Oh no!!!I have a flat.

[FredG]

Everyone.

A flat tire is probably everyone's nightmare but I was wondering what some thoughts were about the handling or prevention of a flat tire. I put together a small kit that contains a 12v compressor, tire sealant, plug repair kit and a few small tools to pull a nail or screw out. I feel secure enough with it that I can repair anything other than a major blowout good enough to get me home.

Fred

[twobjshelbys]

AAA membership. Thin and fits in the wallet.

[Anthony]

roll of duck tape too ?

[snakeeyes]

I carry one of those portable jump starters and a cell phone.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by FredG

Everyone.

A flat tire is probably everyone's nightmare but I was wondering what some thoughts were about the handling or prevention of a flat tire. I put together a small kit that contains a 12v compressor, tire sealant, plug repair kit and a few small tools to pull a nail or screw out. I feel secure enough with it that I can repair anything other than a major blowout good enough to get me home.

Fred

If you have a flat, away from your garage, how are you going to jack the car up to pull the wheel to plug it? It will be sitting literally on the ground -- getting a jack under the frame will be a real chore, even in the comfort of your garage.

[FredG]

A little disappointed in the responses from a group of people who usually have better ideas or think they do. AAA would be a last resort. I might use them for my Infinity but only as a last resort my Cobra. Patrick; you don't need to jack a car up to put a plug in a tire. Helpful...yes but necessary...no. Especially if you are doing it as an emergency repair.

Fred

[Roger Vincent]

The last time, I had a hard time finding the leak, slow one. I had to raise the car, but a scissor jack works well for me. So, as you do, I carry the small eclectic air compressor, repair kit, jack, knock off, safety wire, hand tools.

[CHANMADD]

I have a can of Fix a flat, a Crown Royal bag full of spares ,like a few plugs a few screwdrivers, crescent wrench and a set of half dozen wrenches. My motor has mostly Allen keys ..so that's easy ..Jacking by the way is real easy ... somewhere in the middle of the car will lift both wheels on that side off the ground ..oh and a 12v airpump

[FredG]

I like the small scissor jack idea. Going to look into that today.

Fred

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by FredG

I like the small scissor jack idea. Going to look into that today.

Fred

I have two small supplementary scissor jacks. Compressed, they are five inches high. They will not fit under the frame of my ERA when the car has been sitting (they're just a hair too tall). However, if the car has been up on jacks, and the scissor jack is the last one to be lowered, the car will settle a little bit above the height of the scissor jack and you can pull it out from the frame. If you find yourself with a flat rear tire, out in the middle of nowhere, and all you have is one scissor jack, you're going to have a helluva time getting your rear up and off the ground. Even in the garage (where I have had a flat on the rear) you have to "work your way" up in to the air by jacking different points on the car in order to get a jack under the frame over on the side where the flat is. Doing it is almost like solving a puzzle where the trick is "OK, where do I jack in order to get enough clearance to place the next jack that will allow me to get the rear tire off the ground."

[FredG]

I found a 1.5 ton scissor jack that lays 3-3/8 in. flat and lifts to 15-1/8 in. That should do it. I will test it when I get tomorrow.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by FredG

I found a 1.5 ton scissor jack that lays 3-3/8 in. flat and lifts to 15-1/8 in. That should do it. I will test it when I get tomorrow.

One thing about scissor jacks, do not use your impact gun and a socket to lower them. The twisting action of the gun will flip the jack over on to the ground and the car will come down at gravity's speed. And if you've ever seen a car drop off a jack unexpectedly, it comes down way faster than a ball drops out of your hand. It's a specific exclusion to the rule of physics and it's designed to kill and maim you. I don't like scissor jacks except as a safety backup to your jack stands and floor jack.

[FredG]

I would never use a scissor jack to raise any part of a car off the ground unless it was an emergency. I would only use it here to give me some fender clearance to feel the tire. These are the two items I put in my bag for tire repair and they are based on multiple reviews. I used the plug kit on my Infiniti a year ago to fix a hole made by a screw and have had no issues with it. The liquid will seal up to a 1/8 inch hole.

[snakeeyes]

A lot of FFR guys carry space saver spares in their trunks. It depends on whether you’re using bolt on or true knock off wheels, but if it’s the latter then ERA’s FAQ page says they sell a narrow spare wheel:



Harbor Freight sells a very lightweight aluminum jack with, IIRC, 1.5 ton capacity. The handle is removable and breaks down into two pieces. They’re pretty low profile, too. I have one that I’ve used for autocross and track days for over ten years and it works great. When they’re on sale at HF (which seems to be every week, if you subscribe to their sale emails), they’re as low as $59. I would get one of those, find a carrying case to keep it from sliding around, and carry it in the trunk.

[desgros@vtlink.]

The LJ 22 AC Cobra jack, tool kit and spare are in the trunk of my Slabside in hopes I never need to use them.


John

ERA #3010 289 Slabside BRG

[snakeeyes]

President’s Day sale

[ERA 626]

agree AAA! why a last resort? if they cant fix it on site they can pull it up on a flatbed and get you to safety!! I personally will never be out on a freeway trying to jack up my car risking my life to do something AAA will do for free...

[1795]

That's what the quick jacks are for Not!It probably isa wise idea to carry a small low profile jack, as even if you have AAA depending on where you are there could be no cell service. Sometimes you have to just roll up your sleeves and tackle the problem at hand. A can or two of fix a flat is a must.

I always carried a couple cans, a tire puncture kit, 12 volt air compressor and Found a used scissors jack (can't recall from what vehicle) that was very low profile and assorted tools.

Jim

[kevins2]

This is what I carry. Made a mount for it in the trunk so it's out of the way. Lifts from 4 1/8". Tested in the garage but, fortunately, have never used in on the side of a road.

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Steel-S...1796796&sr=8-1

Kevin

[jhv48]

Carry a tire plug kit, a cheap 12 volt air pump (harbor freight for about $12) and needle nose pliers at all tlmes.
Just roll the car until the nail/screw is visible in the tire. Then pull it out and insert a plug. Then hook the pump to your battery and inflate the tire. You’re back on the road again.
I’ve had plugged tires last for years. But you can have the tire professionally repaired when you get back to the barn.
If the hole is in the sidewall, you might have to call the flatbed.