nokia8860
03-29-2005, 03:39 PM
DIY Tire Repair – Fix A Hole
***Note: There are many different beliefs on the process of repairing a punctured tire. Some are firm believers of discarding the tire all together, others will only have the tire repaired via a patch on the inside only, thus requiring additional labor to dismount, repair, mount and balance the tire/wheel and of course the ever popular fix-a-flat can. This post is not to debate the merits of tire repair but simply a how to guide for those wishing to repair their own punctured tires. If you do decide to repair your own punctured tires please keep in mind this may void any warrantee on the tire itself. Also please read all precautions and instructions that come with your tire repair kits. There are some punctures that can not be repaired in the following manor and must be replaced***
I had gotten out one morning to discover my car sitting a little low to one side. After closer inspection I noticed a nail had lodged itself in the tread of my tire. This had happened before to me (more than I care to mention) and being that the puncture was in the meat of the tire I knew this could be repaired.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8123.jpg
Very few tools are needed to repair this type of damage.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8122.jpg
From left to right: Wire Cutter | Tire repair kit (as you can tell I only need to purchase refills since I have done this quite a few times and still have the additional hardware that came with my first kit) | Air Compressor | Gloves (I wear gloves because I am not a mechanic by trade and choose not to look like one at the dinner table)
After locating the nail, I simply pried it out (the nail was actually a screw) and discarded it in the trash.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8125.jpg
Now that the hole is exposed I cleaned it up the hole using the tool with a diamond patter on the shaft in an up and down and twisting motion. A few strokes is all it take to get the area prep for the next step.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8127.jpg
Insert the tire repair plug into the tool that resembles an eye of a needle. It will be a tight fit and don’t be afraid to tug on the plug till it gets in there. Once you have it secured in the tool push it straight down into the hole in the tire. When you get about 2/3 of the plug inside the hole stop. Now this point is the critical part to insure a good plug. Pull the tool straight up, no angles, no twisting, no nothing. This will cause the tool to break free of the plug and leaving it attached to the tire.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8128.jpg
Take your wire cutter and trim off the excess plug material leaving it about even with your tread. Once you have trimmed the excess attach your air compress to your tires valve stem and inflate to your desired pressure.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8129.jpg
Check for leaks by pouring some soapy water (thanks badinfo) to the area and look for bubbles. If you have bubbles pull the plug out and discard and repeat the process till you have no leaks. As mentioned above I have done this many times to tires I have owned and each one has held up till it was time to actually replace the tire (because of age or degrading tread depth). First time around you should be looking at 15 minutes from start to finish after that it can take up to 5 minutes to plug up a tire.
Tire repair kits such as the one I use can be found for less than $5.00 at your local auto store with refills less than a 1.50. This is something great to have in your in car tool box as well.
***Note: There are many different beliefs on the process of repairing a punctured tire. Some are firm believers of discarding the tire all together, others will only have the tire repaired via a patch on the inside only, thus requiring additional labor to dismount, repair, mount and balance the tire/wheel and of course the ever popular fix-a-flat can. This post is not to debate the merits of tire repair but simply a how to guide for those wishing to repair their own punctured tires. If you do decide to repair your own punctured tires please keep in mind this may void any warrantee on the tire itself. Also please read all precautions and instructions that come with your tire repair kits. There are some punctures that can not be repaired in the following manor and must be replaced***
I had gotten out one morning to discover my car sitting a little low to one side. After closer inspection I noticed a nail had lodged itself in the tread of my tire. This had happened before to me (more than I care to mention) and being that the puncture was in the meat of the tire I knew this could be repaired.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8123.jpg
Very few tools are needed to repair this type of damage.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8122.jpg
From left to right: Wire Cutter | Tire repair kit (as you can tell I only need to purchase refills since I have done this quite a few times and still have the additional hardware that came with my first kit) | Air Compressor | Gloves (I wear gloves because I am not a mechanic by trade and choose not to look like one at the dinner table)
After locating the nail, I simply pried it out (the nail was actually a screw) and discarded it in the trash.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8125.jpg
Now that the hole is exposed I cleaned it up the hole using the tool with a diamond patter on the shaft in an up and down and twisting motion. A few strokes is all it take to get the area prep for the next step.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8127.jpg
Insert the tire repair plug into the tool that resembles an eye of a needle. It will be a tight fit and don’t be afraid to tug on the plug till it gets in there. Once you have it secured in the tool push it straight down into the hole in the tire. When you get about 2/3 of the plug inside the hole stop. Now this point is the critical part to insure a good plug. Pull the tool straight up, no angles, no twisting, no nothing. This will cause the tool to break free of the plug and leaving it attached to the tire.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8128.jpg
Take your wire cutter and trim off the excess plug material leaving it about even with your tread. Once you have trimmed the excess attach your air compress to your tires valve stem and inflate to your desired pressure.
http://www.bnzsport.com/gallery/tirerepair/CRW_8129.jpg
Check for leaks by pouring some soapy water (thanks badinfo) to the area and look for bubbles. If you have bubbles pull the plug out and discard and repeat the process till you have no leaks. As mentioned above I have done this many times to tires I have owned and each one has held up till it was time to actually replace the tire (because of age or degrading tread depth). First time around you should be looking at 15 minutes from start to finish after that it can take up to 5 minutes to plug up a tire.
Tire repair kits such as the one I use can be found for less than $5.00 at your local auto store with refills less than a 1.50. This is something great to have in your in car tool box as well.