Can fix-a-flat type stuff fix a rim leak?

When I got Sammy all her tyres had inner tubes. When I got new tyres fitted all round, the tyre shop just went and dumped all the inner tubes - and surprise surprise, got a rim leak they couldn't fix on a couple of the rims. For some reason I can't remember, but I'm sure it can't have been very good, they didn't seem to think that sticking the inner tubes back on again was a reasonable solution - maybe they'd trashed them when they took them off.

I went to the only place around here likely to have any old Rostyle rims lying around (20th Century Classics) and got the only two rims they had that weren't absolute eyesores (even in my uncritical eyes), and we finally achieved 5 wheels with tyres that would hold air.

Except one of them is now losing air again - I assume it's another rim leak (although to be fair I haven't actually checked yet, but I've done very few miles, so it seems likely).

Anyone successfully dealt with a rim leak using those spray-stuff-in-the-valve type kits that seem to be replacing spare wheels in so many modern cars? Or do they just tend to coat the tread region?

Any other bright ideas? Otherwise I guess I'm either buying a replacement rim from somewhere it will have to be posted (expensive), or trying to find someone in Aberdeen who'll sell me an inner tube.

Thanks, Richard & Sammy ('73 Black Tulip BGT)

Myself and my family ran a tire store for a long time, I'll take a shot at this. If you don'y see any visable dents in the bead seal area of the wheel, then I would remove the tire from the wheel clean the bead sealing area of the wheel, it could be rusty or corroded. When the tire store re mounts the tire on the wheel request them to use bead sealer, its a black goo the helps to fill voids in the wheels they may cause leak. Have you sprayed the tire with glass cleaner to determine exactly where the leak is coming from?

A friend of mine that's been in the tire business for almost 50 years told me to never use fix a flat. He said it will ruin a tire. Something about balance.

Something else to keep in mind, I have been told by several tire store owners is that "Fix-a-flat" may plug a leek but will also cause the wheel to rust badly inside the tire. I have not had it recomended by any tire repairer or store owner. Just my 2C.
Greg

My local Gooyear store charges extra to repair a tire that has been "fix-a-flatted". That tells me something.

AJM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A friend of mine that's been in the tire business
> for almost 50 years told me to never use fix a
> flat. He said it will ruin a tire. Something about
> balance.


In the day I repaired quite a few tire with this products inside it, it is a water based glue that dumps 12-20 oz. of liquid in the tire and seals small leaks, it really designed to get you to the tire store for a proper repair, nothing more. With all the liquid inside the tire sloshing around it throws everything out of balance. Tire dealers hate this stuff because it's a big mess to clean up, but it serves it purpose easy enough for the general public. If you have to use, then use it, but it's only a temporary fix to get somewhere to have it repair properly.

That stuff makes such a mess inside the tire if you ever have o pay someone to do anything with the tire again you will be charged a premium price. Our local tire place ask before taking a job if Fix a flat has been used. If you say yes then they turn down the work. They have enough business I guess or don't want to spend time getting the sticky crap off their tools

OK, OK, I get the message - I won't fill my tyre with gloop!

I guess my best option is to see if I can find someone who can supply me an inner tube - it's got to be cheaper than finding a replacement rim, even if that was free the postage would cost too much!

The tyre shop claim they tried several times to get these tyres to seal, so I guess the bead seal approach has already been tried and failed. It could also be around the valve hole, that's another area the tyre shop were having problems with.

Thanks all,

Richard & Sammy ('73 Black Tulip BGT)

I think I'd have the tire removed, clean the rim and repaint. Lot's of times the leaks are caused my rust build up on the sealing surface of the rim preventing the tire from sealing

Has any one here considered something simple like a bad valve stem? :)

If you go the tube route again get one slightly smaller than rim....13 inch tube if 14 inch rim. Keeps them from getting folds/creases which can cause a flat later. I run wires so have to use tubes unless I get the rims sealed.

Gerry Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think I'd have the tire removed, clean the rim
> and repaint. Lot's of times the leaks are caused
> my rust build up on the sealing surface of the rim
> preventing the tire from sealing
>
>
>


I agree 100%

I just got new tires myself, I had my mechanic install them because of his experience with wire wheels, he also recommends that new tubes should always be used with your new tires.

I have seen exactly what fix-a-flat can do when inflating something. My son has this large rubber inflatable ball from Wal-Mart. When playing with it, he got a puncture in it, an it deflated. He was so upset, so I grabbed a can of Fix-a-flat out of the garage, and inlated it back up, sealing the leak. (I did not use a lot, just enough to get it started) The ball inflated somewhat, but there was this pool of liquid inside it, that made the ball wobble when you tossed or rolled it. I would hate to think what this would do inside a tire. :)

Buddy of mine used the stuff on his mountain bike. Then put the bike in the back of his SUV.

Park in the sun. Very hot day. Tire exploded, lining the back of his vehicle with green goo. I was with him when he discovered it. I had to hold back laughing b/c it wasn't funny to him.

I'll say this for the stuff, it does clean up.

I had a can of foam in a can blow up in my shop one time. It is NOT cleanable! Bottom blew off the can and turned it into a rocket, poking a hole in the tin roof and covering everything with that damned sticky foam that nothing cuts

On his mountain bike it may have been Slime brand which is green and not an aerosol. I use it on ATVs and on my lawn tractor. No problem I know of, I had two tires replaced which had Slime in there and the shop didn't say anything. On cars I have the fix a flat for emergencies, but haven't used it yet.

The fix a flat makes a total mess on the inside of your tires. I think that Hap is right about the problem being in the bead. That's the spot where the tire touches the rim and is held in place.

On old rims they usually get corroded. You can do this. I assume that you have the two old rims from your car. And that they don;t have tires on them anymore, because they're on the new (old) rims from the salvage yard. Take those rims and clean and scrub the bead area. Rims don't usually leak anywhere else. But I suppose it is possible, just not probable. If you have trobule getting the rust off. Go get yourself some Metal Ready for POR15. This product will make the rust go away really quickly. I use it in conjunction with a metal brush and rust disappears.

I would do this with all of the tires. Then if this doesn;t work, just go buy yourself 5 new tubes from any tire store or Moss motors. Basically anywhere. Tubes are sold at almost all parts stores.

It's not worth the extra effort of killing yourself trying to find rims that will hold air, when a tube will fix the problem. It doesn't affect the driveability at all. It will make fixing a flat a little harder, but nothing else.

The use of fix a flat should only be used in an emergency, never as a rule. It makes a mess, it makes the tires get out of balance, and not to mention, the tire guys hate working on rims that have it in there.

I would go the tube route before going the fix-a-flat route.

Good luck!

Brian