XPost: alt.home.repair   
   From: am@yellowjersey.org   
      
   On 4/29/2023 6:19 PM, Maxmillian wrote:   
   > 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?   
   >   
      
   You don't know what you don't know. I don't either.   
      
   Losing a tire at speed is quite an exciting adventure which   
   I hope you never experience and that makes tire repair guys   
   err on the conservative side of evaluation.   
      
   Some tires can be safely and effectively plugged. Some   
   cannot. There's judgement involved in that decision based on   
   similar prior experience.   
      
   Finally, tires are getting more flat-prone in an attempt to   
   'Save The Earth' or whatever. Thinner, lighter than twenty   
   years ago.   
      
   --   
   Andrew Muzi   
        
     Open every day since 1 April, 1971   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)