Car Advice

[lavender]

How do you know if a tire is truly flat or just excessively low?

 

[TWB]

Push the car gently from side to side. If the tire slides, it is excessively low. If it does not move, it is flat.

You don't really scare me that much.

 

[Texan]

How do you know if a tire is truly flat or just excessively low?

hahahaha..... damn girl, I hope that's a joke.

 

[Purple Haze]

Are you an optimist, or a pessimist?[sp?]

 

[morninggirl5]

According to my father, they're the same thing.

 

[lavender]

Re: Re: Car Advice

hahahaha..... damn girl, I hope that's a joke.

What I mean is - I guess I'm just going to have to put a lot of air in it and hope it doesn't deflate again? Is that the only way to tell?

 

[TWB]

It will deflate again. The question is, how fast?

You can buy some fix a flat if it is slow and you are on a low budget, otherwise, get it fixed.

 

[TWB]

According to my father, they're the same thing.

I picture you typing away at lit with your dad spouting advice over your shoulder.

 

[Texan]

Re: Re: Re: Car Advice

What I mean is - I guess I'm just going to have to put a lot of air in it and hope it doesn't deflate again? Is that the only way to tell?

That's about the only way to tell unless you take the tire off the car and check it with soapy water for a hole. You can also look for some obvious nail (or something) in the tire. Also check the valve stem with a little bit of soapy water or spittle. You're looking for a place that "blows bubbles."

 

[Guest]

Drive into deep water and look for bubbles.

 

[morninggirl5]

I picture you typing away at lit with your dad spouting advice over your shoulder.

Oh God NO, he'd have a conniption fit if he thought i was posting here. He'd be even more "worried" about me living three hours away without anybody here to take care of me.

My response was based on past experience with my car and his advice.

 

[Texan]

It will deflate again. The question is, how fast?

You can buy some fix a flat if it is slow and you are on a low budget, otherwise, get it fixed.

Be careful with fix-a-flat. If you don't drive the car enough during the first few hours after you add the stuff, it will coagulate on one side of the inside of the tire. If it does that, it will put the tire permanently out of balance (beyond the ability of a repair shop to balance the tire). Also, if there is a nail or screw or something in the tire, fix-a-flat will only work for a day or two. When the nail moves around, the leak will start again.

getting it fixed is the best advice.

 

[TWB]

Be careful with fix-a-flat. If you don't drive the car enough during the first few hours after you add the stuff, it will coagulate on one side of the inside of the tire. If it does that, it will put the tire permanently out of balance (beyond the ability of a repair shop to balance the tire). Also, if there is a nail or screw or something in the tire, fix-a-flat will only work for a day or two. When the nail moves around, the leak will start again.

getting it fixed is the best advice.

One must read the directions.

 

[Guest]

fix a flat puts a residue on the inside which causes patches to not stick properly.

 

[lavender]

I used fix a flat once and it totally made my tire unsalvageable.

I went and checked again - it's been getting low for like 24 hours now - I noticed it yesterday but was waiting hoping my ex would call or come over to help me. It hasn't gotten any lower - it's just low - not a flat. If it were a flat I think it would be a lot lower.

 

[Guest]

doncha hate it when things go down?

 

[miles]

I used fix a flat once and it totally made my tire unsalvageable.

I went and checked again - it's been getting low for like 24 hours now - I noticed it yesterday but was waiting hoping my ex would call or come over to help me. It hasn't gotten any lower - it's just low - not a flat. If it were a flat I think it would be a lot lower.

Pssst.......lavy. Take it to a tire store and have them check it.

 

[lavender]

Pssst.......lavy. Take it to a tire store and have them check it.

But I don't want to drive on it - it could kill my tire permanently.

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

But I don't want to drive on it - it could kill my tire permanently.

That's the best advice (Miles). If it's close to flat, then get someone to put the spare on for you or use your handy dandy garage electronic tire pump (if you don't have one, ask to borrow one from Tim the Toolman). Then take the tire to the tire shop.

 

[Purple Haze]

Put your spare on the car and go have it fixed,

Anybody else tired of this tread yet?

 

[TWB]

Re-tread?

 

[LovetoGiveRoses]

But I don't want to drive on it - it could kill my tire permanently.

It will only destroy the tire if its so flat that the sidewall is squished into the ground while you're driving....and then only if you drive a long way.

 

[TWB]

It will only destroy the tire if its so flat that the sidewall is squished into the ground while you're driving....and then only if you drive a long way.

And now we come full circle to my original post.

 

[lavender]

Ok. I have an airer - a little motorized thing that will help me air it up. It's plugged in because I haven't used it before so it needs juice. It should be ready to go in a few hours. I'll air up the little sucker and then wait. I don't have to use my car tonight, so I should be fine.

 

[Purple Haze]

I have Italian tires on my car,

Dago, wop, wop, wop, wop,