A motorcycle with a flat tire is a major problem since motorcycles don’t come with a spare tire as cars do. This makes a flat tire a serious problem for any biker, especially if you are on a long trip on a quiet road. What can bikers do when they have a flat tire to get themselves out of this jam? Can you use the “Fix A Flat” product on motorcycle tires?
“Fix A Flat” is not a recommended product to use on motorcycle tires. The manufacturer discourages using the product on motorcycles. If this product is used, you should ride very slowly to the next tire repair shop to professionally repair the puncture.
Cars have the advantage of having 4-wheels in contact with the road, while motorcycles with only two wheels on the ground are affected badly by an imbalance in one of the tires. This is a concern many motorcyclists have about introducing products into the tire to fix the puncture and get back on the road. Is it safe to use products like Fix A Flat on motorcycle tires?
Is “Fix A Flat” Suitable For Motorcycle Tires?
Getting a puncture on your motorcycle tire is a major dilemma for the rider, especially with no spare tire in the trunk! The problem is compounded if you have no mobile phone reception in the area or are on a quiet stretch of highway with no help in sight!
In situations such as this, it would be useful to be self-sufficient and have the necessary equipment to get yourself out of the jam without someone to help you. Even a temporary fix that allows you to limp to the nearest town or tire repair shop is better than being stuck on the side of the road for hours on end!
This is where products such as “Fix A Flat” can be an invaluable self-rescue tool to get you on the road again towards civilization and safety. However, the problem is that many tire sealant products are not recommended for high-performance motorcycles and can be dangerous when used on these tires.
“Fix A Flat” is a conveniently sized product, and its compact and lightweight package may tempt riders to take this product along as an emergency solution on the road. However, it should not be your primary tire repair solution.
The manufacturer of “Fix A Flat” recommends against using the product on motorcycles.
A better solution is to carry a tire plug repair kit and a CO2 tire inflation kit to get the repaired tire up to pressure. Some bikers carry “Fix A Flat” as an additional measure and will use it in an emergency despite the manufacturer’s warning against this practice.
How Does “Fix A Flat” Work?
“Fix A Flat” is an aerosol can about the size of most insecticide tins, with a pipe protruding from the actuator button that can be connected to any standard tire valve.
It is packaged as an aerosol can with a pressurized sealant inside that will seal the puncture and inflate the tire simultaneously.
Many bikers like to carry products like “Fix A Flat” because of its compact size, convenience, and speed with which this solution can be deployed. You can have your flat tire repaired and be back on the road in 30-minutes or less with this product without the need for any tools.
It should be noted that this is not a permanent fix for the puncture in the tire. The product is only rated to last 3-days or a maximum of 100-miles. The “Fix A Flat” aerosol is not intended as a permanent fix but rather a temporary, emergency fix to get you to your nearest tire repair shop.
The product comes in a variety of can sizes designed to be used on specific tire sizes. This will ensure you have a can that can properly inflate the tire to the point that it is safe to ride without causing damage to the tire or the wheel rim.
The product supplier has a tire size calculator to establish the correct size “Fix A Flat” can you need for your tire size. Input your tire size, including the rim size, into the calculator, and it will calculate the optimal size can you need for your tire.
Why Is “Fix A Flat” Not Good For Motorcycles?
Motorcycle tires and their conditions are an important safety aspect for bikers, and anything that can affect the balance or weight distribution in the tire can be dangerous. This is especially true on performance motorcycles capable of high speeds, where the tire’s condition is even more important for riding safety.
The sealant injected into the tire can settle unevenly inside the tire, throwing the tire’s balance off because of the uneven weight distribution of the sealant in the tire.
This can have dangerous consequences to the tire’s stability, especially at speed, and can produce unpredictable performance anomalies to the bike and its road holding capability.
Another safety aspect to bear in mind is that the product may not inflate your motorcycle tire to optimal pressures. Improper tire pressure, either over or under-inflated, can have serious repercussions on the performance of the bike and the tire’s ability to perform on the road surface.
If you have used this product in your motorcycle tire, you should exercise extra care when riding your bike after injecting the product to fix a puncture. Keep your speed low and don’t ride aggressively since the bike’s handling and performance may be compromised with less-than-ideal tire pressure and tire imbalance.
What Can Alternatives to “Fix A Flat” Can You Use?
There are some alternative tire products you can use on a motorcycle to repair or prevent punctures to avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
Some products are a sealant you put in the tire as a preventative measure to protect the tire from minor punctures. These products are a tire treatment that is installed in the tire and evenly distributed to provide an extra layer of sealant along with the inside crown of the tire where the tread is located.
This layer of sealant prevents items from piercing into the tire far enough to cause a leak, and if they do, once the item is removed, the sealant self-heals to close the hole.
An example of such a product is Ride-On Tire Protection, which can be installed by a tire shop, or a DIY installation but requires access to a compressor to inflate your tire.
Conclusion
According to the manufacturer, “Fix A Flat” should not be used as a puncture repair solution for motorcycles. However, many riders still carry and use this product as an emergency measure.
If you are a rider that does this, it requires extreme caution riding the bike after administering the product, and you should get to a tire repair center as soon as possible to have the sealant removed and the puncture repaired professionally, and the wheel balanced.
A safer alternative to “Fix A Flat” is to carry a puncture plug repair kit with a CO2 inflation kit. This may take a little longer to repair the puncture, but you can ride in safety after the puncture repair.