XPost: alt.home.repair   
   From: max@max.is.invalid   
      
   In your experience, what percentage of your flat tires have to have the   
   tire replaced versus just having the flat repaired?   
      
   I realize everything is up to chance, but in the last couple of years, my   
   household has had three flat tires, all due to nails or screws (there is   
   always some construction going on nearby) where I took the tires to   
   GoodYear and all three had to be replaced.   
      
   One, as I recall, was too close to the shoulder, the other had been driven   
   on (they said) when they removed the carcass, and just yesterday, the third   
   they said was worn to a wear bar (as it had uneven wear) but it seemed to   
   me to be barely above the wear bar at the one wear bar he pointed to as   
   most of the tread was about two or three mm above the wear bars so he   
   picked the lowest one at about a millimeter or less above the wear bar).   
      
   After waiting two hours in the waiting room, the guy came back and said he   
   can't repair a dangerous tire, so again, for the third time, I had to buy a   
   new tire, where it took another hour for them to have the car ready for me.   
      
   Given I had to remove the tire anyway to put on the spare, the whole ordeal   
   took about five hours or so in elapsed time just to fix a basic flat.   
      
   Could I have more easily just repaired the tire at home?   
      
   I realize everything is up to chance but has it been your experience that   
   almost all the tires you want to repair, they say can't be repaired?   
      
   Then there's the added cost of sales tax of around ten dollars, mounting   
   and balancing at around fifteen dollars, and the tire valve of five dollars   
   and the disposal fee of about another five dollars. It all adds up.   
      
   I'm wondering if it's worth it to buy a "tire press" or whatever it takes   
   to change a tire (I have a small portable compressor already) at home.   
      
   Anyone repair your own tires at home when you get a flat?   
   Is it worth the money if you can save a few tires?   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)