Continental Mobility Kit Clarification

[gncndad]

Hello all,
I thought I'd share some info from TireRack (folks who are in the business of selling tires!!!)

1) These kits have been around for 10+ years. They have been used successfully by thousands of consumers, and are used in many, many brands. The TireRack rep I spoke with, who is 54 (experienced) has used the kit twice, never a followup issue.

2) There is NOTHING in the Continental sealant kit that will damage the tire. It's simply a watered-down latex product, is not caustic. It flows into the hole, temporarily plugging it.

3) "Slime" is a different product. They are a different chemistry. We should avoid calling the Conti sealant "Slime".

4) There is a risk of TPMS contamination. It MIGHT need to be cleaned or replaced.

5) When using the Conti Mobility kit, you should pressurize the tire as high as possible, perhaps 40psi. Sealant WILL blow out of the hole. Driving 3-5 miles, at 30-40mph, will cause the sealant to solidify in the hole (air pressure plus friction) and the "hissing" will stop. If it DOESN'T stop hissing, the hole is too big , and in fact, you'll see that the PSI won't go anywhere near 40psi.

6) There is little risk of the subsequent patch/plug not bonding to the inside of the tire, IF IT IS CLEANED PROPERLY. (water...water...water...) and buffed properly.

7) The ONLY issue with using the Conti Mobility Kit is the inconvenience of clean-up prior to plugging/patching. The consumer is trading the CONVENIENCE of an emergency repair with the INCONVENIENCE of clean-up.

(The OEM MobilityKit is $350+, and is NOT rebuildable. The ContiComfortKit from TireRack is $73, with a rebuild kit for $30 [new hose, valve, sealant]. It is slightly larger than the OEM kit, but still fits in the cubbyhole in my 2015 Leaf)

Please feel free to clarify or correct anything I've written above.

 

[Aim4Green]

Folks,
Good luck finding a replacement for the ContiMobility Kit. Any search on TireRack.com will only frustrate you! After scanning the net...not a single replacement was found for this kit. All links on Continentaltire.com website are no longer operable. They do mention a new kit offered at: https://www.continentaltire.com/content/continental-introduces-conticomfortkit

But search for a seller and NO JOY!

I had a flat yesterday, tried the kit, but unfortunately, the puncture was too large for the sealant to fill. Ended up having to buy a new tire for $209! So now looking for a better alternative to the $%#^& piece of dung....ContiMobility Kit.

Fair warning! If you don't remove the bottle of sealant shortly after using the kit...it will be permanently glued to the compressor. The compressor can be reused if you keep the orange plug cap! Be sure to clean out the compressor afterward as much as possible to remove the sealant.

Here's what I put in my car to deal with future tire flats.
1) DC Powered Air Compressor for $8.99 @ Harbor Freight: https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-150-psi-portable-inflator-63152.html
2) Tire Repair Kit (plugs) for $4.99 from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/tubeless-tire-repair-kit-9-pc-62611.html

Will be adding the following to my Emergency Roadside repair Safety kit as well.
1) Flashlight: $3.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/ultra-bright-led-portable-worklightflashlight-64005.html
2) Pair of gloves: $6.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/full-grain-leather-work-gloves-large-61459.html
3) Hand wipes: $6.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/tub-o-towels-heavy-duty-cleaning-wipes-64927.html
4) Rags: $7.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/cotton-terry-cleaning-towel-14-in-x-16-in-12-pk-63364.html
5) Roadside Repair bag -- to hold it all. $10.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/15-in-tool-bag-with-14-pockets-61469.html

I really do love my Nissan Leaf! It's a great little car and has saved me $1000s...but this tire repair kit experience Nissan included with the car is the dumps! Come on Nissan...think!!!

Sincerely,
YBUYGAS

 

[LeftieBiker]

I think that two issues have become conflated. The worry isn't that the tire will be damaged, but that the TPMS will be ruined. Good to know that they aren't, but having to have one cleaned is likely just as expensive as replacing it.

 

[gncndad]

LeftieBiker: Regarding tire damage from sealant: at the time of my Mar. 2018 post, there were internet posts claiming that any water-based sealant, while flowing into the ;uncture, would seep into the steel threads and cause internal damage to the belts. I've read nothing since that has proven those claims, or has proven that the tire itself is damaged by the sealant.

 

[LeftieBiker]

LeftieBiker: Regarding tire damage from sealant: at the time of my Mar. 2018 post, there were internet posts claiming that any water-based sealant, while flowing into the ;uncture, would seep into the steel threads and cause internal damage to the belts. I've read nothing since that has proven those claims, or has proven that the tire itself is damaged by the sealant.

I believe you, but don't remember seeing posts about that - only about gummed-up TPMS units.

 

[GerryAZ]

Aim4Green,

Don't bother with the little Harbor Freight compressor--the one that comes with the car as part of the mobility kit is much better as long as you don't use the sealer bottle (or clean it up afterwards). The string-type tire plug kit is useful for some types of punctures, but consider a mushroom plug kit with insertion tool for repair of nail or screw holes (I carry both types and have used both, depending upon puncture type). I used the compressors that came with the 2011 and 2015 several times, but never used the sealer bottles. I saved the compressor from my 2015 to carry on motorcycle trips because it is a much better compressor than other compact units.

 

[powersurge]

Folks,
Good luck finding a replacement for the ContiMobility Kit. Any search on TireRack.com will only frustrate you! After scanning the net...not a single replacement was found for this kit. All links on Continentaltire.com website are no longer operable. They do mention a new kit offered at: https://www.continentaltire.com/content/continental-introduces-conticomfortkit

But search for a seller and NO JOY!

I had a flat yesterday, tried the kit, but unfortunately, the puncture was too large for the sealant to fill. Ended up having to buy a new tire for $209! So now looking for a better alternative to the $%#^& piece of dung....ContiMobility Kit.

Fair warning! If you don't remove the bottle of sealant shortly after using the kit...it will be permanently glued to the compressor. The compressor can be reused if you keep the orange plug cap! Be sure to clean out the compressor afterward as much as possible to remove the sealant.

Here's what I put in my car to deal with future tire flats.
1) DC Powered Air Compressor for $8.99 @ Harbor Freight: https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-150-psi-portable-inflator-63152.html
2) Tire Repair Kit (plugs) for $4.99 from Harbor Freight. https://www.harborfreight.com/tubeless-tire-repair-kit-9-pc-62611.html

Will be adding the following to my Emergency Roadside repair Safety kit as well.
1) Flashlight: $3.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/ultra-bright-led-portable-worklightflashlight-64005.html
2) Pair of gloves: $6.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/full-grain-leather-work-gloves-large-61459.html
3) Hand wipes: $6.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/tub-o-towels-heavy-duty-cleaning-wipes-64927.html
4) Rags: $7.99: https://www.harborfreight.com/cotton-terry-cleaning-towel-14-in-x-16-in-12-pk-63364.html
5) Roadside Repair bag -- to hold it all. $10.99 https://www.harborfreight.com/15-in-tool-bag-with-14-pockets-61469.html

I really do love my Nissan Leaf! It's a great little car and has saved me $1000s...but this tire repair kit experience Nissan included with the car is the dumps! Come on Nissan...think!!!

Sincerely,
YBUYGAS

Thank you for your very complete list of needed items... Finally someone who is practical and can find solutions that don't cost a fortune...

I think that the "Comfort Kit", if it exists is a crock for ...... $350? You can buy two (2) new tires for that...

Anyway, I totally agree that if you have the time, and are a man (referring to physical strength and interest in jacking up the tire and removing it) , this set up will work..

Also, DO NOT USE LIQUID IN YOUR TIRE. It is not needed in an emergency and will cost you $$$ when you get the flat fixed later.

HOWEVER....

I would like to propose the following, because not all flats are the same... You do not always have to repair the tire or do any physical labor right at the scene of the flat "crime".

In my driving lifetime, I have almost NEVER had a flat that immediately released air in a hiss.. Most flats are found when you go to your car, and you see that it is flat. Or your dashboard TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System} has a light.

Most flats have a nail or object that has punctured the tire, and is still in the tire. The tire still holds air, and has a slow leak. Odds are that when you find the tire flat, you have been driving the car with the puncture for days already.

At this point, all you need is to used the electric portable air compressor (I got an amazing one at Costco). You plug it into the car cigarette lighter plug, start the car, and connect it to the tire valve. Let it pump up the tire until it is up to pressure. If the tire is not hissing, the tire is totally drive-able.

You are then able to drive the car home, repair the tire at home, or take it to a tire repair place at your leisure. The point is that a flat tire is rarely an emergency that you have to fix or call a tow truck immediately.

When you are driving the re-inflated tire, I would keep an eye on the tire after a few miles, to ensure that the tire is still full of air. If the tire goes flat soon, then re-inflate and drive to a safe location or car repair place immediately.

The point is that most car owners do not have to get into tire repair kits. That is for us geeks on this site that like to take things into our own hands.....

 

[Learjet]

Had a nail go in and come out...ContiMobility Kit was useless.