ScottCommutes

I was in Home Depot and noticed the cans of Fix-a-flat. If it is designed to fix up a car tire, it seems like it might fix a flat bike tire pretty easily. Does anyone have experience with this product? It is available in lots of stores. I have tubes and schrader valves on my bike, but I am open to any thoughts.

Chuck M 

I think a co2 inflator will take up less room in a saddle bag.

Iride01 

Are you having a lot of flats? A new inner tube and CO2 inflator or good frame pump will probably serve you better. There is a limit to how big a hole that stuff can fix. And while a new tube won't fix a tire with a big cut or hole in it, a new tube and a improvised boot will.

CAT7RDR

Please do.
We need a pre and post video account of its effectiveness.
Who knows?

For the record, I would not even use this product on a flat car tire without a tube because of the mess it makes and getting a tire shop to patch/plug the puncture will not happen. You will be advised to purchase a new tire.

ScottCommutes

I'm not having a lot of flats, and I carry spare tubes and a pump. That, as you say, a better solution.
I see Fix-a-flat as a potential emergency solution. Not to carry around, but if you need it, it's available at a big box store, gas station, convenience store - lots of places.

veganbikes

I would recommend first off getting good tires and making sure you have a good rim strip and all of that. Then before my ride I would make sure my tire is properly inflated and in my saddle bag I have a tube and a tire lever (or however many you desire) and a pump or at least some method of inflation. Then I wouldn't worry about messes or gimmicks from a place that doesn't actually deal in bicycles and bicycle equipment on a serious level (yes I know wally-mart sells Bell branded crap and things that look like bikes...)

I have a feeling that if I used that product on a car tire it would be an unmitigated disaster and a huge mess and would cost me more money having to replace the tire or remove it and clean it and all of that it isn't worth it.

Bmach

They make a similar product to fix a flat for cycling. I can’t remember the name, sorry

edit to add

sized for cycling

rsbob 

Does Green Slime ring any bells? Never used it.

HelpSingularity 

I used "Slime" filled inner tubes when i lived in goathead infested Bakersfield, Cal. The stuff was great. There were times, mostly in the fall when a fresh crop of goathead thorns littered the roads, when I would get a dozen hypodermic needle sized punctures. "Slime" fixed it in a jiff. It was a life saver. I don't live there now so it is not the issue it was.

indyfabz

What potential emergency situation?

JohnDThompson 

Here's one version:

ScottCommutes

I'm not sure why that matters. You flat both tires, your pump breaks, you packed the wrong size spare tube, you can't find the bit of staple because it's cold and dark and you keep getting flats, somebody messed with your stuff - whatever. I can just see a situation where you don't have what you need and you're not close to a bike store, but you are close to someplace that sells Fix-a-flat.

Iride01 

In that kind of situation, anything is fair game to try. I haven't been able to find it, but one member here posted a pic of a tire and wheel they wrapped with duct tape to get them home. Never been certain why they'd go for a ride with a roll of duct tape in their bag. But maybe like your proposed situation, they were near a convenience store and that's what they had.

indyfabz

What good would the stuff do if your pump breaks?

Heh. I finally figured out what flim clip your post reminds me of.

WaveyGravey

Would this stuff ruin the tire and tube?

wheelreason

Emergency? near a big box store? I'm sure there is cell service and UBER. I once had to fill a 26x2 tire full of twigs and leaves to get me back from the middle of nowhere (it's amazing how nuch it takes to fill that little void) I tried grass first, but that only made pulpy wheat grass juice after a mile or two.

ScottCommutes

I assumed that it inflates the tire as it seals. I have never used the stuff so I don't know for sure. I would have to read the can.

ScottCommutes

I would scrap the tube anyway after a puncture - many don't. The tire isn't likely to be ruined because the gunk is supposed to seal the puncture and stay in the tube. Having never tried it, I don't know. Scrapping a tube isn't a big deal.

wheelreason

Yes, it's designed to inflate and seal, not sure how much pressure it would get to on a bike tire, it gets to mid to high 20s in car tires.
The issue is that it may or may not seal based on the size and shape of the hole(s) on the tire, and you won't know until you try, and if it doesn't, then what? If you are near a big box (or just as thought experiment), you could use expanding foam, allowing for it to vent, and then trim with a blade, in either case, don't bring it to a LBS after and not mention what you did, makes mechanic turn green and rip out of his clothes.

veganbikes

I have done that as well, we had someone in the group we were riding with and we had to stuff the tire and it worked he made it back another 5 miles at least (maybe more). It took a long time but we got it.

indyfabz

Ah. I had no idea it does that. I don't drive much. The car I brought home at the beginning of July, 2016, has fewer than 27,000 miles on it. I am almost 59, and it's the first vehicle I bought for my exclusive use. Prior to that, I bought one for my mom that she and I shared.

BTW...See edit.

mstateglfr 

Whatever the potential situation may be, a clearly better flat fix solution is to use the finger of a nitrile glove and some tape.
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-c...-patchjob.html

Bmach

that’s what I was thinking off sized for cycling.

cweb99

A 32oz of Fix a Flat would look great in the back of a Jersey pocket

Calsun

Smart riders that use a sealant in their mountain bike tires also carry a spare tube and a way to inflate it. The sealant can burp and not provide a good seal and the best recourse is to insert a tube and add air. I started with sewup tires but I have always preferred to fix a flat in a hotel room or at my house and not sitting beside the road.