Need advice on flat tire.

[lupindub]

So today I ran over something and air started SLOWLY leaking from the driver side rear tire. Thankfully the local tire shop is right next to my work so I just dropped it off in there parking lot (Sunday's closed). So the question I am wondering is should I re-inflate the tire before having the car driven inside the shop? The leak is so small, I think I might be able to inflate it with no problem. Why inflate the tire before driving it into the shop? So the tire doesn't become more damaged then it already is. I heard tires will become ruined if you drive it with no air in them and the rim/tire bead is making direct contact. So even though it is literally a 30 ft drive from the parking lot to the inside of the tire shop garage, should I re-inflate the tires?

Edit: Also is it safe to inflate a tire with a small puncture in it? Or should I just roll it into the shop even on flat tires?

[Ultramaroon]

As long as the puncture isn't on the sidewall, it's perfectly safe to reinflate the tire.

That's a really good question about moving the car on a deflated tire. I damaged both passenger tires on a previous car by parking just a little too tightly against one of those residential sloping curbs.

Tires were fully inflated. I rode up just far enough to lift off of the main contact patch and suspend the wheels on the outer corner.

A week later I noticed a big bulge on the sidewall of one of them so I replaced it. A month after that, the other one did the same thing.

I know it's not the same but I'm just thinking sidewalls are pretty fragile.

[86kahl]

I'm 100% sure the drive from the parking lot into the shop wont hurt it, I've done it countless times. The damage occurs when the rubber is heated up to OT and ran on low or no air that it starts to break down. So any potential damage happened before you parked it.

Tl;Dr You'll be fine, don't stress over it 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽


Sent from my toolbox

[Mr.ac]

Ok.... So I'm the only one that didn't ask why he just put the spare tire on?
And why would you leave your car just sitting there? Dude.....
Kids these days.

[churchx]

My bet is that he didn't put spare tire on most probably due car having it replaced with that stupid and useless tire repair kit. First thing i did to mine was to replace that kit with spacesaver spare i can rely on.

[AlexWood]

I would just mention your concern to the shop when you talk to them. Depending on where you parked, they might just be able to pull the wheel off right there and patch the tire and put it back on and the car wouldn't even have to move.


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[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Mr.ac

Ok.... So I'm the only one that didn't ask why he just put the spare tire on?
And why would you leave your car just sitting there? Dude.....
Kids these days.

Oh, be nice. He has a slow leak and just drove it to the tire shop. Given the circumstances, I would do the same.

Originally Posted by churchx

My bet is that he didn't put spare tire on most probably due car having it replaced with that stupid and useless tire repair kit. First thing i did to mine was to replace that kit with spacesaver spare i can rely on.

Toyota does this? What if it was more than just a small puncture? I agree. That is a terrible idea.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by churchx

My bet is that he didn't put spare tire on most probably due car having it replaced with that stupid and useless tire repair kit. First thing i did to mine was to replace that kit with spacesaver spare i can rely on.

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Oh, be nice. He has a slow leak and just drove it to the tire shop. Given the circumstances, I would do the same.

Toyota does this? What if it was more than just a small puncture? I agree. That is a terrible idea.

Pretty sure that at least Asia and Australia only get the repair kit and no spare. North American ones all get spares though.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by 86kahl

I'm 100% sure the drive from the parking lot into the shop wont hurt it, I've done it countless times. The damage occurs when the rubber is heated up to OT and ran on low or no air that it starts to break down. So any potential damage happened before you parked it.

Tl;Dr You'll be fine, don't stress over it 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽


Sent from my toolbox

OK if the tire is low but still has some air in it. A completely flat and pancaked tire can be ruined with just a few feet of driving since the rim can cut right into it.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

OK if the tire is low but still has some air in it. A completely flat and pancaked tire can be ruined with just a few feet of driving since the rim can cut right into it.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I don't have any personal experience but the idea just doesn't sit well with me.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I don't have any personal experience but the idea just doesn't sit well with me.

I do!

[chaoskaze]

You should carry a can of fix it flat spray thing in the car if you don't no how to change spare/run without spare.

For your own safety!!!


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[ryoma]

keep in mind that the spare is only for the fronts as well. if you have a flat tire on either of the rear wheels, you shouldn't use the spare (from the manual). I'm guessing it's due to the difference in contact patch of the wheels that will cause it to mess with the rear diff or something

[mav1178]

I had a slow leak once when I was at ACS. Turns out, I picked up a nail on the way to the track.

I drove to a truck stop and they dismounted the tire and patched it on the inside.

I then went back on track and drove a double-stint that day.

-alex