Had a flat tire around 9pm near Montgomery, pitch dark and cars zooming past... kinda nerve-wracking, you know? AAA took forever last time. Anyone use something better or quicker around here?
Had a similar experience myself about six months ago, though it wasn't on I-65—it was over on 85 near Auburn. Middle of the night, pitch black, cars flying by... definitely not fun. I used AAA too, and yeah, they weren't exactly speedy. I've heard some decent things about local roadside assistance services—smaller companies that operate around Montgomery and Prattville. A coworker mentioned one called "River Region Roadside" or something similar; apparently, they're pretty prompt and reliable. Haven't personally tried them yet, but might be worth looking into.
Also curious if anyone's tried those tire inflator/sealant kits? I've seen them at auto parts stores but always wondered if they're actually effective in an emergency situation or just a gimmick. Seems like they'd be handy to have in the trunk just in case...
Had a flat near Prattville last year and tried one of those inflator/sealant kits you're talking about. Honestly, it did get me moving again, but it was messy as heck—tire shop wasn't thrilled about cleaning it out afterward either. They're okay in a pinch, but I'd still rather have a spare tire or call a local service if possible. Maybe worth keeping around as a backup, though...
I've had one of those sealant kits sitting in my trunk for years now, still unopened. Honestly, after hearing your story, I'm kinda glad I've never had to use it. I'd rather just bite the bullet and wait for roadside assistance or swap out a spare myself. Messy tires and annoyed mechanics aren't exactly my idea of a good time...
Yeah, those sealant kits always seemed kinda sketchy to me too. I've heard they can mess up your TPMS sensors, and then you're stuck paying even more at the tire shop. Usually I just keep a decent spare and a jack handy—it's not fun changing a tire at night, but at least you're not stuck waiting forever on AAA or whoever. Still, I get why people use the kits... convenience is tempting when you're stranded.
