WHEN A TIRE REPAIR KIT IS BETTER THAN A SPARE TIRE

San Luis Obispo, CA (February 2015) –The average driver will endure at least five flat tires in his or her driving lifetime. This works out to 220 million per year in the U.S or seven flat tires occurring every second. Nobody wants to deal with a flat but it seems it’s inevitable.

According to a recent Michelin survey, 76 percent of respondents said they know how to change a tire, but only 42 percent of that same group could identify the proper first step (loosen the lug nuts).

So, just about everyone will get a flat tire or even multiple flats, yet the majority of drivers can’t change a tire. Roadside assistance is always an option, if you have it, but waiting by the side of the road can be dangerous and time consuming. Enter the emergency tire repair kit. In lieu of a spare tire, many automotive manufacturers are now supplying a temporary tire sealer with an inflator that most drivers can intuitively use in the majority of flat-tire situations to get them on their way quickly and safely.

Even though tire repair kits are quicker and safer than changing a tire, there are many who still think a spare is the way to go. Here are six examples of when a tire repair kit is not only smarter, but the only way to go, according to Fix-a-Flat and Slime, the leaders in tire repair and flat tire prevention:

1. No Air In The Spare:   Most drivers don’t check their tire pressure, let alone the spare tire. They typically find out too late that their spare is flat.
2. You Lost Your Keys: No, not your car keys. The keys to your locking lug nuts. If you can’t remove the flat, you can’t install the spare.   This also applies if your lug nuts are stripped.
3. But Baby It’s Cold Outside: The road’s icy, the wind is howling and cars are flying by at 70 mph. Oh, and it’s dark and freezing rain is pouring down. A tire repair kit will have you out of this uncomfortable and dangerous situation in no time flat (pun intended).
4. Where’s Jack?: Your son borrowed the jack and never put it back. Time to ground him and break out the tire repair kit.
5. Little Person, Big Vehicle: A full-size spare on a pickup or SUV weighs quite a bit. So does the original wheel. Those who are more demure in stature, or sick or elderly, may have a hard time lifting and handling them.
6. You Have To Be Different: Perhaps you made modifications to your vehicle such as oversized tires. Guess what? Your spare won’t work if you have a rear flat. It can cause differential damage.

Also, those who ride motorcycles have no spare and many drivers who tow don’t have one for their trailers. A tire repair kit will solve all of these issues.

Yet, despite what seems like an ideal solution for manufacturer and driver, there still is quite a bit of confusion regarding Tire Repair Kits. Patrick Mallon, Marketing Director for Fix-a-Flat and Slime, has the following advice for some contentious issues regarding these spare tire replacements:

1. The sealant in tire repair kits will ruin my tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS): False. Most reputable sealants, when used as directed, will not affect TPMS whatsoever. A simple cleaning of the TPMS sensors with water is all it takes.
2. The sealant in tire repair kits will ruin my tire: False. Today’s formulas in trustworthy brands can easily be washed out with water and will not ruin your tire.
3. The tire shop hates dealing with tire sealant: Maybe. If the sealant is left inside the tire for too long a period, or if a sticky substandard brand is used, then your tire repair guy may get upset. Otherwise, all he has to do is hose out the tire, which many of them do anyway when installing a tire patch.
4. Tire sealant is only temporary: True. Just like a spare donut tire, it is not a permanent fix and you should bring your vehicle in as soon as possible.

About Fix-A-Flat^®

Since 1970, Fix-A-Flat^® has been the #1 brand in tire repair in the United States. Their aerosol tire inflator products have helped millions of people safely repair flat tires and get back the road for more than 40 years. Their new upcoming product line, Fix-A-Flat^® Ultimate Repair kits, will provide consumers with state of the art technology in flat tire repair.

About Slime

Slime was founded in 1989, in a garage in central California, close to numerous mountain biking trails that created a high demand for “the green slimy stuff” to repair tires. Since then, Slime has grown into a company that exports its products to 70 countries and is the leader in tire sealant and tire repair technology. Since our founding, we have been committed to manufacturing a product that is safe for our customers and the environment. For further information please call Slime at 1-888-45-SLIME (1-888-457-5463).