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Tube Tire Repair Alternatives

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TRcheologist

TRcheologist

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After many years of riding on stock steel wheels, I took the plunge and purchased a set of 60-spoke Dayton painted wires for my 1960 TR3A. I'm delighted with the outcome. That said...

I had a blow-out on the left front over the weekend (road hazard)and am now coming to grips with the added complexities of getting tubed tires repaired - when I called my friendly, local, Goodyear guy he laughed and said "not if I can avoid them"... My questions to the Forum are:

First, is there a nationwide outlet or knowledge base out there listing places we could take blown tires for repair when we travel, or does everyone just start calling all the tire shops in the distant town?

Second, what are peoples experiences with products like Fix-A-Flat on tubed tires? The motorcyle boards are pretty pleased with the stuff, indicating it will suffice for punctures up to 3mm in a tube.

Finally, has anyone seen a 'donut spare' like alternative for a 185X15 60-spoke wheel/tire combo? This combo is something of a stretch for my spare tire compartment under the trunk ;-)

Thanks for the shared learnings!
 
Any small tire shop will have no problem repairing a tubed tire. Only the big chains like Pep Boys will refuse to do them because the kids working there have never seen an inner tube before and it isn't worth their time to teach these kids how to do it properly.

I always carry a spare tube in the trunk just in case I need one and can't find it locally. That way you don't need to use fix-a flat. That stuff makes a tremendous mess, and it will cost you dearly on the repair bill when the tire guy has to clean it out. I've seen guys refuse to fix tires with that stuff in it.

For a spare, you can carry an MGA wheel with a 155 tire mounted. It won't be a perfect match to whatever you're running on, but it's no worse than a donut spare and it's far thinner and lighter than an MGB spare.
 
"""""had a blow-out on the left front over the weekend (road hazard)and am now coming to grips with the added complexities of getting tubed tires repaired """""

The tube probably has a rip...or if it just has a hole, it's still not worth spending $$ for a patch.

Get a new tube. keep in mind there is radial tubes and bias-ply tubes..use the correct one and the correct size for your tire.. Tubes are still carried in the larger tire stores.

The tire...(if repairable) will probably need a boot. If its a side wall , give the tire the flotation test and buy a new tire.

Tubes remove any speed rating a tire might have...but there is no alternative. Do not use any liquid crapola in the tire...some are corrosive if left in.
 
Well I am going to jump in here and say: Any owner of a LBC had better know how to repair a puncture on the road. Because it is my experiece when traveling that there are very few people left in the service industry that know how to repair a tubed tire. I carry a spare tire, spare tube,Small 12 DC compressor and a full complement of : "Camel" tire parches. Oh! and be sure you have a pair of small tire irons in your kit. The goo stuf is best left on the discount store shelf.---Fwiw--Keoke
 
Thanks for the insights. I appreciate the perspectives - particularly with regard to the goo-in-a-can products! I'd just as soon not have to repaint my new wheels...

1960 Triumph TR3A
 
I know of two specific businesses that repair tubed tires mounted in wire wheels:

In Chattanooga Tennessee, there's Coker tire, and in Nashville, Tennessee, contact JD's British Cars, who have several tire businesses they know.

In Texas, I stopped at a Firestone on my way from San Francisco to Nashville (I-40) in 2004, and the guys there had no problem or complaint replacing a tube, they were more than happy to help. (I had the spare tube).

Goodyear has Truck Tire outlets and they have Tubes in every size. I keep a spare in the car. (for 185/15 tires)

So it may be the area where you live, because even in Florida, there are tire businesses who have the proper adapters to work with wire wheels.

Ex
 
I needed to change over a couple of my old wire wheels to some newer ones, and after trying the usual suspects for the changeover, I called a place that specializes in trucks. They not only were able to change them out, but they used an old manual changer bolted to the floor. The guy told me that it was the only way to make sure the rim didn't get damaged.

They even had a tube in stock for my spare that was flat.
 
Jump on it or use a tire lever. If it's too tight then put the tire under the brake drum / disc and lower the car onto it.
 
piman said:
Hello Keoke,

how do you break the bead at the side of the road?

Alec
Click to expand...

Hi Alec, if you get a puncture generally the bead will be broken by the time you pull over to the side of the road.
Another technique I have used is to place the punctured tire under a jacked up front wheel then lower it on to the punctured one. I carry a 4" X 4" tapered block ~ 15" long which is used to elevate the car high enough to get a jack under neath it.---Keoke
 
Steve_S said:
Jump on it-------->Yep Steve that works too!

or use a tire lever. If it's too tight then put the tire under the brake drum / disc and lower the car onto it.
Click to expand...

----------------------------------------------------Keoke-- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
Hello Keoke,

well I have changed a few tyres in my time, but breaking teh bead at home is the hardest. Even with punctured tyres the bead stays firmly stuck to the rim. Trying to use the car etc as you suggest has never worked for me as the point that bears on the tyre tends to slide down the wall and not move the bead. As for jumping, I'd probably break and ankle.
Having said that these are tubeless tyres so maybe a tubed tyre is different?

Alec
 
Well Alec, if you are at home and have tubeless tires then its even simpler as you do not have to break the bead at all. I simply inflate the tire pour water on it using a hose if I do not spot the penetrating device on inspection. Then fit a plug using the camel repair kit and I am good to go.--Keoke
 
Hello keoke,

I was not repairing a puncture, just wanted to remove the tyre. I have managed it but it is a struggle. kept meaning to make a bead breaker but with tyre shops just down the road there is little incentive.

Alec
 
If you really had a blow-out (major hole, instant flat) I wouldn't even think about repairing it. If you had a puncture, all the advise you have received is good.

Wihin the last year, the major tire dealers and chains in this area started to refuse to work on tubeless tires with tubes. They claim it's a liability issue and their insurance companys have prohibited them from mounting tubes in tubeless tires. Since essentially all tires are now tubeless, that eliminates all the major dealers. That's not all bad, however, since most of them had no idea what they were doing.

Look for an independent dealer. Try yellow page listings under "used tires". Then, try to watch what they are doing. Be sure they look for and remove any stickers or labels inside the tires. These are common in new tires and will rub a hole in the tube in short order. Then, see that they inflate the tire and then let all the pressure out before the final inflation.

I have a preference for Michelin radial tubes but that may not be justified. They are available in a multitude of sizes and not horribly expensive. Some shops will sell you a one-size-fits-almost-all tube that may or may not be radial specofic. Your choice.

Marv J
 
I had my first flat on my TR6, brand new tires and tubes, was at the gas station filling up, cam out and the LR was flat, the local tire place would not fix it , Liability issues but they did take the tire off the rim, bought a tube patch kit at the store, found the leak and patched it, they did help me get the tire back on the rim too, cause, plastic bits in the tire rubbed a hole in the tube, so far no other issues after 3 years, I guess I need to get me a set of those old tire irons

Hondo
 
I'm gonna go on record to say "slime" (green goo) is good stuff. No, it's not equivalent to a permanent repair, but if you add it to the tubes/tires when you install them, it will keep you off the side of the road. It doesn't do anything nasty to the rubber like fix-a-flat.

The other thing is that it doesn't harden, so if the car sits a lot, gravity will do its thing and you'll have an imbalance when you go for a drive.
 
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