2025 Sep 17 Calgary · Screws Everywhere

Three flats in six months in Calgary—on three different tires. Back home I’d had fewer than ten punctures in twenty-five years, most on work trips. Risk on the roads here is… non-trivial.

Round 1 taught me the local menu: $50–60 for a “half-day quick repair” at a shop vs $8 at Costco Tire Center with a 3–4 day wait. I chose the spare and waited. Round 2, I drove straight to Costco, dropped the wheel, then waited four days—with a smaller spare on the front axle pulling the car off-center the whole time.

Round 3 was the slowest leak, but I couldn’t face another spare swap—on the Quest the spare is buried; fishing it out takes longer than removing the wheel. Plus I had a long work drive next day. So I used the plug kit I brought from China and did it myself. Two days later: stable pressure, no TPMS alert—DIY success.

DIY log (condensed)

1、9/15 TPMS warning.

2、Visual & “listen” check — no obvious hiss.

3、Drove to destination, re-checked after ~6h — still no visible sag.

4、Gauge check — RR tire ≈ 2.4 bar, others higher.

5、Inflated to ~3.5 bar; TPMS cleared → slow leak confirmed.

6、Soap-water test while rotating tire — tiny bubbles at an inner-tread screw head.

7、Jacked up, removed wheel; re-confirmed leak.

8、Backed the screw out; inserted rubber plug screw (tire plug).

9、Re-tested with soapy water — no bubbles.

10、Reinstalled wheel, set pressure ~3.5 bar.

12、Monitored 48h — stable. On 9/17: success.

Tools/consumables

Plug-type repair “rubber screw,” awl/reamer, driver; soap water; portable inflator; pressure gauge; jack & wheel wrench; gloves/eye protection.

Safety notes (keep it smart)

Plug tread-area only, hole ≤ 6 mm; avoid shoulder/sidewall or gashes → shop repair or tire replacement.

Re-torque lug nuts to manufacturer spec after a short drive.

Treat external plugs as temporary; when convenient, ask a shop for an internal plug-patch from inside the casing.

After repair: check pressure at 24h / 48h / 7d, and watch TPMS.

Takeaways

Cost/time trade-off: Shop $50–60 same day vs Costco $8 in several days vs DIY now.

For slow leaks with visible screws in the tread, a plug can safely get you back on the road—spares are for emergencies, not for days.

Calgary roads: carry a compact kit and a plan B.

2025年9月17日 鳗说鳗聊 遍地螺丝钉

卡城半年扎了三次胎，万幸都是不同轮胎，在国内我二十五年一共也就补了不到10次，还多是在出差的征途中，可见这里的路面风险程度着实不一般，从第一次胎压警报到换备胎，找修理厂询价，$50～60/次（¥300～350/次）的“半天快修立等”可取，到COSTCO轮胎中心的$8.00（¥40.00/次）三天可取，我选择开着小一圈的备胎等待三天；第二次更是从容的胎压警报一亮直接开到COSTCO停车场，当即换下来送到轮胎中心，然后，然后等了四天，这四天因为是前轮，所以小一圈的备胎一直让车跑偏；这次是第三次，虽然是漏气最慢的一次，但我实在不想在使用备胎和反复的拆装了，因为QUEST的备胎位置实在是太隐秘了，取出来的时间比拆装轮胎都费劲！最主要还是事儿赶事儿，次日还要开长途去工作，备胎总是只能应急，不能过分相信。最终在花钱买时间快修补胎和COSTCO轮胎中心便宜但好几天的选择中，我决定自己动手补！最终我想到从国内带的补胎神器“补胎钉”应该可以试试，所以找了个公共停车场的角落开始动手尝试，并分享记录下处理这次轮胎漏气的步骤：

1、9月15日早上发现胎压报警了；

2、下车观察无法目视出来那个明显缺气，粗略的听了每一个轮胎也没有漏气声音；

3、决定继续行驶到达目的地停车场先办事儿后再观察下；

4、6小时后回到停车场还是没有明显瘪的轮胎；

5、使用胎压检查笔逐个测量，发现右后轮胎胎压低于其余三个，2.4左右；

6、使用随车气泵进行补气，胎压补到3.5左右，观察仪表胎压警报灯熄没，确定为右后轮胎慢撒气；

7、在几次转动轮胎，进一步目视观察后发现右后里侧有金属螺钉帽，初步使用肥皂水进行试漏，有轻微漏气迹象；

8、确定漏气点进行拆轮动作；

9、再次测试漏点，确认好用螺丝刀拧出螺丝钉；

10、拧入准备好的补胎橡胶螺丝；

11、检查漏点是否漏气，确定不漏气；

12、安装轮胎；

13、检查胎压，并补气到3.5左右；

14、9月17日观察两天了，不在报警，补胎成功！

大致上我还有几十个各种规格的补胎钉，如果在观察几天没问题，那就真正实现了补胎自由，我的国啊，真是神奇的神器无敌于天下啊！

工具 / 耗材

橡胶补胎“螺丝”、旋入工具；肥皂水；便携打气泵；胎压表；千斤顶 & 十字扳手；手套 / 护目镜。

安全提示（务必注意）

仅修胎面的小孔（≤6 mm）；靠近胎肩/侧壁或伤口撕裂 → 去店内补或换胎。

复装后行驶一小段复紧螺母至原厂扭矩。

外补视作临时修复；条件允许尽快做内补（补片+蘑菇钉）更牢靠。

复测胎压 24h / 48h / 7d，留意 TPMS 动态。

小结

时间 vs 费用：修理厂 $50～60 当天好；Costco $8 等几天；DIY 立刻复行。

慢漏且看得见螺丝的，外补是安全的过渡方案；备胎只应急，不宜长期代驾。

在卡城，用一套随车小工具包＋备用方案，能少吃很多“螺丝钉”。