I just bought a car without a spare, on which all the tires will need to be replaced soon. Run-flat tires are crazy expensive. How well does fix-a-flat work for getting me to a tire shop in the case of a tire puncture? Is it a suitable replacement for having a spare? Can I get away with not getting the run-flat tires?
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3 Answers
Here's some issues I have with fix-a-flat:
- In the case of a large puncture / fast leak, you'll need to add air.
Runflats are good because in case of a sudden loss of pressure, they'll get you to a tire shop. With fix-a-flat, if you have a sudden loss of pressure, you'll have to limp your car to a gas station or carry a compressor around.
- Fix-a-flat isn't great for your tires, either.
See this answer to a previous question - but essentially, after getting to a shop after using fix-a-flat, some work might need to be done in order to get the tire properly balanced, since the fix-a-flat "goo" can throw the tire out of balance until it is removed. This actually isn't a huge deal, it just means a little more work at the tire shop, and you need to remember to bring it up (why I'm mentioning it).
Finally, with fix-a-flat, you'll have to spend some time on the side of the road / at a gas station putting a band-aid in/on your tire. Runflats just... sort of go.
Given those three things, here's some issues I have with runflats: Runflats are only good for, what, 100 miles? And they also need to be replaced more frequently (treadlife is worse), on top of being the more expensive tire like you said. Also, when they do go flat, you generally need to replace them in pairs, in my experience. To top if off, (at least the older models of runflats) would blow out at low pressures, so if you had a slow leak, you're completely toast. Meanwhile, here I am, I've driven for over 3 hours with a slowly leaking tire where I started the trip at 32 psi and ended at 20 because it had to be done (normal tires).
Answer: Since you're in a situation without a spare (as is my mother, and this is what I tell her), yes, I believe that fix-a-flat is good enough for you (depending on your situation, this is somewhat personal preference) in lieu of getting runflats. Runflats are good for 100 miles. If you're on the road and really need to go and get going, fix-a-flat, while not perfect, will get you where you need to go, no matter if it's 10, 100, or 500 miles. You tire will still leak slowly, and maybe your alignment will be thrown slightly off, but after 100 miles, runflats are 100% toast. So spend the money you'd spend on a can of fix-a-flat and a portable air compressor. Good enough, right?
Having said all of that, I don't believe fix-a-flat is a suitable replacement for a (compact or full-size) spare, but unless you want to carry a donut around in the back seat, fix-a-flat is, again, good enough.
Final disclaimer: Your car, your money, do what you want, eg. my mother doesn't take my advice because she can't change a tire.
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There was a story which went that Goodyear, when testing the run flats, had driven them across the US without air in them @ 55mph without issue. I looked for the story on the net and couldn't find it, but the point is, the run flats are a lot more durable than the specs on them say.– Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦Commented Aug 7, 2015 at 19:51
Both run-flat and fix-a-flat share a disadvantage IMHO: both can let you down in case of a tear on the tire side-wall.
This is rather common when off-roading (rocks), which is why no serious off-roading vehicle will lack a (normal-sized) spare tire. But it can also happen in urban driving:
- Rub the tire once too often against a curb, pressing it against the rim edge, and you end up with a nice rip in the sidewall.
- Run across a sharp piece of metal (e.g. near a construction site), and if the hole is in a bad place you can also end up with a tear.
In these situations, run-flat will obviously be incapable of inflating the tire. Running on it, even on run-flats, can completely destroy the tire since forces are no longer balanced from side to side. So you end up having to change a tire - or having the vehicle towed.
I have used fix-a-flat before and it worked great! You still need to carry an air compressor since the can of fix-a-flat might only be able to inflate your tires to about 15 psi. In some cases, all you need is the air compressor since the tire will still hold pressure with a nail. The pressure usually drops from around 32 psi to 20 psi with a nail. Even if the pressure drops to less than 10 psi, the air compressor is enough to inflate your tire to 20-25 psi which is enough to get to a tire repair shop. You could carry a flat tire repair kit and plug the tire yourself if really needed.
