Urgent Request: Flat Tire Problem

SilverLexus

Super Enthusiast
We have a flat tire on our Camry which we noticed late tonight...are there tire stores that are open on Sundays? Any other places we should check for a basic flat tire fix?



Ideally we need it done early in the day as my wife needs to go to work tomorrow.



Thanks for the help. :)
 
How about a can of fix-a-flat? If the tire hasn't been damaged from driving on it in a "flat" condition, this usually works, although you usually need to add air to bring it up to full pressure. Not a permanent or ideal fix, but should get you through. Should be able to get a can at an all-night supermarket or convenience store. I usually carry a can in the trunk for emergencies and make sure my female friends/relatives have one as well.
 
Some dealer service shops are open on Sundays. Did a quick dealer locator search on toyota.com and Sandy Springs Toyota is open on Sunday. Don't know where you are located, but I'm sure that there are others open too tomorrow.
 
Don't use fix-a-flat, alot of repair shops wont repair the tire if you use it, they'll tell you to replace it.



Most chain tire shops are open on Sundays. A quick search of google shows a pepboys

11160 Alpharetta Hwy

Roswell, GA 30076

(770) 594-7926



and a sears tire & auto

6000 N Point Cir

Alpharetta, GA 30022

(770) 667-6774
 
Some shops will lend/rent a Reserve air tank with hose and chuck to refill the tire so you can drive the car to get repaired. It saves you from driving on the wheel/rim possible causing damage and/or removing the flat to take to the shop yourself.



Tires with run-flat have to be broken down and cleaned of the product before we would make a repair.
 
I had to have a flat repaired on Father's Day morning, only shop I could find open was a Firestone store. I don't think they're all open Sunday, so give a call.
 
Lost Pup said:
Tires with run-flat have to be broken down and cleaned of the product before we would make a repair.



Since nobody liked my idea (which I actually haven't used in ages) I have to ask--don't you have to "break down" the tire/wheel to do a good repair? The tire has to be ground on the inside to intall a proper plug, which has to be installed from the inside anyway. I don't know of any real tire shops that will install a plug from the outside.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Since nobody liked my idea (which I actually haven't used in ages) I have to ask--don't you have to "break down" the tire/wheel to do a good repair? The tire has to be ground on the inside to intall a proper plug, which has to be installed from the inside anyway. I don't know of any real tire shops that will install a plug from the outside.



Patches are an option but we rarely have installed them. Plugs are installed externally on both radial and non radial tires. I have not installed a patch in over 15-20 years since the advent of the tire plug - really going back to my early years of course :).



I would break a slimed tire down to clean out the gunk, let the tire carcase air dry, remount the tire, plug it, check for leaks and finally rebalance the tire.
 
When my g/f's brother and father ran their repair shop, they charged an extra $10 to work on a tire with tire slime in it. The small shop I take my flats to charge an extra $5.
 
Lost Pup said:
Patches are an option but we rarely have installed them. Plugs are installed externally on both radial and non radial tires. I have not installed a patch in over 15-20 years since the advent of the tire plug - really going back to my early years of course :).



Sorry, I'm using the wrong terminology. I meant a plug--I thought the only speed rated plugs went in from the inside, that they have a head that has to be glued to the inside. I thought the straight plugs that went in from the outside were not considered safe (even though they seem to be commonly used).
 
One more caution about using the various canned tire repair products. Many new cars are now equiped with tire pressure monitors. Do not use the canned flat repair products in those tires. It will ruin the pressure monitors.
 
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