Flat tires create a host of dangers for drivers, ranging from difficult steering to control the vehicle to finding a safe place to pull over. Since a flat tire rarely occurs right next to an open repair shop, aerosol tire repair often provides the only option for drivers in this situation. Make sure to pull over to a safe spot off the road and away from traffic as much as possible. Position the car so the valve stem of the flat tire lies at the 4 or 8 o'clock position for best results. This balances some of the weight of the car on the part of the tire that isn't damaged, and allows for easier repair.
Once you've positioned the car safely and rotated the wheel to expose the valve stem, unscrew the black cap from the valve stem. Pop the top off the aerosol tire repair can and screw it tightly to the valve stem. You'll first hear a sound like a rush of air. Since the can contains compressed air as well as chemicals, it's spraying the inside of the tire with chemical compounds to patch the leak. Allow the can to fill the inside of the tire until it stops. The compound inside the tire coats the surface inside the tire as well as the area affected by the hole. One can of aerosol tire repair fixes one flat tire. Any leftover product should be discarded after you show the can to your tire repair specialist.
Immediately after spraying the aerosol tire, replace the valve stem and start the car. The product inside the tires needs to be dispensed evenly throughout the tire. The only way to do this is to roll the wheels. Drive the car to spread the sealant and also allow the sealant inside the tire time to cure to plug the hole. The aerosol tire repair also contains adhesives to help the rubberized compounds seal to form a good plug for the hole. This stage is important because allowing the car to sit lets the sealant harden at the lowest point on the tire. This can throw the tire out of balance.
Aerosol tire repair cans contain products that simulate a patch on the tire until you can get the tire repaired properly. The can contains water, compressed air, and chemicals that harden to make a rubber-like patch on the inside of the tire. While this seems like an easy fix, repairing a tire using an aerosol tire repair is by no means a permanent fix. After using the aerosol tire repair, get to a shop as fast as possible for repair. Always tell the mechanic exactly what product was used inside the tire. This safety issue is extremely important because the mechanic will be releasing the air from the valve stem of the tire. This can emit flammable chemicals, so the mechanic needs to be forewarned.
