So my Mazda puncture fluid is out of date, looking at the prices online wondering if Holt Tyreweld is a better option, much cheaper than the Mazda goo and the process seems more straightforward, the the Holt stuff inflates the tyre as well, what’s your thoughts? is the Mazda solution better? worth the extra cost?
I carry something like this. UK Emergency car Heavy Duty Tire Puncture Repair Tyre Mending Kit | eBay UK and along with the tyre inflator can quickly sort a puncture out. I have a jack and wheel brace on board as well.
The tyre ‘slime’ can be a problem at tyre fitters as it is not pleasant to deal with when repairing the tyre.
You can get a plugging kit or the latest is some plastic screws which plugs the leak. Then drive like you do with a space saver tyre until you get it fixed.
The goo is terrible and makes a right mess on the inside of the tyre and sometimes requires replacement.
That link: Product must be a candidate for having the worst instructions, ever 
I carry both Holts Tyreweld and a similar kit to the one Malc’s posted to. My logic being that at least I’ve got options if an issue decides to crop up.
One thing I would say on the current generation of tyre weld products such as this one from Holts, is that they’re a different formulation compared with when similar products were released some time ago. Holts state “Washes out of tyres easily after use” .
I just ordered one of those stringy plug kits. Thanks.
Have you (or any others here) used such a repair kit? Was it successful? Was the tyre reusable after professional repair?
Yes, I’ve used the repair kit on a previous car.
Yes it was successful and yes the tyre remained in use following a professional repair.
Yes, I used it and drove 1,000 steady miles without any problem. The tyre was repaired by a local tyre fitter and is still in service to day.
Bravo
I carry tyre string in the MX-5. Funnily enough it’s the only car I haven’t had to use it on. TBH I’ve just left them in and they’ve been fine, I’ve plugged at least 3 on our other cars. I wouldn’t leave one in the sidewall for longer than it took me to fix or replace it but I’ve never had one like that.
This is the alternative gloop I have. My Mazda kit is out of date but I think they wanted £80 to replace it, so I just got a back up. Also fits in the offside wing.
Plugs are not considered a ‘proper’ repair I think because you can’t inspect the tyre on the inside to check for damage. But when I’ve just pulled out a nail or screw that went straight in how much damage can there be?
We use our MX-5 for holiday trips. As well as the tyre string and and a second type of gloop option I also carry a jack (in the offside wing fastened to the bracket provided) and the means to take a wheel off for whatever reason.
Only slightly apropos, a minor reason for keeping with Yokohama V105 on the MX-5 as supplied when new is that they have seriously solid sidewalls. I’ve had a couple of torn sidewalls on Goodyear Efficient Grips (a very good touring tyre), one each on the other two cars, and the sidewalls are so thin by comparison they are more like balloons.
I asked my local tyre guy the same question about the plugs, last time I used one. He generally agreed in repair terms, but recommended always properly checking the tyre carcass. Noting that he’d had a few instances where the foreign object (nail, screw or similar) had broken and a small part had dropped into the tyre and was then rattling around! And had the potential to cause more damage.
So a small chance I’d say, although pretty slim. I’d also pay close attention to whatever had caused the issue in the first place, and importantly whether it had come out intact 
Absolutely. And I emphatically do not recommend anyone else do what I did, how could I when there is a non-zero risk of hidden damage? And nor can the industry which is concerned about liability.
I’d say a bulge (‘egg’) on a tyre is far more dangerous because there clearly is some structural damage. And your tyre fitter will have seen plenty of those lurking on the inside walls of tyres that have been there for who-knows-how-long with our potholed roads. Again, not advice, just a perspective. I’m not a tyre expert.
I carry three types of repair in both of our cars,
Whatever fix has been applied, the first thing I do once home is take the tyre to my local tyre people for a check. So far over the years they’ve always approved my string repairs, but then I never drove on totally flat tyres.
The Holts application is the best in my opinion as can be washed out.
