How do you quickly fix a flat on a spoked wheel?

Question

I don't really want to carry tire irons, spare tube, & pump with me. Any quick fixes aside from calling AAA? Thanks.

Answer 1

I can't imagine why anyone gave Info_Police a "thumbs-down for his "Canned Fix -a-Flat" suggestion.

Anyone who knows anything is aware that is about the only practical solution after-the-fact,,,,,,in some form or fashion.

Yes,,,there's a bunch of "flat fix in a can" that works fine on Inner Tubes.
The components dont know the difference between Tube Wall or Tubeless Liner.

The primary issue with Pressurized Cans is Inflation Capability.
The Sealant is fairly FoolProof.
The Pressurization is "Iffy",,,,and there's No Way to practically Test>Verify it's efficacy before hand.

Meaning,,,Ya dont know if a Particular Can WILL inflate your tire,,,untill the time comes to actually attempt doing so.
I 'spose there's generally Good Odds that it WILL,,,but still somewhat of a crapshoot.

There Are small hand pumps which can be mounted/carried in inconspicuous places...
Lottsa work to inflate a even a bike tire,,,but they do serve in a worst case instance.

The Co2 cartridge inflators are not a bad way to go either.

Another alternative is the "PRE-EMPTIVE" type of Sealants.
You add to tire/tube Before hand,,,and in the event of a puncture the will then come into play.

The Downside to those type products include:
*Difficult/Impossible to to a proper repair(Maybe a Moot Point??)
*Some pressure loss before sealing occurs,,,with no means to re-inflate to usuable psi range.
* No,or little,, Indication of Minor Punctures having been sealed.
---you COULD potentially be cruising around with any number of small punctures

Overall the Pre-Sealant type may be the "least of the Evils".

Most Practical is probably the Fix-a-Flat in the Pressurized Can.

"Wisest",,,,is probably to grin & bear it>>deal with the hassles of carrying a small hand pump and a bottle of sealant.

Flat Repair is just one of those things which is never convenient,,and doesnt have a wide range of alternatives.
None of the alternatives are really very attractive,,,except for their ability to get ya back rolling.

Even carrying tools & spare tube is no gaurantee ya wont get Another puncture 2 miles down the road.

I 'spose it comes down to what an Individual has best confidence in,,,and what method they're willing to accomodate to achieve the needed results.

Good Luck,,i hope this is all Moot and ya never need it.

Answer 2

Spoked wheels use an inner tube. Carry all the tire changing equipment you want to. Good luck with that roadside. Have you ever done that change? Ya. Puncture repair product doesn't work and is just a gimmick. It is meant for emergency use only, and in most cases is improperly used at that.

A flat while you are riding is not very common. Call a tow truck when in happens.

And to all of the fans of puncture product. Hope you have your wheels rebalanced after every time you ride your bike after using a product like this. Otherwise, it is building up from centrifugal force, and will not do so uniformly. Your wheel is now perpetually out of balance until you remove every last drop of product.

Answer 3

spoke wheels usually have tubes, you can fix a flat without taking the wheel off. break the tire bead loose with a C clamp pry the tire off 1 side of the rim & pull the tube out & patch it then pry the tire back on & air it up with a pump that go's into 1 of your spark plug holes. J&P cycles has a neat little tire repair kit with everything you need including the spark plug pump & air hose for $25 or $30, its about4x8 inches & doesnt take up much room in your pack or saddle bag..

Answer 4

for those of you that are self sealing tires fans... spoke wheels on bikes require an inner tube. some companies have tried to specialize in sealing the inside of a spoke wheel, but most advise against trying this (it doesn't seem to hold up long). there is some sealant in a can products that say they work with tubes. then you just carry enought CO2 cartridges to fill your tire up. the stuff i have says you should put it in spinning your tire and airing it up. even this is a hard thing to do if you don't have a center stand. best thing is carry a cell phone and carry some kind of road assistance that includes towing. good luck.

Answer 5

Funny thing about inner tube tires when they get a hole in them. The tire and inner tube are two pieces. If a nail goes through your tire and the tire goes flat ( before you even get stopped), the inner tube will have moved inside the tire and ripped. Fix-a-flat, slime or similar products are useless with inner tubes. If you ride off road, you can invest in Bib Mousse Inserts, which replace the inner tube with a foam rubber ring.
http://offroad.parts-unlimited.com/50/254/4238693

Answer 6

"Fix a flat" or similar tire repair in a can will not work with a tube tire. Which spoke wheels have. Only way to fix is patch or get a new tube. Sorry.

Answer 7

There are no quick fixes for spoked wheels. Best leave it to a tire shop.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Sorry, TXm42. You give good answers, but I disagree with you here.

The label on Fix-A-Flat reads "Do not use on motorcycle tires". Yes I have tried it anyway. Did not work, big mess.

There is no quick fix.

Answer 10

There are tire repair cans - it's like an aerosol with an attachment that fits to the tire stem. It has enough pressure to fill a tire and it sprays some kind of goo that will fill leaks and punctures. It doesn't always work, and it doesn't last for long but it can get you out of a fix. I have used them successfully. I keep one in my wife's car so if she gets a puncture and is alone on a dark road she can quickly fix it and get to someplace safe.

http://www.fixaflat.com/products.asp?page=1_0