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Yes it works as far as sealing a leak. However, it will put the tire severely out of balance and make the car shake violently. It took me a few times using the crap to realize it.
Never had a car shake violently on account of using fix-a-flat.
Does it work? Yes, most of the time -- temporarily. That's what it's really for, to get you going temporarily until you can get the tire patched or replaced. It wont fix a gaping hole and it won't fix a sidewall puncture. But if you just ran over a nail or something, yea it works.
The way it makes a car shake is when someone allows it to set without turning the wheel (driving the car).
Tire installers do hate it. All that gunk has to be somewhere when you release it from the can. To properly install a tire after a patch, they have to clean that mess out.
But when you're sitting, looking at a flat tire and the prospect of changing the tire or using fix-a-flat until you can get it home... that little can looks appealing.
Never had a car shake violently on account of using fix-a-flat.
It happened every time I tried it. It basically is like having a huge bubble in the tire and the car would shake harder the faster you go. I ended up having to replace the tire every time I used the stuff.
First of all, yes, it does work on slow leaks. No, it will not seal a big puncture or cut.
Second, tire shops hate it because it's so messy. In fact, some tire shops won't repair a flat tire if there's Fix-A-Flat in it.
Third, I've never heard of it causing a wheel to be out-of-balance. That would have to be a result of pumping in the whole can, then letting the vehicle set for a long period of time before rotating it.
Fourth, SLIME is actually a better product - particularly for small tires, such as those on bicycles, mowers, wheel barrows, etc. You have to remove the tire stem, then squeeze it in manually, then pump up the tire with an air compressor.
How messy is the stuff? Because I typically repair my own tires unless they're cut or punctured to the point of where a tire plug can't plug it.
I've never used patches, just plugs. But what about R&Ring the tire itself? Does having Fix A Flat in the tire pose an issue if I were to have a tire shop take off an old tire and put a new one on?
In many states plugs are illegal. Does not stop garages from installing them thou or wal-mart from selling the kits.
I sent a tire to be patched a few years ago, came back with a plug. Plug popped out the next day on the grapevine. Had to buy a new tire at 3 times the price I would have paid at costco.
Do not use fix a flat on a vehicle equipped with TPMS. It can cause all sorts of problems.
There was a big deal made about plugging a tire that had fix a flat in it, back when it first came out. Seems that friction from the tire plug tool against the steel cords in the casing could cause a spark and explosion. Was it true or just an urban legend? Damned if I know. I do know that stuff would sure make a mess.
And I'll take a plug over a patch any day.
Last edited by Gimme3steps; 07-02-2010 at 01:31 PM..
If its a small puncture on the wear surface then I would opt for a plug. Plugs are nearly a permanent fix (for general use) whereas the fix a flat garbage is detrimental to wheel balance.
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