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Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:31 pm
by lugars4
So i had a puncture the other day, had to use the audi sealant in the boot. It worked ok. It was a big puncture and couldnt last more than a mile driving without the sealant.

Sealed up nicely. Took it to my tyre fitter today and they cant / wont repair the tyre now. Screws up the inner surface so the repair wont work.

So i need a new tyre (has 5.5 to 6mm). and its a Michelin pilot super sport so not he cheapest!

Do replace the pair...i dont like having odd tyre treads, so thats two new tyres, for the sake of a puncture !

This sealant idea is somewhat false hope when it costs you a fortune to get the tyre replaced.

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:48 pm
by Firestarter
Replace both.....This sort of car should be running with the same rubber on all 4 corners

I would also have a scream up with Audi Customer services as IMO tyre weld shouldn't shag a Tyre to the point of it becoming un-repairable?

I may be wrong and stand to be corrected

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:50 pm
by MikeFish
Yep, known problem with sealant, it will get you home but then you gotta throw that tyre away.
Some guys on here have bought a cheap spacesaver, put it in a spare tyre cover / case (which is big enough to put your full size wheel in too after a puncture) and then just leave it in the boot or just carry it on longer trips.

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:02 pm
by Graeme4130
There's also an element of the repair company not wanting to have to clean out all the gooey, sticky crap that it leaves.
Try cleaning it out yourself and taking it to another repair company and see if the answer's different

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:11 pm
by Firestarter
MikeFish wrote:Yep, known problem with sealant, it will get you home but then you gotta throw that tyre away.
Some guys on here have bought a cheap spacesaver, put it in a spare tyre cover / case (which is big enough to put your full size wheel in too after a puncture) and then just leave it in the boot or just carry it on longer trips.
Thanks Mike... a good heads up for us newbies. :thumbs: any idea what the size of the spacesaver wheel should be? Im planning several road trips and having had several cars that don't have spacesaver wheels and rely on the dreaded tyre weld I don't want to be caught short should a puncture occur :bash: :bash: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: :thumbsdown:

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:34 pm
by adsgreen
Most tyre weld go to long ends to claim it is fine to reuse the tyre.
However it's a <beep> miserable job - I've seen the <beep> it leaves behind.

Take it home and clear it out and it'll be fine

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:20 am
by PetrolDave
MikeFish wrote:Yep, known problem with sealant, it will get you home but then you gotta throw that tyre away.
+1
MikeFish wrote:Some guys on here have bought a cheap spacesaver, put it in a spare tyre cover / case (which is big enough to put your full size wheel in too after a puncture) and then just leave it in the boot or just carry it on longer trips.
I've done that for several years, as well as the issue with sealant I didn't feel comfortable about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a tyre with damage too great for tyre sealant to deal with anyway.

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:46 am
by Firestarter
PetrolDave wrote:
MikeFish wrote:Yep, known problem with sealant, it will get you home but then you gotta throw that tyre away.
+1
MikeFish wrote:Some guys on here have bought a cheap spacesaver, put it in a spare tyre cover / case (which is big enough to put your full size wheel in too after a puncture) and then just leave it in the boot or just carry it on longer trips.
I've done that for several years, as well as the issue with sealant I didn't feel comfortable about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a tyre with damage too great for tyre sealant to deal with anyway.
What size spacesaver did you purchase Dave and I assume there is space under the boot mat to store it?

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:35 am
by The_Coat
Firestarter wrote:
PetrolDave wrote:
MikeFish wrote:Yep, known problem with sealant, it will get you home but then you gotta throw that tyre away.
+1
MikeFish wrote:Some guys on here have bought a cheap spacesaver, put it in a spare tyre cover / case (which is big enough to put your full size wheel in too after a puncture) and then just leave it in the boot or just carry it on longer trips.
I've done that for several years, as well as the issue with sealant I didn't feel comfortable about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a tyre with damage too great for tyre sealant to deal with anyway.
What size spacesaver did you purchase Dave and I assume there is space under the boot mat to store it?

Would also like to know this Dave, can you post up a link or something?

Cheers
Ed

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:37 am
by toshers
No room to store it under there because that's where the battery lives. It would be best in a tyre bag and secured in the boot as mentioned previously. PITA I know!

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:00 am
by MikeFish
As Toshers said, the RS4 has the battery in the spare wheel well to help with weight distribution so no space for a tyre hence why they all came with a can of sealant and 12v pump (which i found out to be like an asthmatic donkey, had o swap it for a proper pump but it doesn't fit in the same space).

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:05 am
by WillRS
the other alternative is (assuming you've got rac / aa cover) is just call them out - they use a water soluable gel which easily washes out (and they do cover stuff such as flat tyres)

had a flat a few years back on the focus rs, called AA, bloke came out, filled tyre with gel and pumped it up - cost me £15 or similar

which is less than the gel replacement would have cost from ford (as its single use) plus the tyre was fine afterwards..

just worth mentioning that - sounds lazy I know but definitely worth bearing mind

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:07 am
by MikeFish
If you go for the spare tyre you will need to get yourself a jack too.

This one on eBay will get you the wheel, tyre, jack and brace for £155 although they are used. Tyre size shown in advert.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A3-A4-A6 ... 232cf997a8

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:32 am
by PetrolDave
Firestarter wrote:What size spacesaver did you purchase Dave and I assume there is space under the boot mat to store it?
As already said the battery is under the boot mat so it has to go in a tyre bag in the boot.

It's a 125/70 R 19 on an Audi space saver rim 1K0 601 027 B 03C, I also got a standard A4 jack from Audi - which will fit into the plastic trim under the boot bat with some minor cutting.

P.S. This is another of those "annual questions" :bigblink:

Re: Tyre Sealant destroys tyre.

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:34 am
by PetrolDave
WillRS wrote:the other alternative is (assuming you've got rac / aa cover) is just call them out
That only works in the UK, my main concern was when we are on holiday in (very) rural France - earlier this year we were on a road with no mobile coverage, no houses for over 20 miles and didn't see another car for several hours.