Make sure that the damage is not too extensive and not larger than ¼ of an inch. If you’ve driven the tire over a nail or if some other object has torn a hole in the tire, then you will probably be able to find the hole easily. Look for the tear or hole in the tire - Sometimes, this spot will be obvious. If the tire is too damaged, get a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic to put on a spare tire instead. It should only be used as a temporary solution until the tire can be replaced or a spare tire can be installed. It is also not designed to repair large tears or cracks in sidewall. Warning: Fix-a-Flat is not designed to repair completely flat tires. Identify the damaged tire - The damaged tire will look visibly deflated compared to the other tires. That way, you can decide whether Fix-a-Flat is the appropriate method for repairing your tire issue. Identify the source of the leak - Once you realize your tire is losing air, it’s important to identify where the leak is coming from. Stop the car in a safe location - If you’re driving, pull over to a safe location on the side of the road or into a parking lot. Gather the correct materials - In order to use Fix-a-Flat, you will need to purchase one can of Fix-a-Flat Here's how to fix a flat tire using Fix-a-Flat: How to use Fix-a-flat If your car is equipped with tire pressure warnings, please consult the manufacturer before you use an aerosol tire sealer like Fix-a-Flat. It is advisable to keep a can of Fix-a-Flat in your car at all times so that you’re not stranded the next time your tires lose air due to a hole or some other type of damage. It allows you to drive your car safely to the closest gas station where the tire can be filled and repaired properly. Changing a flat tire can be difficult and requires several different tools that you might not have handy.įix-a-Flat is a convenient option for plugging the hole in the tire once you’ve identified where the damage is located. This goes all the way back to the beginning: Appropriately inflated tires conform better to imperfections in the road, absorbing impacts and allowing you to ride more efficiently and safely with more comfort and control.Flat tires are an inevitable part of owning a car. Instead, Giant recommends following the inflation advice and pressure guide presented here.Ĭheck you tire pressure before every ride: Inflating to maximum pressure is unnecessary and for the reasons discussed above can give a harsh, unpleasant and potentially dangerous ride experience. To make sure every ride is great, Giant recommends that you never inflate your tires up to the maximum pressure either. Maximum tire pressure is NOT the recommended tire pressure: You should never inflate your tire beyond that pressure. To make sure every ride is safe, Giant provides a recommended maximum (MAX) tire pressure, indicated either on the rim, the tire or the rim tape. Never inflate over the maximum tire pressure indicated on the rim, the tire and /or the rim tape: As such, it’s essential to adjust your tire pressure according to your weight rather than try to use a “one pressure fits all” measurement (like the magic 100 psi / 6.9 bar we mention above!). Tires support the weight of the rider plus the bike plus any luggage or gear for this reason, heavier riders require more pressure and lighter riders require less. Likewise, in wet conditions, just 10 psi / 0.7 bar less than what you usually might run will give you an increased contact patch and much better grip.Īdjust your tire pressure according to the volume of the tire you’re using:ĩ0 psi / 6.2 bar could be perfect for your weight and the road surface when you’re on 25c tires, but if you decide to swap out to wider 28c tires, you’ll be increasing tire volume significantly, which means if you want the same smooth and supple ride quality from your new tire size, you’ll have to adjust air pressure downward to accommodate.Īdjust your tire pressure based on your weight: This allows the tire to conform better to imperfections in the road, reducing deflection and wasted energy as well as eliminating a harsh, chattery ride feel. However, when riding on anything other than a perfectly smooth surface (which, if we’re honest, is what most of us ride on most of the time), we recommend taking advantage of the benefits of tubeless and hookless technology and going with 10-15 psi / 0.7-1.0 bar less than what you might have normally put in (around 85-90 psi / 5.9-6.2 bar in the case of 100 psi / 6.9 bar mentioned above, for example). Alter your tire pressure based on the surface you’re riding on:Ĭonventional road wisdom has always held that 100 psi (6.9 bar), more or less, is the magic number for speed and compliance, and on brand-new smooth pavement or at the track, your tires could feel great inflated to that pressure.
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