Have you ever hit the road then found yourself stuck with a flat tire? Deflated? You will be stranded if the auto garage is miles away.
Fix a flat is a utility aerosol spray that can offer your flat tire an easy fix. Its design allows it to seal the punctured region and prevent air leakage, thus leaving your tire inflated.
It features a polymer latex that solidifies when in contact with air hence fixing a leakage faster. The size of the puncture doesn’t matter. Find out how a fix a flat works by reading on.
How Does A Fix A Flat Work?
Fix a flat is a tire repair product that helps you prepare for an emergency. Follow these steps to fix your automobile tire quickly:
- Move your tire until the puncture settles at the bottom.
- Shake the fix a flat can vigorously for half a minute. Unwind its hose and attach it to the valve stem of your tire.
- Disengage the safety tab and gently push down the yellow button. This action will send air and the repellant sealant inside the tire.
- Keep pressing until the tire raises off the ground. Remove the can, then drive for a few miles to spread the sealant and increase the pressure.
How Long Does Fix A Flat Last?
Anyone is bound to encounter flat tires at some point. Having a fix a flat aerosol will help you handle the flat tire problem quite quickly.
It is a convenient method of quickly patching a puncture and getting ready to resume your journey. Its effectiveness, however, is limited to several miles. The good thing to note is that the aerosol can serve you for years.
Fix a flat isn’t as effective in filling your tire as a pump does. Therefore, it is recommended as a short-term solution to help you get back on track.
Depending on how you use your ride, it may or may not last longer than 100. To assess the longevity of this product, here are some factors to consider:
1. How Is The Tire Damaged?
How severe is the damage to your tire? Is it a tiny puncture or a deep incision? The success of the Fix a Flat largely depends on the significance of the puncture.
A tiny hole won’t require a lot of aerosols to fix. Therefore, it will last longer for more minor damages. On the flip side, the fix will be temporary in larger holes. The distance you cover will reduce too.
Furthermore, this utility spray can work best on punctures created by sharp objects. Nonetheless, you’ll have a stricter experience with sidewall damage on your tire.
2. What Amount Of Seal Is Required?
How much fluid do you apply to the tire? Using enough sealant will last your vehicle on the road for a more extended period. The measure should be enough as extreme usage comes with consequences too.
Applying vast amounts of the sealant will ruin the tire. The effectiveness of the fix a flat will also deteriorate under minimal application of the sealant.
The sealant produces forms that seal the leakages. If the seal is enough, your auto will last longer on the road before servicing.
3. Pre Existing Conditions
Existing conditions play a significant role in the effectiveness of the fix a flat. The conditions of the road and the weather affect the longevity of this sealant.
After the application, you should consider using an even road. Bumpy rides will only exacerbate your problem as the rough surface will puncture the seal too. The damage may arise due to the pressure on the tires from sharper objects.
When temperatures fall, the sealant becomes less effective. Fix a flat that can freeze during cold seasons rendering it useless.
The tires won’t be reasonably aligned, and the balance on tires may become shaky. This erratic driving may subsequently affect other tires as they won’t be riding smoothly.
How To Tell If You Have A Flat Tire
When driving on a flat tire, there’s some discomfort that you may feel. Here are more reasons to stop you from driving further with a flat tire:
1. Your Ride Loses Momentum
When driving on a punctured tire, it is typical for your automobile to lose momentum. It gets slower even on a free and flat highway.
If your engine requires more throttle, it might indicate a punctured tire. It is imperative to stop and check if your tires have enough pressure.
2. You Struggle Controlling Your Vehicle
It may be hard to control your car when you’re driving on a flat tire. Furthermore, you may even require a lot of effort to maintain a straight trajectory.
Additionally, the car may vibrate oddly. You should note that this vibration is different from the low-pressure problem.
In such situations, the car may wobble momentarily despite your efforts in controlling the ride. This unusual behavior related to the steering wheel is an indication that you need to inspect your tires.
3. Screeches In The Tire
Another flat tire indicator is an unusual noise emanating from the tires. The sound results from the rim grinding the road.
Your engine will also be struggling to maintain a constant speed hence producing noise. Don’t waste time if you spot this phenomenon. Pull right over and stop, then inspect your vehicle’s condition.
4. Communication From Other Motorists
Sometimes none of the above indicators may be observable. Your car’s shock absorbers may be so great that they conceal the car’s sporadic vibrations.
For this reason, other motorists may inform you of the problem. They may wave you down or point to the defective tire.
It would be best if you check your tires condition soonest. Doing this will cushion you from unforeseen inadvertence that may have detrimental effects.
Causes Of Punctures In A Tire
1. Sharp Objects And Poor Roads
Sharp objects are one of the main reasons most individuals find themselves riding on a flat tire.
Driving over sharp objects for a while will inflict damage to your tire’s tube. Such objects can be a nail, a piece of glass, or a pointed wood.
Potholes and debris are common in poorly-maintained roads. These phenomena may inflict damages to your tire. You’re more likely to get a puncture on such roads, unlike on well-maintained highways.
Being extra keen with where your wheels pass will save you the menace of a flat tire. You also need to be discriminative with the kind of routes you use.
2. Leaks In The Valve Stem
Is there any other irritating cause of a flat tire greater than valve stem leaks? You never know when exactly it’s going to strike your wheels.
It results primarily from wear and tears forcing the air to spill out of the valve. Occasionally, valve stem leaks may happen at the sealing surface of your tire.
You can fix it by replacing the defective valve stem with a new one. Alternatively, you can fix a flat spray can to fix this issue in the short run. Afterward, you can take your car to the auto mechanic for further inspection and fixing.
3. Leaks On Tire Beads
A tire bead seals the surface of a tire’s tube. It is a trickier problem to diagnose and, most of the time would require you to disassemble your tire.
You’ll need to soak the tire’s bead in soapy water to investigate this for of puncture. The presence of bubbles and effervescence will confirm the presence of a bead leak.
Bead leaks result from the wearing of the tire. Using fix a flat should help you fix this problem. Alternatively, you can replace the entire bead if the leak is much worse.
4. Alloy Wheel Leaks
If your car’s wheels are of aluminum make, then you might probably experience this form of puncture. It happens when air forces itself out of the wheels.
Regularly checking your tire’s pressure level will save you from this problem. On the other hand, placing a seal on the wheel will mitigate the alloy wheel leaks.
5. Vandalism
Another individual may vandalize your car’s tire. They may decide to let the air out of the tire or use a razor-sharp object to compromise your tire. Various studies show that this is the leading cause of flat tires.
A professional will help you determine whether someone vandalized your ride or it’s merely a scratch.
There’s no specific way to protect yourself against vandalism. Observing some preventive measures may be your best choice.
Conclusion
Fix-a-flat is an aerosol spray that offers a quick fix for a punctured tire. It produces a form that seals leakages in the rubber tubing of your tire.
Its effectiveness depends on the nature of the road, preexisting conditions, and the quantity of sealant required.
To use this product, you need to identify a puncture. Moreover, you ought to be aware of the cause of the puncture.
