It happened. Flat tire. No spare.

I just had eight 50 pound bags of cement back there the other day.

 

Only if you put it on a rear seat.

 

I doubt that it conforms to USDOT standards -- but if you include the baby, you may be able to make the argument.

 

Damn, another one.

 

You must have a magnetic personality.

 

Ouch!

This is a perfect for a tire plug instead of what comes in the trunk. I would plug it right on the car without jacking it up.

 

If you have the means, I would still remove the wheel to plug repair: it's much easier when you stand straddling/steadying the tire with your legs, and can use your weight to push the plug through.

FWIW, this is one of those iffy, close to the edge of tread cases, that the pros likely will not plug repair, especially if they're using a combo plug that has a disk on the inside. It's borderline. But a traditional plug repair, done just from the outside, should be fine.

Have everything ready to go before you pull the bolt out, minimize the air loss as much as possible.

 

If I am at home when I plug a tire and I usually am, instead of using the rasp to open the puncture up I use and electric drill.
When I have the plug in the end of the insertion tool I have a small can of the glue like the kind that comes in the kit and I don't
hold back I dip the whole thing into the container and then install the plug. You have to be careful if you get it started the whole thing will go into the tire then you have to do it all again. Some of the plug kits they sell are junk, I broke the handle off of one of the tools once.
Always carry a pair of dikes or side cutters or something to pull the screw, nail or whatever out of the tire.

If you are using what comes with the car do not remove what is in the tire. I watched a video and it is only designed for a 4 mm hole so don't remove what is in the tire.

I prefer the plug because I usually don't do anything to the tire after my repair. The kit that comes with the car you have to take the tire in and have it fixed and buy new sealant. I'm lazy like that I guess.

I have never had a plug fail but Mendel is right if it is near the sidewall the tire is junk.

 

Perfect candidate for the plug. I've done that lots of times and the tire has lived to its last threads.

 

This reminded me to order a tire plug kit from Amazon to carry in my new car.

 

There was one kit that had a large collar with a shoulder on it. A bit hard to describe, but basically it prevented you from plunging too far. Also, when pulling the needle back out, if you pressed the washer down I think that helped, kept the tire from lifting as you pulled. The first picture in this link shows one thus:

MyCarNeedsThis - 6 Best Tire Repair Kits To Buy 2017




I went with the Black Jack kit, also ref'd in the above link, it was available here. It doesn't have that washer/collar, so you need to take care once the needle is mostly through.

Geesh there's some good deals linked in the above link: the Tooluxe kit in particular, ~$12, and top rated.

 

Lee Jay: How do you access this space in the Prime (where you have your arm inserted in the photo? Thanks!

 

Hi HPrime: Can you post the part numbers/specifications of exactly what you purchased? I have a local Discount Tire, and I'm thinking I'm going to get the same thing you got to avoid any guesswork. Thanks!

 

Hi Mr. Insighter,
I've posted it before, but here goes again:
For $356.10 incl. Tax.

Donut tire: Bridgestone TRACOMPA-2 TR2D T125/70D17 98M 60PSI Temporary Use Only, Made in Japan
Wheel: J17X4T DOT 1216/4F3 7
I've taken the information directly from the items themselves. Don't trust ANYBODY with this! Do what I did; have them mount the tire/wheel on your car, preferably on the front, and drive it around to be sure that it works properly! Good luck!!
Henri

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

Hello Henri,

Thanks for that! And I will take your advice, because, if I don't, I suspect my test run will be at 2:00 a.m. somewhere about 30 miles west of Van Horn, Texas. Mr. Murphy is known to be particularly fond of that area.

Lee

 

You don't. You have to remove the floor, rear and side plastic in the cargo area, and that only gives you arm access. To drop something in there you'd also have to remove the battery.

 

Lee Jay: It is as though you read my mind. I guess if you wanted to put something valuable out of site, you could lower it down there with a rope and keep the other end where you could reach it? Thanks!

 

A less expensive solution for something that once you have it you will most likely never use (Murphy's Law again) is obtain a used temporary spare from a Lexus CT200. I think mine cost about $80.

 

Or from any 3rd or 4th Gen Prius, or some corollas I think.