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No one wants to start losing tire pressure while they are driving, but having it happen to you doesn’t have to ruin the day. Learn how you can be prepared to fix a punctured tire.

Can You Fix A Punctured Tire?

Flats or puncture times can be caused by a number of factors but there are certain instances when a tire needs to be replaced instead of repaired. Any damage to the sidewalk of a tire, whether a puncture, rip, or gouge cannot be repaired but only replaced. A spare tire is also not a good candidate for plugging as they are not intended to be used long term. When a puncture happens along the tread or width of the tire, the damage done may be light enough that plugging your tire is a viable solution. In the right situations, a well plugged tire can be a semi-permanent fix and certainly save you the headache of waiting for a repair company or the cost of a new tire. 

How To Plug A Tire

Keep a tire plugging kit in your car for situations where a puncture causes you to lose tire pressure. Follow the tips to minimize air loss and get a tight fit:

Prep Your Tools

 A good tire plugging kit has a tire reaming and plug insertion tools, pliers, and grease in addition to plug strips for the repair. Gather these tools, and prepare them by greasing the insertion tool. Prepare the plug strip for insertion by pinching one end flat and stringing it through the insertion tool until it is centered in the middle. 

Locate the Puncture 

Rotate the tire to locate the punctured area by either rolling forward a little at a time or or removing the tire completely. Given the circular shape of the tire, mark your initial inspection point to ensure you examine every area. A spray bottle of soapy water can help speed up the search as the soaps will bubble when it encounters leaking air. Once the source is found, do not remove the object that caused the puncture just yet. 

Plug the Puncture

 using the pliers to grip the object, quickly remove it and use the tire reaming tool to clean and make space for the plug. Once an adequate hole has been prepared (the tool should slide in and out with little resistance), use the greased insertion tool and a twisting motion to insert the plug until about ¾ of an inch sticks out from the tire. At this time you should be able to clearly remove the tool while the plug remains in place. Do not cut off all the excess from the plug strip. This is necessary for the plug to settle and will wear off over time as your driver on the road. 

 

Being prepared to repair light tire damage yourself can get you on your way faster when the unfortunate happens to you.