An interesting way to have a flat tire.

[Byteme]

I had the five new tires for the e-type mounted and balanced at a local auto dealer about 3 weeks ago.   Yesterday one went flat. No outward evidence of a
puncture. Not knowing if the dealership did flat repairs I went to a local tire shop. I stood there as they dismounted the tire halfway and pulled out the tube. Along with the tube we found a plastic valve cap and a screw in valve stem in the tire. It was pretty obvious the valve stem being pinned between the tire and tube caused the leak.

I dropped by the dealer who installed the tires originally and showed them the cap and stem and told him where we found them.  Without batting an eye the service guy apologized and said they would pick up the cost of the tire repair.

I guess one can think of many morals to this tale but the one that sticks with me is ''What can go wrong will go wrong''. At least in this case the tire decided to go flat in a Steak and Shake parking lot and not at speed on the highway.

[shp4man]

Minimum wage employees. 

[Byteme]

Minimum wage employees. 

Does quick lane pay their tire guys minimum wage? 

[shp4man]

Does quick lane pay their tire guys minimum wage? 

Ya, but minimum wage here in the land of fruits and nuts is currently $10 and hour.

[MX793]

I've yet to find an automotive tire shop that does satisfactory work.  Between not torquing lugs properly (or at all), not balancing tires properly (or at all), using steel, clip-on wheel weight on aluminum wheels ,and using plugs alone instead of patches for nail/screw holes...  If I had the tools, I'd do all of my tire work myself.

[giant_mtb]

Tube tires!  Get yourself some good tire irons and you can do all your tube changes yourself!

[giant_mtb]

I've yet to find an automotive tire shop that does satisfactory work.  Between not torquing lugs properly (or at all), not balancing tires properly (or at all), using steel, clip-on wheel weight on aluminum wheels ,and using plugs alone instead of patches for nail/screw holes...  If I had the tools, I'd do all of my tire work myself.

People always ask me if there's anything I can do about the corrosion that their outside-mounted weights have caused on their aluminum wheels.  Nope, it's fucked.  Sand 'er down!

Tire shop I use uses stick-on weights on the inside. Always always went to them when I had my A4.

[CaminoRacer]

I've yet to find an automotive tire shop that does satisfactory work.  Between not torquing lugs properly (or at all), not balancing tires properly (or at all), using steel, clip-on wheel weight on aluminum wheels ,and using plugs alone instead of patches for nail/screw holes...  If I had the tools, I'd do all of my tire work myself.

I've had the most miserable experience with a tire shop the past two weeks and have no idea where else I could take it that wouldn't just be the same thing all over again. It's depressing.

[Morris Minor]

I had the five new tires for the e-type mounted and balanced at a local auto dealer about 3 weeks ago.   Yesterday one went flat. No outward evidence of a
puncture. Not knowing if the dealership did flat repairs I went to a local tire shop. I stood there as they dismounted the tire halfway and pulled out the tube. Along with the tube we found a plastic valve cap and a screw in valve stem in the tire. It was pretty obvious the valve stem being pinned between the tire and tube caused the leak.

I dropped by the dealer who installed the tires originally and showed them the cap and stem and told him where we found them.  Without batting an eye the service guy apologized and said they would pick up the cost of the tire repair.

I guess one can think of many morals to this tale but the one that sticks with me is ''What can go wrong will go wrong''. At least in this case the tire decided to go flat in a Steak and Shake parking lot and not at speed on the highway.

Have never heard of this one before. As you say if there's a way for an error to happen, it will.  (I have heard of tubes on wire wheels being punctured by errant spokes poking them through. So when I saw your post I assumed that's what it was going to be.)

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Luckily, I have a friend who has a shop that has a top end tire and wheel machine and balancer. I have him do all my stuff, he balances to zero, uses stick on weights, actually lubes the rim and doesn't touch it(it is a no touch machine afterall, but it's amazing how some people still fuck up lips with a no touch). He also patched a tire on my A6 one time. I stopped by the shop for something, he noticed my front tire was low, I said I just put air in them 2 days ago. Before I could say anything he jacked it up and pulled the wheel to patch it. He actually takes the tire off and does a proper patch from inside.

If not for him, I'd be screwed when it comes to tire work.

[Byteme]

Have never heard of this one before. As you say if there's a way for an error to happen, it will.  (I have heard of tubes on wire wheels being punctured by errant spokes poking them through. So when I saw your post I assumed that's what it was going to be.)

I saw a picture once in a trade magazine (way before the internet) of a tire that some Bozo left a pair of pliers in.  Obviously there was an ongoing balance problem which is what prompted the guy to return and complain.  The picture showed a neat negative mold impression of the pliers on the inside of the tire. 

[MX793]

I saw a picture once in a trade magazine (way before the internet) of a tire that some Bozo left a pair of pliers in.  Obviously there was an ongoing balance problem which is what prompted the guy to return and complain.  The picture showed a neat negative mold impression of the pliers on the inside of the tire. 

I once pulled half a pair of pliers out of a tire after a vehicle ran them over.  Sprayed the tire down with soapy water and found the leak that appeared to be a chunk of metal stuck in the tire.  Couldn't pull it out with pliers from the outside, so I pulled the tire off the rim to see if I could pull whatever it was out from the inside.  Look into the tire and see the handle from a pair of pliers.  Pulled it out, stuffed a couple plugs in, big section patch, and it was good as new.

[Rupert]

Most of the flat tires I've had in the woods have been because of sticks.

[giant_mtb]

Most of the flat tires I've had in the woods have been because of sticks.

I've yet to get a flat in the woods, but I suspect it'll happen at some point. Probably on a nice pointy rock.  Gotta watch out for the tire poppers.  They're friggin evvvverywhere here in mining territory.

[Rupert]

Good tires are the key. I get very few flats on AT loaf range E tires.

[Soup DeVille]

Man, I don't even know what loaf range my tires are. Pumperknickel?

[MX793]

Man, I don't even know what loaf range my tires are. Pumperknickel?

That's pretty hardcore.  I didn't know pumpernickel was even streetable.  I find Ciabatta works well in most road conditions.

[CaminoRacer]

I prefer rye loaves to class things up a bit.

[MX793]

For maximum performance, meat is the best loaf range money can buy.

[Soup DeVille]

For maximum performance, meat is the best loaf range money can buy.

Goes like a bat out of hell I hear.

[giant_mtb]

Good tires are the key. I get very few flats on AT loaf range E tires.

I'll have to keep that in mind when I buy tires very soonish.

[Byteme]

For maximum performance, meat is the best loaf range money can buy.

If you plan of fording any rivers salmon loaf is the way to go.   

[RomanChariot]

If you plan of fording any rivers salmon loaf is the way to go.   

Great in wet conditions but the handling is a little fishy on dry ground.

[Rupert]