99% of the time) or it is not. In neither case is a jack of any use whatsoever. If the bead comes off, no compressor you have could possibly re-seat it. So a jack won't help. If the bead is still sealed, there's no need to jack.

There is NEVER a case where a jack is required to plug a hole in a tire on the side of the road.