On Thu, 22 Dec 2016 22:00:44 -0600, Vic Smith advised:

Well, since they've gone to gone to those mini-spares, I've never had
to use one. I have seen them used, but that's pretty rare.

As I recall, I drove a rental with the mini spare all across Arizona. I
must have put 1,000 miles on the thing, as it was bald by the time I
returned it to Hertz.

It depends on where you live somewhat, and luck. I used to pick up
more nail/screw punctures when I lived in Chicago 20 years ago.

I get a nail once a year. I have 5 tires in my possession right now, with
nails or screws in them. It's pretty common out here.

The one bolt that was flat should have been caught early as it seems to
have wedged in the tread and slowly worked its way through. An inspection
might have caught that ahead of time.

I plugged my last tire about 10-12 years ago. Drove into Just Tires
with a slow leaker about 8 years ago and they fixed a nailed tire.
Think it was 15 bucks then.

As I recall, plugging a tire costs about as much as mounting and balancing,
so, out here, that's $20 to $25 at the least. For the price of the plug
tools, I can do it myself, since it doesn't take a brain surgeon to learn
how to plug a tire.

You don't even have to balance afterward, if you mark where it came off and
put it back the same way.

Over the years I've plugged about 8 tires on the rim. A few times on
the road. Every time it was a permanent fix.
But I used quality plug kits.

I bought two new external plug kits but I didn't want to open them since
one is in the trunk of my car and the other in the wife's car. Once you
open the glue, it's gone for example.

So I used an old plug kit for the 5 practice tires, Worked well enough to
get the idea. Now that I've done it, I realize what tools would have made
it easier and/or better.

The three tools I really want to get that will make the job better a
a. 3/16ths inch carbide bit
b. Cone buffing wheel
c. Flexible knife
http://i.cubeupload.com/3G9xsg.jpg

So I've upped the tool-cost from $200 to $250 (give or take) for:
1. Breaking the bead
2. Mounting and dismounting the tire
3. Repairing the tire with a plug and patch
4. Balancing the wheel and tire assembly

I feel everyone who wants to should be able to do this at home, and the
tools will take from two to four years to pay for themselves.

The knowledge learned lasts forever (or until Altzheimers kicks in).