WD 40 flat tire fix

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MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
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I've heard of doing that before. The tire isn't damaged, it just lost the bead.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
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Originally posted by: MrPickins
I've heard of doing that before. The tire isn't damaged, it just lost the bead.

Yep. It's an easy way to reseat the bead and then you fil with air.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,358
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Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: MrPickins
I've heard of doing that before. The tire isn't damaged, it just lost the bead.

Yep. It's an easy way to reseat the bead and then you fil with air.

But you must be careful in how and what you use to do it. When I was doing semi tires and had one that was being a bitch, which was often, we used a little brake clean in the tire and a match, but the thing is a semi tire needs in excess of 100PSI before it will be considered filled, and has anywhere from 5-15 ply or more depending on what the tire is being used for and on what. Your car tire however is 1-2 ply on the side walls and maxes out at 32-40 psi. So too much gas, brake cleaner, wd40, flammable what ever, and not only will the tire fill up, but it may also go BOOM, making the rim a lethal projectile, and good chance taking a body part of two with it where ever it decides to go fly to.

SO please, if you must try this, start with using just a little at a time, before you go dumping half a can, or half a cup of gas in the tire. And just a little will do it really, just enough to get the tire to expand and make contact with the rim again, as you have the air pump already going on the tire so when it catches it can finish off the job.
 

Mister4x4

Member
Jan 17, 2009
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Ah yes - an old 'Redneck Off-Roading Event.' Oddly enough, the first time I saw that was with a 44" Super Swamper off a 15" rim. Nothing quite like seeing a mondo tire like that jumping off the ground and shaking in what seems like slow-motion.
 

MrPickins

Diamond Member
May 24, 2003
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Originally posted by: funboy6942
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: MrPickins
I've heard of doing that before. The tire isn't damaged, it just lost the bead.

Yep. It's an easy way to reseat the bead and then you fil with air.

[snip]

SO please, if you must try this, start with using just a little at a time, before you go dumping half a can, or half a cup of gas in the tire. And just a little will do it really, just enough to get the tire to expand and make contact with the rim again, as you have the air pump already going on the tire so when it catches it can finish off the job.

Good call. Also, I would think that you'd want to burn off all the fluid, so you don't have a bunch of flammable petroleum vapors left in the tire
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Originally posted by: MrPickins
Originally posted by: funboy6942
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: MrPickins
I've heard of doing that before. The tire isn't damaged, it just lost the bead.

Yep. It's an easy way to reseat the bead and then you fil with air.

[snip]

SO please, if you must try this, start with using just a little at a time, before you go dumping half a can, or half a cup of gas in the tire. And just a little will do it really, just enough to get the tire to expand and make contact with the rim again, as you have the air pump already going on the tire so when it catches it can finish off the job.

Good call. Also, I would think that you'd want to burn off all the fluid, so you don't have a bunch of flammable petroleum vapors left in the tire

It's not supposed to be a permanent fix. Ideally you would remove the core from the valve stem to let out all the air and any vapors left over from this handy little trick.
 
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