How expensive is the flat tire charge, if you have no spare?

Nitrogen is what Costco uses... That's ok to inject. Of course Costco Membership dues are getting more expensive.

 

OK fixed; replaced air with gases

 

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I recommended "Fix-A-Flat" for a RIGHT NOW REPAIR. It works DAMN WELL RIGHT NOW. There is NO RECOMMENDATION for driving with it forever. You go to a place to fix your tire and let them know. It does get messy ... BUT ... I've never seen it harden up making any problem for repair except for being messy. Think whatever the fvck you want. YMMV.

 

You run the risk of a shop refusing to repair your flat because the tire is now contaminated in ways that will interfere with the patch adhesive working, as well as locating the leak. What's more a $5 tire patch kit and a bike pump can fix most flat tire damage permanently in just a tiny bit more time so when you pull away from the side of the road you're done. No visiting a tire shop to have them clean up a mess, you just keep driving.

 

SO ... someone's 82-yo wife/mother/GF is just gonna hop out and use that "$5 tire patch kit and a bike pump" easier than just spinning on a spray-can repair?!? I'm absolutely sure that the repair places IN YOUR LOCAL VICINITY are going to refuse repair, because well ... they just will. NOWHERE in the general CHICAGOLAND AREA have I ever seen that happen. And I'm also absolutely positive that NO patch adhesive will work because again ... they just won't work. NEVER have I ever seen that happen when proper repair procedures are being followed. Since I've been a member here, every suggestion I make has some expert mechanic like you telling me I'm wrong. Every time I have to apply the Bactine and Band-Aids to my wounds because you're all geniuses that must have been working on cars longer than me (+/- mid-'70's). Most of the said genius expert mechanics haven't ever fixed anything other than replacing an air filter. You all have the stupid ideas that everything MUST be replaced with OEM Toyota parts from the local dealer ... even though you refuse to believe that Toyota doesn't even make many of those parts and gets them aftermarket in the first place. I sincerely apologize for stating anything that goes against your over-the-top mechanical repair knowledge. WTFDIK.

 

Someone's 82-yo wife/mother/GF isn't going to know how to use a can of fix-a-flat either... They call for help and whoever shows up for help desrves to have a tire patch kit and air pump in the car.

And before you increase your blood pressure any further with a temper tantrum based on anecdotal information and zero verified references, please realize that I thoroughly referenced my points in post #33 of this discussion. I also forgot to mention to you that Fix-a-flat can damage your tire pressure sensors too.

Lastly, your cursing tirade failed to recognize that I'm on record on here over the past dozen years that more people need to buy the cheapest aftermarket parts and examine them and test them for the benefit of the greater PriusChat community so we don't get ripped off by OEM when an equal quality non-OEM part exists for less. 95% of the time non-OEM is adequate for an old Prius.

 

Which is lighter and cheaper? Just carry along the jack, tire spoons, bead lubricant, patches, and air compressor, or a just a spare?

Of course, then you couldn't balance the tire. Maybe a small bubble balancer and tire weights. But I think by that time it's not any lighter than a spare.

But you could patch more than one tire.

But if it's the sidewall, then you can't patch that safely.

One thing's for sure. After having so many flat tires last year, I'm never getting car without a spare or real tire repair kit ever again. I just don't trust that goop stuff.