tire is flat almost instantly, bf put on a donut and that went flat too… what is the issue??
Posted by Classic-Art9638@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 43 comments
so my bf just got new tires on his car but the front right one gets flat so fast. he thought he ran over something like a nail so he put the donut tire on it and now that is also flat. we are kind of broke right now and tired of spending money on tires.. but how can we figure out what the issue is without spending thousands of dollars?
DaishiGD@reddit
Sounds like you guys should be bussing if you can event afford $40 to fix a flat...
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
we have saving accounts for emergency but who wants to use it on one singular tire? be so fr
DaishiGD@reddit
Doesn't sound like driving/transportation is a high priority and/or needed for either of you.
Many people use their emergency fund to fix their vehicle and would consider that an emergency.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
because we have two cars, i have one, he has one. we need it to get to school and work, but we have other priorities other than a car/tire problem. which is why i asked for the cheapest option. if it was too expensive or something we would just use mine.
Fancy_Strawberry7137@reddit
Both being flat is not related. The donut was likely not at the correct pressure to begin with. There is no issue that could exist that would flatten multiple tires on different wheels.
loweexclamationpoint@reddit
Possible clue: landlord or neighbor just put on a new roof. There's a reason roofers don't park in the driveway.
Lobster70@reddit
My roofers promised to run a strong roller magnet around the house to collect stray nails. Five years later I'm still finding roofing nails occasionally. I don't think they did the magnet thing, or they need a better method.
RealBigDickBrannigan@reddit
Or they were using aluminum roofing nails...
Slight_Manufacturer6@reddit
Could have a neighbor letting air out of their tire.
AndyValentine@reddit
Not true. They could be parked on a very localised bed of nails.
RagingAnus69@reddit
Not contained to the car, at least. They could have roads littered with debris but OP didn't give any indication that other tires and other cars were having issues.
All said, you're probably right. Donuts are notorious for dry rot and low pressure. Granted, that's because they're rarely used and in an ideal world they would never be used.
Brilliant-Onion2129@reddit
Take it back to the place that mounted the tire and tell them to get it right! Put air in the donut.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
turns out the car place that put new tires on bent his rim or something so he had to get a new tire, new rim, and fix something else i forgot.
Substantial_Team6751@reddit
Getting a flat fixed doesn't cost thousands of dollars.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
ik that, but only that tire gets flat, no other tire on his car. so i was thinking it was something within of his car not just the tire, hence the thousands of dollars mechanics charge.
hatred-shapped@reddit
I'm assuming someone didn't check his spare tires pressure monthly like you are supposed to.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
yk what i asked him this and immediately said no. smh
PinkGreen666@reddit
Take the tire to a tire shop and have them find the nail and patch it, it’s usually free. In fact it should be free.
Have them inflate your spare too.
miseeker@reddit
You said he just got new tires. New tires usually come with some kind of guarantee. It could be something they messed up putting the tire on, not seating at the rim bad valve stem maybe just a faulty tire from the tire maker. I would take it back to the shop. I purchased it from and make them check it out.
Theycallmesupa@reddit
I've had tires that didn't seat right and would only temporarily hold air. I had to scroll way too far to find this comment.
Thereelgerg@reddit
They have holes in them somewhere. The air has escaped from the holes.
ifulbd@reddit
If in the US, go to Discount Tire with the flat tire. If it is able to be patched/plugged, they’ll do it for free. If they can’t, they won’t charge. In the Mid 1990s lived next to a roofer, and had lots of flats due to roofing nails. Been going to Discount Tire ever since for tires and flats.
Familymanjoe@reddit
They only do this if you buy the tires from them right? Please reply if I'm wrong. 😁
ifulbd@reddit
They will fix any tire, regardless of where you bought it. They do limit each tire to a maximum of 3 plugs, and have standards for tread depth and how close the hole is to the shoulder. They’ve bought lifelong loyalty from me when it comes to buying tires, so the “free patch/plug” service works as a marketing tool.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
ouuu okay okay this helped a lot! thank you will try this :-)
Unlucky-Hair-6165@reddit
Periodically check the pressure of your spare tire. They can lose air over time, sadly many people neglect to ever check them until they need it.
Slight_Manufacturer6@reddit
The two tire issues are unrelated. If the tire is new, bf should go back to where he got the tire from and have them fix it.
Sweet_Speech_9054@reddit
Put a tire on and turn the steering wheel back and forth. If it’s catching on something then that could be causing the issues.
47ES@reddit
Go to where you purchased the new tires, unless the flat is unrepairable, they should fix it for free unless they are stupid and never want you or anyone you knows, business again in the future. I've never seen a reputable tire place not fix flats for free.
They may even fix the spare. No need to take the car, just the flats.
Graflex01867@reddit
OP, go back to the tire shop you bought the tires from and ask them to look at it. It’s possible the tire isn’t seated correctly, or maybe the valve stem is bad. Either way, there’s a good chance it’s their fault, and they should fix it for free.
Get an air pump or go to a gas station and inflate the spare tire. It’s probably just not fully inflated, it’s just bad lunch/coincidence, nothing to do with you car.
Lobster70@reddit
Do you live in a newer neighborhood with several homes under construction? The only time I had flat tires with any frequency was when I was in that situation. Higher risk for stray nails and screws.
knight9665@reddit
the donut was prob always flat.
for your front tire take it to the tire shop and have them patch it up.
also patch up your donut.
discount tire patches tires for free.
XtraChrisP@reddit
Put air in the donut. Then move the donut to a rear wheel, and put the regular tire from the rear up front.
unurbane@reddit
Issue is lack of maintaining a spare tire while it’s not needed, ie before you have a flat tire to begin with.
Ali-Saurus@reddit
It’s 2 issues.
1) the right front tire got a nail in it 2) your boyfriend is very bad at maintaining his car and didn’t maintain the air pressure in his spare
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
most likely lol, he sucks at car maintenance… i have more knowledge than he does haha
Ali-Saurus@reddit
Relatable. I know way more about cars than my boyfriend does 😂
right415@reddit
Find a squirt bottle and mix up some dish soap and water. Spray it on the tire(s) and look for bubbles .
its_ELIAS99@reddit
This is the way. Both tires going flat aren’t related to each other meaning the car isn’t causing it. Put air in the first tire and spray it with soapy water. The bubbles will show you the leak. Do the same for second one.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
thank yall, will try this
BouncingSphinx@reddit
They're both flat, that's the end of it. Add air to the donut and see if it holds. If not, just spring for the regular tire to be replaced.
There's no common issue that would cause both to be flat.
Classic-Art9638@reddit (OP)
okay thank you!
Cheeko914@reddit
The issue is your full size tire either got a nail coming out of the tire shop or had a leak coming from the rim, and you put on the donut that you never checked the tire pressure on.