How To Fix A Flat Tire

[brandon1997bmx]

Scotty,

Would it help to burn the end of the plug with a lighter so it will seal better ??

[scottykilmer]

@brandon1997bmx na, driving it on the road gets it hot enough

[suddnstar]

In school I was taught to not plug tires. My teacher says it's a method that should no longer be practiced.

[scottykilmer]

@suddnstar yea, well your teachers not living in the real world. I've been plugging em 44 years with no problems. You just have to use quality plugs, they work fine. And no one out there has a tire machine to take the tire apart and patch the inside other than a full service garage. It's just another scam to rip off consumers.

[robert1268]

Excellent man! Now let's smoke a doobie!

[mgbsalta]

Hey Scotty the screwdriver trick was super helpful!! Thanks.

[Intoxified1]

You dont need to remove the tire from the car to fix it. You also dont need soap and water. Its not that hard to find a nail in your tire. The T handle repair kit shown in this vid works a lot better than a screwdriver handle repair kit. Its easier to apply pressure with a T handle. Ive been fixing my own tires for a decade now. Its a lot easier to keep these tools and a pump in the car than to run to Les Schwab when I get a leak.

[scottykilmer]

@Intoxified1 you don't need to remove it, BUT it's a heck of a lot easier, as working with plugs on a tire on the vehicle is not efficient.

[ihavenousername1805]

@scottykilmer how long will this fix last?

[scottykilmer]

@ihavenousername1805 as long as the tire, I've had some plugs in over ten years, of course the tires are dry rotting by then.

[velox731]

Scotty, How do you keep the rubber cement from drying up? (Especially during the winter)

Love your videos, thanks.

[scottykilmer]

@velox731 you keep the cap tight, and buy a new bottle when it does try out.

[lisitsamic]

@velox731 You can buy a whole repair kit for $5 on ebay.

[nustada]

That's what she said!

[msw600]

Nice video as always. My dad would fix most of the flats we had the exact same way. However they say it's better to take a flat tire to a tire shop where the patches are heated or volcanized, and is "safer". I imagine the plug is ok unless one goes racing with their cars. I myself must have had 20 flat tires in 24 years of driving in NYC.

[tommytheknifeguy]

HI scotty, thanks for all that good advice!!!! I was wandering what kind of jack was used in the video,thanks again.

[scottykilmer]

@tommytheknifeguy 69 dollar harbor freight jack. scotty

[tommytheknifeguy]

Hay Scotty, is there such a thing as a lug tool that will plug into my cigarette lighter?

[scottykilmer]

@tommytheknifeguy an electronic impact wrench could do that, but they don't work very well really. I use air impacts. Scotty

[hp11208]

@tommytheknifeguy That tool dont work i had one.

[boomy818]

the other day my mom had a flat tire..

im 14 and i fixed it

thanks man it helped

[hp11208]

@boomy818 cool man

[Verification11]

@boomy818 that's cool man, i'm 22 and never changed or fixed a flat tire lol.

[Agungada]

Dear Scott,,do you think that by repairing the tyre like that can damage the tyre??

[scottykilmer]

@Agungada I'm been fixing em five decades like that with no problems. Scotty

[hp11208]

@Agungada they patch last a life time

[jjenson2006]

Your car squeeks! You need to fix that.

[scottykilmer]

@jjenson2006 not my car, and the customer doesn't care about it. Basic transporation. Scotty

[Commando303X]

You might want to wash the soap off the tire before proceeding to the other stuff, no?

[mwgcubs]

Scotty, I did the soap method at 1:00, but can't find the nail. What could be going on?

[panzerveps]

@mwgcubs your tire might be all out of air. if so, just fill it up and try again.

its a lot easier to plug the hole if the tire is filled.

[scottykilmer]

@mwgcubs put it in a tub of water, it will bubble then. Scotty

[crazyowen321]

lol

uses diffrent rubbr cement

[mwgcubs]

Scotty, do you think fix-a-flat does any good?

[scottykilmer]

@mwgcubs yes, it can seal small holes. Scotty

[darkvader47]

You're the BEST Scoty!

[labbore]

Very nice video I learnd alot thanks Scotykilmer....

[TCreatorO]

is that your celica? ive noticed it has your stickers and its in many of your vids. I LOVE Celicas from 94-99 and miss mines so bad :(

[scottykilmer]

@TCreatorO well, you can't have mine. Scotty

[TCreatorO]

@scottykilmer I know that lol!. man hold on to it and dont let go!. if you ever sell it you will regret it! like I did...:(

[AGreedyTree]

DO NOT PATCH A HOLE IF ITS ON THE SIDEWALL OR SOULDER OF THE TIRE

[scottykilmer]

@AGreedyTree Yes, you aren't supposed to. But in a pinch, I've done it on road trips and often the patch would hold for years. Scotty

[ts46176]

Instead of opening up the plug holder with a screw driver, use your teeth or pliers to smash the plug flat, wet the end with some spit, and it slides right into the holder no problem

[tomyloveu]

this is wired question but if my tubless got big hole can i patch them and put tube in it and use it? as normal

[scottykilmer]

@tomyloveu Some guys do that, but of course you need a tire machine to take them apart and put the tube in. Scotty

[tomyloveu]

@tomyloveu 

[howtovideo2011]

scotty, is that a good idea to burn the acces of the plug with a ciggerate lighter? cuz some times you cant cut it right at the edge.

[scottykilmer]

@howtovideo2011 you can always cut it with a razor blade. I wouldn't melt stuff cause you can melt em too far. Scotty

[yononable]

hi scotty, thanks again for this vid, . iam so surprised that with all the rich info you are filling our hallow brains, there are still some unsatisfied folks, well as the saying goes.. we cant win 'em all. its really true is it? regards.

[aghaheyer]

Nice vid bro.

[7477238]

Counted a lot of "That's what she said" bits in this video :)

[Howie262]

Scotty, why do you have a big Orange fan going in all your vidios??

is that to keep cool or is that for the car?

ty!

[BIoodThirst55]

Scotty, is it okay to put fix a flat in a dirtbike tire? I have a yamaha xt 350 that needs to be inspected but I just can't find the time to change the tube. Thanks!

[scottykilmer]

@BIoodThirst55 You can try it, but most don't work very well with tubes, as tube tires don't have sealed rims like tubeless tires. Scotty

[SnowRacerX]

just to add some info

you must be sure that the tire is not damaged by long drive without air since the rim will eat inside the tire making it unsafe to drive... normaly there will be some signs like a black deformed pattern or a "erased" line on the sidewall

in this case you must get a new tire

[afdhalatifftan92]

Lol!

"Get ready for the next nail..."

Hahaha

[mobes329]

Hey Scotty I never thought it could be that easy....thanks

[Matthew55904]

scotty i got a flat on my car years ago both front tyres picked up and nail in one and a screw in the other the shop plugged the hole but it was on the edge of the tread so the patch wouldnt hold had to get 2 brand new tyres

[sbaker3232]

hey scotty....will those plugs work on the sidewall of a tire?

[SnowRacerX]

you must never plug your tires on the sidewall but it could be repaired by some patch that must be glued from inside the tire

[cjtf]

Scotty you are a world of information in relation to cars. Thank you so much for your videos and your ongoing help. Thumbs up here....

[wardubo]

very informing video. I have to buy one of these kits now

[Matthew55904]

scotty my girlfriends mom took her 91 chevy astro into the shop they told her mom its unsafe for the road that parts of the frame rusted away and they jacked it up to look at it and said the frame almost fell off that if they didnt jack it up how they did it would of is that even possible?

[scottykilmer]

@Matthew55904 If you live in the land of rust, that's what happens. Just get rid of it , rust can't be fixed when it's that bad. Scotty

[Matthew55904]

@scottykilmer how much would a new frame cost? it can be redneck repaired welding on old Lawn Mower blades to reinforce the weak parts of the frame

[moofushu]

Scotty I have a question about factory spare tires. If you have a flat on a front wheel drive car and the factory spare is smaller than the "normal" tier, will driving with one factory spare and one "normal size tier mess up the automatic transmission?

[scottykilmer]

@moofushu It will eventually if you use it for a LONG period of time, the differential will wear out prematurely. Just 40 or 50 miles won't do anything though. Scotty

[playstation2bigs]

i wonder if there a deluxe tire plug kit in my country ??

[rebelsoutherner]

i thought that the plugs were only meant for a cheep fix and werent supposed to be drove with on the road.

[scottykilmer]

@rebelsoutherner that's an old wive's tale sold by tire shops who want you to bring the tires into them and charge your forty bucks to take em apart and patch them from the inside. I've been plugging em for 42 years and most of my cars have plugs in some of their tires from damn construction nails everywhere these days. Scotty

[rebelsoutherner]

@scottykilmer cool

[SnowRacerX]

@scottykilmer I live in Norway and this kind of plug sometimes will get loose due to temperature changes and some people don't use glue... had to do the proper repair that includes better plug patch and stronger glue (special cement bl)

[spelunkerd]

Scotty, the kit I bought didn't come with glue. What kind of glue is that?

[scottykilmer]

@spelunkerd go to any auto parts store, they sell the rubber cement there. I get the big tub, it lasts longer and the top seals up tight with the built in brush and cap. Sctty

[makerchris]

were you a mechanic with the screamin chickens?

[scottykilmer]

@makerchris Is that some type of rock band? Scotty

[makerchris]

@scottykilmer haha no, just makin' fun of your army patch. I was with 10th mtn.

[zztopgearhead1]

Scotty, can u make a video of valve taps, an how to bleed a cooling system

[scottykilmer]

@zztopgearhead1 I use a vacuum system to bleed cooling systems, it works best. Most guys don't have this and a compressor to operate such a system. Scotty

[AutoTechHector]

@zztopgearhead1 You wanna see a video on bleeding the cooling system..go visit EricTheCarGuy...this guy has many helpful videos.

[fixinggrace]

Cheaper than a patch and most of the time you don't have to take the tire off the car.

[furyiiiplate]

My wife picks up nails 2x a year average where she works..... I've become quite good at plugging in the last 10 years :)

[Rockford91Fosgate]

after you do this to the tire its ok to drive? or should it only be a temporary fix

[scottykilmer]

@Rockford91Fosgate I've been plugging em for 42 years now, started when I was 14 years old at my father's texaco corner gas station.  I see it as permanent as any fix will be. Scotty

[bluebearbank247]

Would you put a link or manufacture & product name of your magic tools? This is awesome, as well as your radiator stop leak & head gasket seal... I want the exact same stuff you have(not something similar, because some knock-off are really bad)

[scottykilmer]

@bluebearbank247 Hey, if they want to pay for it, fine. that little kit is simply a Slime repair kit from auto zone that I took out of my son's trunk. Scotty

[Ji99i3]

you have the best vids on how to fix cars. period. i wish i lived near you and you would be my mechanic

[robran53]

Thanks Scotty. I just bought a repair kit and am waiting eagerly for my next flat tire. lol

[fedupdeliveryservice]

that slime tire sealant work good to if you got a slow leak in a tire, my lawn mower tires are all jacked up with cracks i use the slime had no more problems out of the tire. Im going to use them until the tire come off the rim lol

[fedupdeliveryservice]

that how i do it scotty soap & water works

[Intelpentium54321]

just a question, would extended periods of time the car is just sitting there cause cupping?

[scottykilmer]

@Intelpentium54321 NO, cupping is caused by the suspension system having a large problem, such as really worn shocks, which make the tire wear like that. they will just crack from sitting too much in the sun. Scotty

[gammatnt]

love your videos

[diistriitglow]

nice clip, im sure you made this video for this guy that couldn't find the "how to fix a flat tire" right?and of course for everyone else....

[chrilla1980]

Haven´t tried that screwdriver trix before....i might try that next time ;)

[Trapster99]

Great vid, thanks for all your efforts.

Question: There is a type of 'liquid plug' that is used in mechanic's shops. Is it any better than the one shown in this vid?

[scottykilmer]

@Trapster99 Liquid plugs can be a pain, as they often unballance the tire's ballance and cause speed wobbling when you drive on the highway. I've seen that MANY times. Scotty

[Trapster99]

@scottykilmer Thanks for the response. It's great to hear the 'inside' info from a true mechanic. Lots of stuff to learn that is not covered in the product info (aka. pitch)

Request: Could you please do a vid on the topic of choosing the right tire for a car?

[fordbroncodave]

been doing tire fixes like that for 6 years. good money maker!

[serchmarc]

wish those kits were selling in my country.good tip scotty didnt know that trick