When traveling by car, getting a flat tire is a common occurrence. If you have a spare tire, you can remove the flat tire, use the spare tire to complete your journey, and fix the flat tire later. If you have Flex Seal in your garage, you might be wondering if you can use it to fix your tires.
So, can you use Flex Seal on tires? You cannot use Flex Seal on tires because it is not meant for high-pressure applications. Even though flex seal is described as liquid rubber, it will not work perfectly sealing your tires. Flex Seal can stick on rubber; however, the high pressure and heat could remove the seal while you are driving, which might cause an accident. If your tires have a puncture, you should have them repaired by a licensed mechanic.
A stray nail, sharp rock, broken glass, or any other hazard on the road can damage your tires. A damaged tire is an inconvenience since you have to spend some time either replacing it with a spare tire or repairing it.
If you have a flat tire and no spare wheel, you could be stranded for a long time if you do not repair the tire. If you have a tire repair kit, you could be done within a few minutes. However, if you only have a Flex Seal can, you might be wondering if you can use it to repair your tire.
You cannot use Flex Seal on tires because it is not meant to be used on high-pressure applications. Flex Seal manufacturer does not recommend using it in situations where it will be subjected to high heat or pressure.
If you seal a puncture on your tire with Flex Seal, the seal might come off once you fill the tire with air and start driving. If the seal comes off while you are driving at high speed, the damage on the tire could get worse, and you might lose control and cause an accident. If you do not know how to repair a tire, you should call for assistance and take the flat tire to a licensed mechanic.
If you do not have a spare tire or repair kit and it is getting late, you might be tempted to use the Flex seal spray to fix a flat tire. Flex Seal is described as liquid rubber, and since tires are made of rubber, it is easy to assume that it will fix the issue.
Flex Seal works by seeping into cracks, and once it dries, it forms into a rubberized surface that can block out air, water, and moisture. If you spray Flex Seal on the hole on your tire that is letting air out, it could form a seal that blocks the air for some time.
However, as you inflate the tire, the seal will be exposed to high pressure, and the air could push it out. If you start driving with the Flex Seal repaired tire, the high heat caused by friction between the road and tire could melt the rubber seal, leading to a flat tire.
When using Flex Seal to repair cracks or holes on a surface, you need to let it dry for 48 hours to be more effective. In 48 hours, you need to apply two coats, letting the first coat dry for 24 hours.
If you are on the side of the road with a flat tire, you do not have 48 hours to wait for the Flex Seal to dry before you can start driving again. Even if you repair your tire using Flex Seal at home, it would be a waste of 48 hours since the seal will not work properly when you inflate the tire and start driving.
Before you start a long journey, it is essential to check all your tire pressures, including the spare tire. The correct tire pressure ensures your car can brake, have enough grip, and steer properly. Most modern cars have a tire pressure monitoring system that will alert you if any of the tires is under-inflated or over-inflated.
If your spare tire does not have air, you can take it to your local mechanic, have it inspected and inflate it to the correct PSI recommended by your car’s manual. You should also purchase a tire repair kit, which ranges between 15 USD and 50 USD.
If you repair your tire using a tire repair kit, you need to drive to the nearest garage or tire fitters and replace the tire. When you repair a damaged tire, it is a temporary measure to get you to a place where you can replace the damaged tire.
Driving on a repaired tire for longer than necessary could put you or anyone who drives or travels in your car in danger. You could also get in trouble with the police. Do not exceed the maximum speed recommended in your car’s manual or the tire repair kit.
Does Flex Seal Stick To Rubber?
Flex Seal is a handy liquid rubber sealant or coating that you can use to prevent leakages on certain surfaces. Flex Seal comes in different products such as paste, liquid, spray, glue, and shot, which you can use on different projects. If you want to stop a leak on a rubber surface, you might want to know if Flex Seal can stick to rubber.
Flex Seal can be used on almost every surface, including rubber. When you apply Flex Seal to a rubber surface, it will dry after some time, blocking the crack or hole on the rubber surface. You can use Flex Seal to block leakages on rubber surfaces on different items like awnings, vent pipes, windowsills, skylights, RVs, campers, and more.
However, you should not apply Flex Seal spray over a rubber surface with Flex Seal Liquid. Tires are made from rubber, but you should also not use Flex Seal on them. Tires are exposed to high pressure and temperature, and Flex Seal’s manufacturers do not recommend its use on surfaces exposed to such situations.
There are different products of Flex Seal that you can use in different situations. If you are repairing cracks on a rubber surface, you can use the Flex Seal spray. To use the Flex Seal spray, you first need to prepare the area you will be working from.
Ensure that it is well-ventilated; if possible, take the rubber surface outside to work on it. If the crack is on a small part of a large rubber surface, you should cover the other areas that do not need to be sprayed.
Flex Seal needs to dry to seal the area perfectly. If you spray on a rubber surface exposed to outside elements like rain and wind, ensure that you select a dry week to complete your project.
The next thing you need to do is clean the rubber surface. Wipe off any dirt or dust from the surface or use water or a cleaning solution to remove any dirt that is too hard to get off. If you use water or a cleaning solution, dry it off.
If you do not have time, you can still use Flex Seal Spray on the wet surface; however, it is more effective on a dry surface. If you are spraying a small part of a large rubber surface, you can use tape to cover areas around the crack that you want to seal.
Once you have finished preparing the rubber surface, vigorously shake the can of Flex Seal for about a minute. Direct the nozzle to the surface and in a sweeping motion, start spraying from a distance of 8 – 12 inches.
Focus on the holes or cracks in the rubber surface, ensuring that the rubber liquid drips into the spaces. Let the first coat dry for twenty-four hours before applying the next coat. You should let Flex Seal dry for 48 hours to get maximum protection.
The durability of Flex Seal on a rubber surface will depend on several factors such as environment, paint, and maintenance. Once you have applied Flex Seal on a rubber surface, you should keep checking on it periodically. The Flex Seal can last for several years without losing its strength if well maintained.
If the Flex Seal patch keeps coming off, cracking, or peeling within a few months, you should find a different solution to fixing the crack or speak to the Flex Seal customer service team. Their representative might explain how to make the Flex Seal last long on a rubber surface.
Can Flex Glue Be Used on Tires?
Flex Glue is a waterproof adhesive that you can use for some interior and exterior home repairs. Flat tires can happen at any time, but if you know some quick fixes and have the right items, you can be on the road in a short time. If you have a flat tire, you might be wondering if you can use Flex Glue to fix it.
You can use Flex Glue on tires either when patching or plugging a puncture. Flex Glue can be applied on various surfaces, including rubber. It usually comes in a squeeze tube or cartridge. Flex Glue in a squeeze tube is the easiest to use when repairing a tire. However, if you use Flex Glue to repair your tires, you should not drive your car on those tires for long distances and at high speeds. The repair is a temporary fix; you should take the tire to a licensed mechanic as soon as possible to get it fixed properly.
When using FLEX Glue to repair your tires, you need to decide whether you shall plug the tire or patch it. Plugging involves inserting a strip of leather into the hole in the tire, while pathing involves placing a piece of rubber on the inside of the tire.
There are instances when you should use the plugging or patching method to repair a puncture in a tire. For example, you should not plug the tire if the puncture is on the side, the hole is irregular, the hole is too large, or the tire has a bubble. You should not patch a tire if the hole is on the sidewall, it is at a strange angle or another patch near the hole.
To plug a tire using Flex Glue, remove the wheel from the car and pull the object out of the tire. Clean the hole using a rasp tool. Apply Flex Glue in the hole to lubricate it to make it easier to insert the plug into the hole.
Using an insertion tool, insert the plug into the puncture hole and cut the excess material using a razor or knife. Fill air in the tire to the recommended air pressure and test the seal using a mixture of soap and water. Apply more Flex Glue if needed.
To patch a tire using Flex Glue, remove the wheel for the car and inflate the tire. Check where the air is escaping from and mark the hole. Remove the tire from the rim and check the inside of the tire for any foreign objects.
Clean the area with the puncture and apply Flex Glue. Get a tire patch, cut it in the correct size, place it on the hole, and press firmly. Let the patch dry for a few minutes, mount the tire to the rim, and inflate the tire to the recommended PSI tire pressure.
Check if the hole has been properly sealed before driving the car. When you use Flex Glue to patch a tire, ensure you only do it once. If you already used the Flex Glue to patch a tire, patching another hole in the same tire using Flex Glue could cause the wheel to clump, which could be dangerous for you and your passengers.
Wrap Up
A flat tire is an inconvenience, especially when you have limited time to reach your destination. It could take you a few minutes to mount the spare wheel, and it could take you more to fix a damaged tire.
Flex Seal is liquid rubber, but it does not work well if you use it to seal a puncture on your tire. It is not recommended to use Flex Seal on surfaces exposed to high pressure and temperature. However, you can use it to seal cracks or holes in other rubber surfaces on your car since Flex Seal can stick to rubber.
To avoid being unconvinced by a flat tire, ensure that you have a spare wheel with the recommended PSI tire pressure. You should also check the tire pressure of all the tires, ensuring that they have the recommended PSI tire pressure.