Flat Tire

[George2615]

I have a 2 Ton small floor jack and a full size X style lug wrench in my truck. I have several of these jacks from HF one for each vehicle. Fairly light weight and don't take too much room and IMO they are much faster (and safer) than digging out and using the factory scissor jack. I have a fully equipped garage for servicing my vehicles and I torque my lug nuts so my cross wrench removes the nuts easily.
When I get home I can usually fix the tire with a plug gun.
I used to keep a can of fix a flat in each vehicle but also found when cans are stored for a while (a year or so) they no longer work as you found out.

 

[wjmst]

Thanks for all the replies. I figured there was no magic product, just the same old stuff that has worked for years. I do have a AAA membership but didn't want to waste time waiting for them to come. Had I know about it earlier in the day I would have just called them to change the tire or if I was in a spot where I couldn't have changed it safely.

Dick, the spare tire was one of those donut tires that specifically says inflate to 60psi at all times. It also says not to drive over 45mph and not more than 80 miles I think. You may want to check your donut so you can be prepared if a situation like this happens to you.

I check the tire pressure on my cars monthly, but I rarely check the pressure for the spare. I think I will be adding that to my list of things to do at least quarterly throughout the year.

Today's project is to repair the tire and repack my trunk with the emergency situation supplies.

Thanks all.

 

[TractorGuy]

I always check the air in my spares when doing periodic maintenance. Doesn't matter if it's my truck, car, or trailer, I always check all 5 tires. This reminds me I need to remove the spare from my wife's Kia to check it. About the only thing I don't like about that car is they mounted the spare with the valve down so it can't be checked in place.

 

[TractorGuy]

You have a lot to learn about tires. The number printed on the sidewall is the max allowable pressure not the recommended pressure for your car. Even 40 lbs was likely too much. Get yourself a plug kit and you can fix most flats yourself but take some time to learn something about tires first.

On the subject of learning. Tire Tech Information - Spare Tire Use

Temporary/Compact Spares

Temporary/Compact Spare tires are physically shorter and narrower than the vehicle's standard tires and wheels. Their smaller dimensions require they operate at higher inflation pressures (typically 60 psi) than standard tires. Temporary/Compact Spares also feature lighter-weight construction and a shallower tread depth than standard tires to reduce vehicle weight, as well as allow more trunk space to be dedicated to luggage. The compact temporary spare tire and wheel that comes with a vehicle is designed to fit that vehicle only. Never attempt to use a Temporary/Compact Spare Tire and wheel on another vehicle unless it is the exact same make and model.

 

[Streetcar]

Back in the day ,I worked with a guy who drove from Ohio to New Jersey and back on donut spare for Grateful Dead concert. I think the car was ford escort.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

When my daughter was in high school I get a call from her Dad I have a flat tire, do you remember how we went over how to change a flat tire, yea but......she was about 5 miles away, OK I will come help you. I find her and she is with one of her friends, a boy, I ask him do you know how to change a flat tire.....Nope! So we had class on how to change a flat with me as the teacher and the 2 kids doing the hands on stuff. I could not believe the guy had no clue on how to change a tire, heck I knew how to do it when I was like 10 years old.....KIDS!!!

 

[Looking4new]

When my daughter was in high school I get a call from her Dad I have a flat tire, do you remember how we went over how to change a flat tire, yea but......she was about 5 miles away, OK I will come help you. I find her and she is with one of her friends, a boy, I ask him do you know how to change a flat tire.....Nope! So we had class on how to change a flat with me as the teacher and the 2 kids doing the hands on stuff. I could not believe the guy had no clue on how to change a tire, heck I knew how to do it when I was like 10 years old.....KIDS!!!

Different times for sure!

 

[reb]

...KIDS!!!

I didn't let my daughter get a driver's license until she could demonstrate that she could change a tire.

 

[comancheflight]

So did second teaching take? Maybe you should have a practical exam. Rotate your tires by individually jacking the car, changing the tire and let it down. Daughter gets tire 1,3 the friend gets 2,4 and you hold a critique session after each tire ....they will love ya...well, maybe in a few years.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

So did second teaching take? Maybe you should have a practical exam. Rotate your tires by individually jacking the car, changing the tire and let it down. Daughter gets tire 1,3 the friend gets 2,4 and you hold a critique session after each tire ....they will love ya...well, maybe in a few years.

Well she is 25 now, lives 30 miles from us and has AAA! Unlikely she will ever change a tire again......