Video: Off-Roading in Sedona, AZ

[HaulingAss]

Uh, what, yes but but but? Lol a spare is just a spare. when you're too far away or out of service range it's a life line. Tires get damaged off-road, yup.

Don't over analyze it ?

...**immediately airs down to 12psi**

Well, we're going to have to disagree on that one. If you plan right, the worst thing about an unrepairable flat without a spare is simply an inconvenience. And it's an exceedingly small risk if you take care of your tires, are prepared to plug common punctures and understand the limits of your tires.

Off-roaders get thousands of unnecessary flats every year because they don't know what they are doing. Earlier this year I warned people about airing down excessively in a road-going tire like the OEM AT's. Several months later, Tesla came out with a recommendation to not air down below 36 psi. Do you think they just made that up to make the trails more difficult to navigate safely? ?

I've aired my down to 29 psi, because that's what I needed to safely navigate some sloppy old snowpack. But I understand the limitations of the the tires and only drove about two miles at slow speed (until the snow hazard was gone) and then aired them back up to 40 psi. I couldn't have done it without the front and rear locking differentials too. But if I was going to be doing a lot of driving on old, deep, sloppy snowpack, I would get tires designed to be aired down to 20 psi. The OEM tires are not and will become susceptible to sidewall weakening and failure if you treat them like that for long.

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[tmeyer3]

Well, we're going to have to disagree on that one. If you plan right, the worst thing about an unrepairable flat without a spare is simply an inconvenience. And it's an exceedingly small risk if you take care of your tires, are prepared to plug common punctures and understand the limits of your tires.

Off-roaders get thousands of unnecessary flats every year because they don't know what they are doing. Earlier this year I warned people about airing down excessively in a road-going tire like the OEM AT's. Several months later, Tesla came out with a recommendation to not air down below 36 psi. Do you think they just made that up to make the trails more difficult to navigate safely? ?

I've aired my down to 29 psi, because that's what I needed to safely navigate some sloppy old snowpack. But I understand the limitations of the the tires and only drove about two miles at slow speed (until the snow hazard was gone) and then aired them back up to 40 psi. I couldn't have done it without the front and rear locking differentials too. But if I was going to be doing a lot of driving on old, deep, sloppy snowpack, I would get tires designed to be aired down to 20 psi. The OEM tires are not and will become susceptible to sidewall weakening and failure if you treat them like that for long.

I was just joking with ya! But in seriousness, I think it's more of a ingrained thing in me than any kind of logical analysis. I go places that can hit my sidewalls pretty hard, and running over a screw or something I'd rather just swap the tire than have to sit on the side of no-man's-land dirt road trying to patch it in 105F. I'd personally rather slap on a spare and worry about it later.

 

[CyberTex]

Excellent video, amazing scenery.

How'd the wrap hold up--do you have problems with pinstriping?

Every time out I seem to gain a few more scratches on the fender flares or mirrors.

 

[HaulingAss]

I was just joking with ya! But in seriousness, I think it's more of a ingrained thing in me than any kind of logical analysis. I go places that can hit my sidewalls pretty hard, and running over a screw or something I'd rather just swap the tire than have to sit on the side of no-man's-land dirt road trying to patch it in 105F. I'd personally rather slap on a spare and worry about it later.

I said plug, not patch. It's quicker and easier than swapping out a tire, especially if it's 105F out.

Have you ever plugged a tire before?

 

[Crissa]

Uh, what, yes but but but? Lol a spare is just a spare. when you're too far away or out of service range it's a life line. Tires get damaged off-road, yup.

Don't over analyze it ?

...**immediately airs down to 12psi**

As long as I can hike out in a day, I don't sweat it.

-Crissa

 

[rlhamil]

I said plug, not patch. It's quicker and easier than swapping out a tire, especially if it's 105F out.

Have you ever plugged a tire before?

I did recently (on a Kia Sportage that caught a screw), at about that temperature, and it wasn't much fun. I had a great pump so could pump up enough to make it to AutoZone and then back home. Pushing the worm in was an absolute bear, even though the hole wasn't tiny and I did a thorough job with the reaming tool. I had to position so the hole pointed straight back, sit on the ground, and push with my feet to get the worm in.

I'd say it was a bit easier than a tire/wheel swap, but not a lot easier. That would be different on the Cybertruck, where the wheel/tire is quite a bit heavier, and would be more of a pain to handle.

Seems that tire problems are ALWAYS in miserable weather, either hot or raining.

If I have a spare, I carry a breaker bar, removable ratchet head (for putting the nuts back on or once they're loosened), and impact socket, at the recommendation of a late friend; much easier than the lug wrench/jack handle that tends to come with cars (which strips out after a few uses because it's not hardened enough). Also a split beam torque wrench, to get the lug nuts back on at their specified torque. I could carry a rechargeable impact wrench (nice one was on sale), but that assumes I remember to keep it always charged, and never use it to snug up the lug nuts.

Only thing I'm missing is a jack that's much better than the supplied one without being crazy big or heavy. Recommendations for one suitable for a Cybertruck (which I don't have yet) would be appreciated, regardless of whether or not I decide to bother getting a spare, since I just might consider a spare set of wheels with different tires on them.

 

[Crissa]

I did recently (on a Kia Sportage that caught a screw), at about that temperature, and it wasn't much fun. I had a great pump so could pump up enough to make it to AutoZone and then back home. Pushing the worm in was an absolute bear, even though the hole wasn't tiny and I did a thorough job with the reaming tool. I had to position so the hole pointed straight back, sit on the ground, and push with my feet to get the worm in.

They make these tools called 'power drills' you can use instead of a hand reamer.

-Crissa

 

[tmeyer3]

I said plug, not patch. It's quicker and easier than swapping out a tire, especially if it's 105F out.

Have you ever plugged a tire before?

Nope! I just swap it! lol

 

[rlhamil]

They make these tools called 'power drills' you can use instead of a hand reamer.

-Crissa

The reaming tool was the easy part, not enough bother to go get the drill. Except maybe a drill bit just slightly bigger than what the reaming tool did would have made it easier. However both reaming tool and insertion tool and worms were part of the same kit, so I didn't want to make the hole bigger, on the assumption the kit designers knew what they were doing.

FWIW (and not wanting to jinx myself), the plug has held for quite some time now, and through temperature changes.

 

[Crissa]

The reaming tool was the easy part, not enough bother to go get the drill. Except maybe a drill bit just slightly bigger than what the reaming tool did would have made it easier. However both reaming tool and insertion tool and worms were part of the same kit, so I didn't want to make the hole bigger, on the assumption the kit designers knew what they were doing.

FWIW (and not wanting to jinx myself), the plug has held for quite some time now, and through temperature changes.

The reamer is there to make the hole big enough (and clean enough) that the worm fits and fills the gap without leaks on a ragged edge.

...Of course, I always leave this stuff to my spouse ^-^

-Crissa

 

[HaulingAss]

Pushing the worm in was an absolute bear, even though the hole wasn't tiny and I did a thorough job with the reaming tool. I had to position so the hole pointed straight back, sit on the ground, and push with my feet to get the worm in.

I'd say it was a bit easier than a tire/wheel swap, but not a lot easier. That would be different on the Cybertruck, where the wheel/tire is quite a bit heavier, and would be more of a pain to handle.

Did you lube the worm before insertion? That makes it about 3 times easier!

There are a lot of cheap plug kits on the market and I'm sure some of them are not designed and tested to actually work well, I only have experience with ones that work well.

You shouldn't have to push with your feet to get a plug in! It's possible the reamer in your kit was not very functional. That said, some people could never get a Cybertruck wheel and tire back into the bed of the truck (or the spare wheel onto on the wheel lugs). Plugs are just easier.

But the best flat is the one that doesn't happen. And we are entering into the time of year when the weather will start cooling down. Just a friendly reminder to people to not procastinate the adding of air as the weather cools. Don't be shy about adding a few extra psi either. People often only fill to the recommended cold psi, and they do this in the afternoon when the tires aren't cold. That means their tires are NEVER inflated to the recommended pressure! I always over-inflate a bit, especially this time of year, because you know air molecules aren't going to magically go INTO your tires when you aren't looking, they can only escape.

And if the tires aren't stone cold, add 2-4 psi extra, to compensate. I generally do mine first thing in the morning before driving and before the sun has hit it. It's very, very rare that I ever have a flat because I do everything I can to prevent them. Sometimes you get unlucky, that's why we have plugs!

 

[HaulingAss]

Nope! I just swap it! lol

If you have no experience plugging tires, well, that explains why you don't know it's quicker and easier than jacking the vehicle, etc. It gets you back on the road sooner, with less much less energy expended.

 

[rlhamil]

Did you lube the worm before insertion? That makes it about 3 times easier!

There are a lot of cheap plug kits on the market and I'm sure some of them are not designed and tested to actually work well, I only have experience with ones that work well.

You shouldn't have to push with your feet to get a plug in! It's possible the reamer in your kit was not very functional. That said, some people could never get a Cybertruck wheel and tire back into the bed of the truck (or the spare wheel onto on the wheel lugs). Plugs are just easier.

It was a slime kit, including rubber cement that was slippery enough and slow setting enough to probably help more than hinder.

Never having done this before, I strictly followed instructions, not knowing what might not be compatible.

I could get a spare out of the bed and on the nuts, even as heavy as a CT’s wheel+tire is. Getting the old one back in the bed would be less fun, I’m not what I used to be. Though the plug is probably easier and less wear&tear on me.

 

[HaulingAss]

It was a slime kit, including rubber cement that was slippery enough and slow setting enough to probably help more than hinder.

Never having done this before, I strictly followed instructions, not knowing what might not be compatible.

I could get a spare out of the bed and on the nuts, even as heavy as a CT’s wheel+tire is. Getting the old one back in the bed would be less fun, I’m not what I used to be. Though the plug is probably easier and less wear&tear on me.

I carry two different diameters of worms, a small puncture doesn't need the thicker, heavy-duty worms. Also, the reaming (before plug insertion) is easier and more effective if the tire is not deflated too far. You can ream it with the tire inflator running. Reaming a flat tire will obviously not be abrading the edges that need abrading. Most normal punctures can be repaired in under 5 minutes.

 

[rlhamil]

I carry two different diameters of worms, a small puncture doesn't need the thicker, heavy-duty worms. Also, the reaming (before plug insertion) is easier and more effective if the tire is not deflated too far. You can ream it with the tire inflator running. Reaming a flat tire will obviously not be abrading the edges that need abrading. Most normal punctures can be repaired in under 5 minutes.

The kit had two sizes, I think I used the smaller. The screw hole was misleading; the actual hole was quite a bit smaller than the screw that caused it.

Leaving the pump running is a good tip, except I'd need a 3rd hand to hold the pump trigger.

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