Flat Tire Fix - Help!

[Red Baron]

I have an old car in the garage that needs to go right now. It barely runs and I don't want to put any more money into it. I hope to sell it for parts on Craigslist or whatever.

All four tires are deflated and won't hold air for more than a day or so. They are VR 55 X16 sports car tires on three piece alloy rims. No patches in the tires and I suspect serious rim leaks. Even if I jack up the car and inflate the tires they still go flat quickly, once I lower the jack. The car has been sitting on the rims for over a year.

Question,

What can I do to get the tires inflated and -stay- inflated.

I have a small electric tire inflator and a 3 gallon air compressor.

Looking for a quick, cheap and semi-permanent solution so I can get rid of this car.

Thanks!

 

[Cardinal]

Fill em with Fix-a-Flat?

 

[ceeblue]

You'll get more lookers on eBay. You can sell it there as a parts car and don't rack up their ridiculous fees for drive-away cars. I sold my car there a year or two ago and think I had to not mention the clear title in the listing. The buyers came with a flatbed. I tossed them the keys and title and told them to go ahead and just drive it home. They were only a mile down side streets. I got double the junk dollars. It was one of those old Hondas that the ass end rusts off of.

Then again, I could have gotten much more money selling the parts. But I can't turn a wrench anymore, don't have a garage and don't know what I'm doing.

Never bought any Fix-a-Flat.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

I've had good luck with Slime . Had an ATV with badly weather checked sidewalls, added about a gallon of slime and they are still holding air two years later.

 

[ChemicalGal]

We've only used Slime once. On our riding lawnmower, tire would have to be pumped up every week before we could mow. Put in the Slime and haven't had a flat since. Still check it but it's been months now without a flat.
ymmv
chemical gal

 

[lectrickitty]

I agree that slime works great. Around here people put it in tractor tires to keep from having flats. If you use any type of sealer you'll have to drive the car a few miles to get the sealant spread around inside the tire to be sure it covers the leaky spot.

IF you use Fix a flat or slime, please tell the buyer it's in there. One of the worst parts of fixing a flat tire is when the guy opens the tire and all that gunk comes spraying out in his face! If they are warned, they can shield themselves.

A way to discover if it's the bead not sealing is to put a bit of dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water. Spray it around the seal and watch for any bubbles. If it's a pin hole in the tire itself, the same spray will locate the leak.

If the bead is leaking, it can sometimes be sealed by spraying some oil around the bead then over inflating the tire until it seals (but don't over inflate too much and blow the tire up.) Pin holes can be fixed with either a patch inside or if it's bigger, then a plug patch will close it up.

 

[Red Baron]

Thanks for the tips!

I used half a gallon of "Slime" and it didn't work for crap.

Couldn't get the tires off of the hubs so I spun them like crazy by hand. What a hassle jacking up the car, taking out the valves, adding the Slime and reinflating the tires. At least I have a 3 gallon compressor which helped alot.

At least Lowes gave me money back for the gallon of Slime.

Tow truck dude just winched the car out of the garage onto a flatbed.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

Probably too cold and not spun fast enough. Sorry it didn't work for you.

 

[Mechanic]

I've got about four gallons of Slime in my old Ford tractor. I never had a flat again. I don't hardly ever need to put air in it either.