Fixing a Flat
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 461
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From: So Cal
Fixing a Flat
Picked up a nail/screw in the front tire. Looks like it haven't punctured thru, yet... What is the best way to cure the problem? Pull off the screw and use the flat sealer? Take off the wheel and patch it from the inside? Buy a whole new set of tires because of a dam 1/2" screw 
Gearing toward the porsche flat fixer, but is it permanent? Thx in advance
Gearing toward the porsche flat fixer, but is it permanent? Thx in advance
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 881
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If it's near or in the sidewall, it won't be repairable. Otherwise, it's just a flat which any tire store will be able to fix.
btw, I would avoid using the fix-a-flat goop if possible. And no, it's not permanent -- its purpose is just to let you drive to a repair shop...
btw, I would avoid using the fix-a-flat goop if possible. And no, it's not permanent -- its purpose is just to let you drive to a repair shop...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 461
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From: So Cal
Can't say the 19" are in short supply. Called up several tire place and they said they can have it in a few days. The tires still have a good 5k mile to go and hated to change all the tires due to one screw. I needed justification !!! maybe a new set of rims... It's my B-day coming up....hmmmm
Happy Fourth!!!!
Happy Fourth!!!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 74
From: North Carolina
Originally Posted by MyEmily
Picked up a nail/screw in the front tire. Looks like it haven't punctured thru, yet...
I have had short nails/screws before that only went into the tread of the tire and did not cause a leak. I was able to reove the nail/screw without any repair being needed.
Unique Title
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Houston, TX
The Porsche tire sealant is not a permanent solution. Just recently I got two punctures in the rear tires of my 987S. One was slow, the other fast. So I put the sealant into one of the tires and drove a couple hundred miles home on it.
Some notes about the goo:
Here's what this stuff looks like:
Some notes about the goo:
- The sealant works. I drove for several days and a few hundred miles on it.
- This stuff never dries out (see pictures below). Liquid sloshing around inside the tire will throw the balance off, so keep your speed down.
- Using the goo means you're going to have to buy a new tire. This stuff gets everywhere and is a pain to clean up; forget patching a tire you've used the sealant on.
- The goo is flammable, so warn your tire technician when you change the tire.
- The replacement kit is about $25, and includes a new bottle, valve core, and core removal tool.
Here's what this stuff looks like:
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2005
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Originally Posted by cviles
The Porsche tire sealant is not a permanent solution.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 1,927
From: new york
you can't plug the tire after you use the sealant? ugh.
I don't know about high performance tires as these cars have, but the days of the "hot patch" are over for most normal tires. plugs now are designed for modern tires, and they "self vulcanize" - using the heat from driving to melt into the tread. has anyone here ever had a flat fixed on a PS2, did they plug it or patch it?
hell, you can buy a professional quality tool and plug it yourself in minutes after removing the screw:
http://patchboy.com/Merchant2/mercha...tegory_Code=ki
if faced with a choice between using the sealant and then needing a new tire - I'd take a chance on plugging it at home.
I don't know about high performance tires as these cars have, but the days of the "hot patch" are over for most normal tires. plugs now are designed for modern tires, and they "self vulcanize" - using the heat from driving to melt into the tread. has anyone here ever had a flat fixed on a PS2, did they plug it or patch it?
hell, you can buy a professional quality tool and plug it yourself in minutes after removing the screw:
http://patchboy.com/Merchant2/mercha...tegory_Code=ki
if faced with a choice between using the sealant and then needing a new tire - I'd take a chance on plugging it at home.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 881
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Plugging from the outside is only a temporary fix and it's not safe for high speed driving. You should still have it repaired professionally and not drive like a maniac until then.
But I agree that a temporary plug would be far better than that goopy mess!
But I agree that a temporary plug would be far better than that goopy mess!
Originally Posted by nyca
if faced with a choice between using the sealant and then needing a new tire - I'd take a chance on plugging it at home.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 461
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From: So Cal
Thx for the comments...Luckily, it didn't go thru, so I guess it's safe, right? Don't know ho many layers did the screw penetrated, guess I have to keep the speed down...In regards to the porsche fix-a-flat... thx for the picts. What a mess!!!! Look like puke from a bad ice cream visit..
Again, Thx for the responses!!! happy Fourth!!!
Again, Thx for the responses!!! happy Fourth!!!
Race Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,019
Likes: 1
Had a nail in a tire a 4 months ago that the Porsche dealer found. Of course he wanted $450 to replace the tire. Took it to a tire place who said it had not penetrated the tire and simply removed it charging me nothing. Have driven on it for 4 months now without any problems. No air leak.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 536
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From: Salisbury Maryland
Chris: Thanks for the pictures ...about as attractive as STD pics in medical textbooks. I'll be sure to buy a plug-it kit.
I still haven't told my wife there's - ahem - no spare.
Not only would she never drive it again, but: "You paid how much for that!!"
I still haven't told my wife there's - ahem - no spare.
Not only would she never drive it again, but: "You paid how much for that!!"
Poseur
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From: Santa Barbara, CA
We offer so many opinions on the entire nail in the tire issue herein. A lot of it has to do with your style of driving. If you never do serious competition events, you stay under 100 most of the time, and the tire didn't affect the structural integrity of the tire, then plugging is a reasonable alternative. I have full wheel and tire insurance (zero deductible) but still find it wasteful to toss a nearly new tire on the landfill pile just because of a small screw in the tread area of a tire. I have taken plenty of nails and screws and other unmentionables in my tires and have managed to plug them very well. I have also driven these cars fairly hard after doing this. Porsche doesn't recommend it because of our litigious society,--they don't want to be held liable if something happens and you merely plugged it. You have to decide for yourself.
I have plugged a nail hole in one of my rear tires and it held up well. I took a lengthy trip with it. Later, because I have the insurance for it, I replaced the tire. That's the only reason I replaced it. It was working fine. If you know anything about tire construction you'll realize that you can do quite a bit with them and not get into trouble. But if you are the slightest bit concerned, plug it until you can line up a replacement and then take the wheel and tire in for replacement. Many have said that you don't want to jeopardize a $100,000 plus vehicle merely because you got cheap on a single tire. There's a lot to that thinking.
I have plugged a nail hole in one of my rear tires and it held up well. I took a lengthy trip with it. Later, because I have the insurance for it, I replaced the tire. That's the only reason I replaced it. It was working fine. If you know anything about tire construction you'll realize that you can do quite a bit with them and not get into trouble. But if you are the slightest bit concerned, plug it until you can line up a replacement and then take the wheel and tire in for replacement. Many have said that you don't want to jeopardize a $100,000 plus vehicle merely because you got cheap on a single tire. There's a lot to that thinking.
Last edited by Edgy01; Jul 5, 2007 at 08:30 PM.