Suggestion for tire patch kit

Ansible

Ansible

Contributing Member
Joined
5 January 2012
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Location
Phoenix, AZ
Hi, all,

Which tire patch kit should I buy? Any specific recommendations?

Background:

The spare tire on our new '91 is all cracked. Probably worthless. Given that we live in the Bay Area, and nearly all the time will be in the Bay Area within easy AAA range, we feel safe not having a spare tire. (We don't have a spare tire in our Miata either.)

HOWEVER, what about those times when the car might be out of AAA range, or for emergencies when we can't or don't want to wait for a flatbed? It appears the two best options are a can of Fix-a-Flat and/or a patch kit. The Miata has a can of Fix-a-Flat and an air pump.

If we assume that this is a real roadside emergency kit for the NSX, and the concern is getting the car to a place of safety — where the tire can be repaired or replaced, so we can continue the journey — are there specific patch kits that you would recommend?

(I've read through many discussions on this forum, which are great. But none of them seem to recommend specific patch kits.)
 
If the tire is so cracked it's worthless, then a patch won't help (sidewall damage isn't repairable). Either get a new tire or a different spare. My $.02.
 
Whoops! I wasn't clear.

I'm not looking to repair the OEM spare tire. I'm looking to carry a can of Fix-a-Flat and a patch kit instead. Was looking for recommendations for a patch kit.
 
jus' a plug...

A tire-repair patch requires dismounting the tire from the wheel to install the patch w/ some rubber vulcanizing adhesive, then remounting & balancing the tire+wheel. A professional w/ tire-repair proficiency should do this.

A tire-repair plug requires a reaming tool (makes the hole more accepting of the plug), a specialized installation tool (in-essence an awl), a self-adhesive sealing plug (thick, sticky tie-stringie thingie), and some rubber contact cement. This can be done road-side, at home, anywhere. Just need a portable 12v air-compressor to re-inflate the tire (use the one in the trunk tool-kit or get another inexpensive portable one).

Here's what I've used in the past: 9 Piece Tubeless Tire Repair Kit

(keep the extra tire-plugs sealed in a cool, dark area)

Here's a simple yet effective portable air-compressor: 12 Volt, 250 PSI Compact Air Compressor

(keep some extra cig. lighter fuses, as they generally fail w/o reason)
 
Last edited:
Don't forget to keep a diagonal cutter pliers in the car, or at least a razor blade or utility knife. After you put the plug in, it's a good idea to trim the plug flush with the tread. Doing so reduces the chance of the plug working its way out of the hole as you drive.

I've used the Harbor Freight plug kit many times and have yet to have a failure of the repairs I've made.

I also keep a small compressor much like the one Osiris_X11 mentioned below. Harbor Freight is a great place for stuff like this.
 
postfix said:
Whoops! I wasn't clear.

I'm not looking to repair the OEM spare tire. I'm looking to carry a can of Fix-a-Flat and a patch kit instead. Was looking for recommendations for a patch kit.
Click to expand...

You were clear.

A kit with "T" handles ( they work so much better) and glue like this Husky kit is great to get you out of a jam until you can get the tire replaced or properly repaired. Model # HDA60000AV
They sell them at Home Depot for $7.96. keep a set of diagonal cutting pliers in the car and make sure your OEm compressor is working as well.

59e6044e-74a6-4c49-aeab-c7cb50e20389_300.jpg
 
BATMANs said:
do these plugs really work well?
Click to expand...


Yes, I've used these plugs before and never had any issues. Normally I let Discount Tire handle my flats, but in certain instances, I've done them myself without issue.
 
Also, usually when we go on an extended out of town NSX driver, I always keep this handy just in case. :wink:
 
Thanks, all - I've ordered two of the patch kits from Harbor Freight (one for the NSX, one for the Miata). My goal is to never find out how well they work.

Cheers, -A
 
BATMANs said:
OK. So it's not a permanent repair then.
Click to expand...

You could called it a permanent repair, as long as you are not going over 120 mph all the time with crazy torque.

I used several times on my retired Impreza during the trips.

Make sure that you have a very sharp cutter with the kit, so you can cut off the extra filler nicely at very end of the process.
 
I had to use the 18 year old spare once and it did fine. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it being cracked. If you need some assurance, fill it up with air and try it out. I have AAA too but I think it's foolish to take the spare out. 20 lbs out of the nose isn't going to improve your driving experience unless your name is Andretti or Unser.

:cool:
 
Just to ad to this discussion I've tried fix a flat on my 17 inch tire and it didn't work. Not even with my car was jacked up and there was no weight on there.

I'm not sure if others have had better luck but it doesn't seem to work on low profile tires to well...
 
sduffass said:
Just to ad to this discussion I've tried fix a flat on my 17 inch tire and it didn't work. Not even with my car was jacked up and there was no weight on there.

I'm not sure if others have had better luck but it doesn't seem to work on low profile tires to well...
Click to expand...

I've used it on my 265/30/19 and 275/30/19 rear tires in the past with no issues. I'm not bold enough to say it's a permanent fix, but it sure allowed me to keep my tires rolling for a bit longer until the tires were worn and needed to be eventually replaced.

All in all, I feel Discount Tire's fix is ideal, but in a squeeze, I wouldn't hesitate to patch my own in a tight situation.
 
Zishan said:
I've used it on my 265/30/19 and 275/30/19 rear tires in the past with no issues. I'm not bold enough to say it's a permanent fix, but it sure allowed me to keep my tires rolling for a bit longer until the tires were worn and needed to be eventually replaced.

All in all, I feel Discount Tire's fix is ideal, but in a squeeze, I wouldn't hesitate to patch my own in a tight situation.
Click to expand...

Hmmm that's odd. Yeah now that I remember it was this past summer on Kumho 17's for the front wheels. I went through like 3 cans thinking it was the can because when I attached the nozzle to my valve stem the clear fixaflat tube would burst...

My tire wasn't deflated all the way though so maybe I should have let more air out? I think when I was finished it was around 20psi so I was able to "limp" to an air pump to fill the rest and it didn't hold my leaking valve stem either.
 
sduffass said:
Hmmm that's odd. Yeah now that I remember it was this past summer on Kumho 17's for the front wheels. I went through like 3 cans thinking it was the can because when I attached the nozzle to my valve stem the clear fixaflat tube would burst...

My tire wasn't deflated all the way though so maybe I should have let more air out? I think when I was finished it was around 20psi so I was able to "limp" to an air pump to fill the rest and it didn't hold my leaking valve stem either.
Click to expand...


My apologies, you are talking about "fix-a-flat" tire repair in a can? I was referring to my experience with the tire patch kit as addressed below:


pbassjo said:
You were clear.

A kit with "T" handles ( they work so much better) and glue like this Husky kit is great to get you out of a jam until you can get the tire replaced or properly repaired. Model # HDA60000AV
They sell them at Home Depot for $7.96. keep a set of diagonal cutting pliers in the car and make sure your OEm compressor is working as well.

59e6044e-74a6-4c49-aeab-c7cb50e20389_300.jpg
Click to expand...
 
I can say this kit is the best to buy I got one for like 5 bucks at a local parts store, I have even seen them in Publix Supermarket

I have always used these things in all my cars.

I got new tires on my NSX got a huge nail in it the next day.

I plugged it with this type of kit and no problems it has lasted 5 months
I am getting new tires friday as the rears are all BALD now. ( I redline from stop sign to stop sign ) I eat thru tires like a wild dog

I req this kit for any car not just the NSX I actully have a kit in every one of my cars.

as for the NSX if you dont have a spare like me
first thing I did was throw it in the shed. I will never need it.
and dont forget a can of fix-a-flat mated with this kit and your good to go.
get the fix-a-flat for large trucks so you know you will have enough to fill your tire up, I have found the smaller cans run out half way for the rear tires
 

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