A question for the automotive-savvy among us - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A question for the automotive-savvy among us

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
EscherEnigma
Jun 01, 2011 20:13:07 If my tire is losing pressure about about 2 or 3 PSI an hour do you think it'd be fine to drive on, at interstate speeds, for an hour, or should I just swap it out for the spare now?
#2
jetshield
Jun 01, 2011 20:15:48 Fix-a-flat 4tw
#3
Cpt_Micha
Jun 01, 2011 21:03:50 I wouldn't drive it on interstate, as the increasing pressure in the tire can force the air out faster as the tire heats up.

I'd go ahead and swap it. It's better to be safe than sorry.
#4
Escef
Jun 02, 2011 0:00:16
I wouldn't drive it on interstate, as the increasing pressure in the tire can force the air out faster as the tire heats up.

Conversly, the heat expansion of the rubber may temporarily seal the leak. Given the the season, however, I wouldn't bet on it. I've found that the tires on my car are very prone to losing pressure in the winter, but not the rest of the year. I chalk it up to the cold shrinking the tire/rim and losening the fit just enough to slowly let air out.

Given that we're at late spring/early summer, I don't think this is the case. Yeah, if you put air in the tire you should be saf to drive on it, but if you aren't going someplace to have that tire replaced (or at least looked at by a professional), I'd swap it out.
#5
zombie_babies
Jun 02, 2011 12:08:03 Yup. It's probably ok but if you have a spare that can go the mileage you need to travel and the time to put it on, it's a case of 'better safe than sorry'. And I wouldn't use fix a flat. That stuff just shoots goop into the tire and it gets all over everything - including the rim. Either get a patch kit yourself (assuming your trouble isn't sidewall or rim related) or take the tire to a tire shop to see if they can patch it. In either case you're out around $10. Oh, it's also possible - proveded the tires are new-ish - that you have insurance on 'em. If ya do, they'll replace the sucker for free. Actually did that once. Spent like $40 for a $120 tire that way. Not too bad.
#6
EscherEnigma
Jun 02, 2011 12:48:25 Oh yeah, the place I got these tires from actually have a really good warranty/service plan going on. It's just that the closest outlet is about an hour drive.

So sounds like I'm just gonna hoof it for today and tomorrow then on Saturday (when I was driving up anyway) I'll stop by and have 'em fix my tire. Yay.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 EscherEnigma Jun 01, 2011 20:13:07	If my tire is losing pressure about about 2 or 3 PSI an hour do you think it'd be fine to drive on, at interstate speeds, for an hour, or should I just swap it out for the spare now?
#2 jetshield Jun 01, 2011 20:15:48	Fix-a-flat 4tw
#3 Cpt_Micha Jun 01, 2011 21:03:50	I wouldn't drive it on interstate, as the increasing pressure in the tire can force the air out faster as the tire heats up. I'd go ahead and swap it. It's better to be safe than sorry.
#4 Escef Jun 02, 2011 0:00:16	I wouldn't drive it on interstate, as the increasing pressure in the tire can force the air out faster as the tire heats up. Conversly, the heat expansion of the rubber may temporarily seal the leak. Given the the season, however, I wouldn't bet on it. I've found that the tires on my car are very prone to losing pressure in the winter, but not the rest of the year. I chalk it up to the cold shrinking the tire/rim and losening the fit just enough to slowly let air out. Given that we're at late spring/early summer, I don't think this is the case. Yeah, if you put air in the tire you should be saf to drive on it, but if you aren't going someplace to have that tire replaced (or at least looked at by a professional), I'd swap it out.
#5 zombie_babies Jun 02, 2011 12:08:03	Yup. It's probably ok but if you have a spare that can go the mileage you need to travel and the time to put it on, it's a case of 'better safe than sorry'. And I wouldn't use fix a flat. That stuff just shoots goop into the tire and it gets all over everything - including the rim. Either get a patch kit yourself (assuming your trouble isn't sidewall or rim related) or take the tire to a tire shop to see if they can patch it. In either case you're out around $10. Oh, it's also possible - proveded the tires are new-ish - that you have insurance on 'em. If ya do, they'll replace the sucker for free. Actually did that once. Spent like $40 for a $120 tire that way. Not too bad.
#6 EscherEnigma Jun 02, 2011 12:48:25	Oh yeah, the place I got these tires from actually have a really good warranty/service plan going on. It's just that the closest outlet is about an hour drive. So sounds like I'm just gonna hoof it for today and tomorrow then on Saturday (when I was driving up anyway) I'll stop by and have 'em fix my tire. Yay.