Author: Phil Greene

Fix-a-Flat is a popular liquid tire sealant meant to seal small punctures in a tire and is regularly used by drivers looking for a quick solution to a flat tire. While many people use Fix-a-Flat, it can cause more problems than it solves, and most mechanics won’t recommend you use it. As you decide whether you should keep a spare can of Fix-a-Flat in your car or garage, take a moment to learn why Fix-a-Flat and other similar products can be bad for tires and what to use instead when you get a flat.

Is Fix-a-Flat Bad for Tires? 5 Reasons to Avoid Using Fix-a-Flat

Fix-a-Flat is bad for tires, as it can cause long-term damage to your tires and mess with sensors. Alongside these issues, Fix-a-Flat isn’t a long-term solution, can freeze in winter temperatures, and is difficult to clean up. Before you decide to use this liquid sealant, review the top five reasons not to use Fix-a-Flat below:

1. Only a Temporary Solution to a Puncture

Fix-a-Flat is nothing more than a short-term band-aid for a tire puncture and is not meant to be used as a permanent repair. Since it’s only designed to get you off the roadside and to a repair shop, anyone who uses it as a long-term solution will be dealing with another flat sooner rather than later. Additionally, the product is only made for small punctures and won’t help if your tire has a large puncture, a sidewall gash, or a complete blowout. 

2. Potential Unrepairable Tire Damage

The tire sealant used in Fix-a-Flat can cause significant long-term harm to your tire. When it’s applied to a puncture, the sealant will get into your tire’s steel belts and potentially corrode them. This corrosion can cause belt separation within your tire, significantly increasing the risk of a dangerous blowout while on the road. Due to the long-term damage Fix-a-Flat causes, reputable tire shops tend to refuse to repair tires treated with it. 

3. Messes With Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Sensors

Alongside damaging your tires, Fix-a-Flat can mess with sensors and harm your tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). When you spray the liquid sealant into your tire’s valve stem, it will seal your puncture while also sealing a tiny hole in your tire that your TPMS relies on to sense air pressure. When this hole is closed, your TPMS sensors won’t work correctly, and you’ll have to clean out the hole before it starts providing an accurate reading again.

4. Ineffective in Freezing Temperatures

If you live in an area where the temperature stays under freezing for a good portion of the year, you shouldn’t rely on Fix-a-Flat. When it’s cold outdoors, the Fix-a-Flat’s liquid sealant can freeze, making it unusable until it’s been defrosted. While you could warm it up by placing it near your car’s interior heater vent, you’ll have to wait a bit for the sealant to defrost. This extra time can allow more air to escape from your tire and keep you on the side of the road longer.

5. Results in a Messy Cleanup

Even if a repair shop agrees to repair your tires, the repair will likely cost more and take more time due to the messy cleanup that Fix-a-Flat requires. When you spray the sealant into your tire, it won’t just cover your puncture. The sealant will leave tons of goo in the tire that a mechanic will have to clean out (leaving it in the tire raises the risk of corrosion issues), which can take lots of time and increase the repair’s cost.

Practical Alternative to a Fix-a-Flat Kit

Since using a Fix-a-Flat can be ineffective and even damage your vehicle, it should only ever be used as a last resort in an emergency situation. While you might want to keep it on hand for emergencies when you don’t have any other options, you can almost always deal with a flat tire in a safer and more effective manner. Review some of the practical alternatives to using Fix-a-Flat kits below: 

• Carry a proper tire plug or patch kit
• Keep a spare tire (check out our guide to changing a tire!)
• Have roadside assistance (e.g., AAA)
• Store a portable air compressor in your car

If you don’t want to deal with a roadside repair and the options above aren’t appealing, you can invest in run-flat tires for your vehicle. Unlike other tires, run-flats are designed to be driven on after a flat (usually up to 50 miles). As a result, you can drive your vehicle to the closest repair shop for professional tire repair services without having to change your tire on the side of the road.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Flat Tire Repairs in Raleigh

If you’re looking for a flat tire repair shop in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or the surrounding Triangle area, Chapel Hill Tire has you covered. Our certified mechanics regularly repair flat tires, and we have a tire finder tool that can help you find replacement tires when a repair won’t cut it. You can also expect our team to help you decide on a new set of tires, properly repair small punctures, and perform any service as quickly and professionally as possible. 

Learn more about our tire repair services today. If you need one of our tire repair or replacement services, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. You’ll also want to check out our coupons to see how much you can save on our services!

If you’re dealing with a small tire puncture, you have a couple of tire repair options you can try before you invest in a new set of tires. Both tire plugs and tire patches can be effective ways to repair small punctures on tires, but they do have some key differences. Before you purchase one of these options, learn more about the differences between tire patches and tire plugs. 

What Is a Tire Plug?

Tire plugs are flexible and sticky pieces of rubber designed to plug holes in tires. Once the plug is inserted into a puncture, it will start to expand, and you’ll just need to adjust the plug until it prevents any air from leaking from it. 

What Is a Tire Patch?

A tire patch is a flat piece of rubber installed inside a tire, with adhesive holding the patch in place over the puncture. Like tire plugs, tire patches are designed to repair small punctures. 

How Is a Tire Plug Vs Patch Different?

Tire patches and tire plugs have a few differences, such as the repair process, their safety, and the right time to use them. As you decide between the two options, review our guide to the differences between tire plugs vs. patches below:

1. Plug Vs Patch Tire Repair Process

A tire plug tends to be a faster repair process, as you don’t have to install the patch inside the tire. Instead, you’ll use a reamer tool that you’ll insert into the puncture, using it to clean out debris and enlargen the puncture to a size appropriate for the plug. Next, you’ll use a plug insertion tool to insert the plug and apply adhesive to it. 

Usually, you’ll need to insert the plug insertion tool about two-thirds into the tire before you pull it quickly back. Once it’s been pulled back, the plug should be in place, and you’ll just need to trim the plug so it’s flush with your tire tread. You may need to move the plug around a little bit to get it in the right position, but you can know the plug is inserted correctly when no air is coming out.

While tire plugs can be installed in just a few minutes, tire patches tend to take more time. A tire patch repair takes longer since you have to take the wheel off and remove the tire from the rim so that you can reach the tire’s inner liner. Once you have access to the inner liner, you’ll scuff the puncture wound to make it easier for the patch to adhere to the surface. Next, you’ll apply rubber cement to the patch and the surface area.

When the rubber cement has dried, you’ll press the patch over the puncture and seal it. After the patch has sealed your puncture, you’ll need to remount the tire onto the rim and put your vehicle’s wheels back on. You’ll also need to inflate the tire again, with the entire patching process often taking longer than a plug. If you go to a repair shop for a tire patch, you can expect the service to take about 20 minutes.

2. Tire Plug Vs Patch Cost

Tire patch and tire plug kits cost around $10, without any major differences in price between the two types. However, some kits might cost between $20 to $50 if they include more tools and materials.

If you’re wondering about tire patch vs tire plug repair costs at a shop, tire patch repairs tend to cost a bit more than tire plugs due to the extra labor they require. 

3. Tire Plug Vs. Patch Durability

If a tire plug has been properly installed, it may last around 25,000 miles, meaning most drivers can expect the plug to last between 7 to 10 years. Typically, correctly installed tire patches will last for about 7 to 10 years, too. As a result, you’ll usually need to replace the tire before the patch or plug stops working. Keep in mind, however, that both plugs and patches can fail earlier, especially when they’re not properly installed, and you may need a new one earlier than expected. 

4. Patching Tire Vs Plugging Tire Safety

On average, tire patches tend to be safer than tire plugs. Since tire patches are attached to your tire via adhesive, they’re more secure than tire plugs, which can begin to loosen. If a tire plug loosens, you could get a flat tire while you’re driving.

5. Tire Patch Vs. Plug When to Use

Typically, tire plugs are better for times when you need an emergency repair on your vehicle. For example, if you’re on a road trip and get a small puncture on one of your tires,  you can quickly plug the hole without having to go to a repair shop. Since tire patches tend to be safer, they’re better for punctures that occur when you have the time to perform the slightly more complicated repair. 

Can You Patch or Plug a Tire Twice?

It’s not recommended to apply more than one patch or plug to a tire. Though it can be tempting to patch or plug a second puncture in your tire, it can increase your risk of a blowout while also negatively impacting your tire’s speed rating.

When Is It Not Safe to Use a Tire Patch or Tire Plug?

Tire patches and plugs can only safely be applied to the crown areas of a tire. If your tire’s shoulder or sidewall is damaged, tire patches and plugs aren’t safe repair options. You’ll also never want to apply a tire patch or plug to punctures larger than 0.25 inches in diameter, and they shouldn’t be applied to tires that have other problems, such as sidewall blisters, cracks, or bulges.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Tire Patching and Tire Plugging Repair Services in the Triangle

If you need tire plugging or tire patching services in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, or the surrounding Triangle area, Chapel Hill Tire has you covered. Our technicians regularly provide tire patching and tire plugging services to drivers, ensuring their tires are safe to drive on before they leave. When a patch or plug won’t cut it, you can use our tire finder tool to compare different tires, and our team can quickly swap out your old tires for new ones.

Learn more about our tire patch and tire services today. If you need one of our tire repair or replacement services, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. You’ll also want to check out our coupons to see how much you can save on our services!

With nearly 11,000 tire-related accidents occurring each year, drivers have to be more vigilant about monitoring the condition of their tires and maintaining them. One of the best ways to keep your tires in good condition is by preventing tire dry rot from occurring. When left unchecked, tire dry rot can increase your risk of a tire blowout and threaten your safety while you’re out on the road. If you want to protect yourself and other drivers, take a moment to learn how to prevent tire dry rot.

What Is Tire Dry Rot?

Also called sidewall weathering, tire dry rot occurs when the rubber of your tire begins to degrade. As the rubber degrades, cracks will form in the sidewall and tread, the tire’s color will fade, and your tire may struggle to maintain the correct amount of pressure. Since tire dry rot makes it easier for holes to develop in a tire and raises the risk of a blowout, you shouldn’t drive on any tires that are showing signs of dry rot damage. 

How to Prevent Tire Dry Rot

Whether you want to know how to prevent trailer tires from dry rotting or just protect your car’s four tires, you can do so by following a few simple tips. As you try to stop tire dry rot from destroying your tires prematurely, review our top five tips for preventing tire dry rot below:

1. Pay Attention to Your Tires’ PSI

One of the simplest ways to prevent dry rot is to keep your tires properly inflated. If your tire doesn’t have enough pressure, it will create more heat and friction while you drive. This heat and friction can make your tread more brittle and cause cracking. 

While many drivers put off refilling their tires until the tire pressure symbol pops up on their dashboard, you should be more proactive to prevent dry rot. Regularly check your tires to catch issues before your sensors do, and if your inspection shows that the tire’s PSI is under its optimal pressure, refill them as soon as possible.

2. Don’t Expose Your Tires to Direct Sunlight

If you regularly park your car directly in sunlight, the heat from the sun can hurt your tire’s rubber and cause the sidewall to break down prematurely. To prevent the sun from hurting your tires, you can use tire covers to stop the sun’s rays from reaching them. In general, however, keeping your vehicle in an indoor garage is the best way to protect your tires from the sun and other elements, but if you don’t have a garage, tire covers are your next best option.

3. Avoiding Corrosive Chemicals When Cleaning

When you’re cleaning your vehicle’s tires, avoid using cleaning supplies with corrosive chemicals. While these chemicals might make cleaning a bit easier, they can cause your tires’ rubber to degrade faster. Regardless of the cleaner you use, make sure it isn’t petroleum-based, as it can harm your tire’s anti-weathering defenses and speed up dry rot.

Since chemical-based cleaners can damage tires, water-based solutions tend to be the best choice. Try to clean your car’s tires at least once a month with your water-based cleaner, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how to properly apply the cleaner. 

Does Tire Shine Prevent Dry Rot?

After you clean your vehicle, you might consider putting a tire dressing on it to enhance its appearance. While some tire shines can prevent dry rot, many are solvent-based. When a solvent-based tire dressing is applied to a tire, it can make the sidewall dry out, leading to cracks and tire rot.  

Since solvent-based tire dressings can actually cause tire rot, the best tire dressing to prevent dry rot will be water-based. A water-based tire dressing with UV protection should protect your tires from the sun and your sidewalls from cracks, fading, and hardening. 

4. Don’t Leave Your Car Stationary for Too Long

Even if you park your vehicle indoors or out of the sun, you shouldn’t let it sit in the same place over extended periods. When a car sits in the same position for too long, the portion of its tires that are touching the ground can become rigid, and the weight of the vehicle can cause the tires to deflate. 

Since both of these issues can lead to tire rot, you’ll want to repark your vehicle every week to make sure one section of the tire doesn’t bear the brunt of your vehicle’s weight for months. If you really don’t ever drive your vehicle, you can also use a jack stand to lift your vehicle off the ground. Doing so redistributes the vehicle’s weight to the jack stand rather than the wheels.

5. Pay Attention to Your Tires’ Age, Load Capacity, and Routine Maintenance

Over time, all tires degrade and will need to be replaced. Even if you follow the other tips on this list, an older tire may still start to show signs of tire dry rot. Typically, tires need to be replaced every six to ten years, so checking the manufacturing date on the tire can help you know when your tire is more at risk of tire rot. If your tires are past the six-year mark, you’ll likely need to replace them. 

Besides paying attention to the age of your tires, you should look at their load capacity. If you exceed your tires’ load limit by overloading your vehicle or transporting something heavy, the tires are more likely to degrade faster and experience dry rot. In addition to checking the tires, having your tires inspected and rotated annually can help you stop dry rot from beginning prematurely.

Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Tire Replacement Services in the NC Triangle

If your tires have dry rotted and you need tire replacement services in Durham, Chapel Hill, Raleigh, or the surrounding Triangle area, Chapel Hill Tire can help. When you suspect dry rot is affecting your tires, our mechanics can inspect them and provide a diagnosis. If possible, we’ll repair the tire, but if it can’t be fixed, our tire finder tool makes finding a new set of tires easy. We can also help you pick the right tires for your needs and replace your old tires with them. 

Learn more about our tire repair and replacement services today. If you’re ready to bring your vehicle in, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area. We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save.