Repair or Replace: A Fix-It Guide to Tire Punctures

When it comes to driving, safety should always be your top priority. This includes taking proper care of your tires.

 

If you've ever had a punctured tire, you understand how scary and inconvenient this type of damage can be. After these slow leaks can weaken the structure of your tire, causing flat tires or even blowouts.

This article takes a look at how to repair tire punctures. Repairing flat tires is a simple skill that everyone should learn. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on tire puncture repair so that you can reduce the odds of getting stranded on the side of the road ever again.

The first step in repairing your tire is to locate the puncture. This can be a bit tricky.

 

The key is to make sure that your tire has air, and then use soapy water to isolate the leak. Use a spray bottle filled with soapy water to wet the tire rubber one section at a time. The soapy water will start bubbling or hissing once it comes into contact with the leaking air. Be sure to mark the hole with chalk.

Once you've located the puncture, go ahead and remove the tire from the rim. Keep in mind that the tire must be removed in order to be repaired.

 

This process is a bit complicated and requires specific tools, thus not everyone will be able to remove a tire at home. When this is the case, you'll need to let professionals handle the job for you.

 

If you do have the needed tools, deflate the tire entirely, break the bead, and then carefully pry the tire off the rim. This won't be easy the first time you try it, so be patient and exercise plenty of causing so that you won't mash your fingers prying the tire from the rim.

Now that the tire is removed, you're ready to repair the puncture.

 

For this step, you'll need a few supplies. These include a combination patch, patch roller, rasp or diamond-grit sandpaper, reamer, rubber cement, and a utility knife.

 

Next, ream the puncture hole, rough up the inside of the tire with your rasp, and then apply a layer of rubber cement.

Once the rubber cement is applied, push a patch through the hole, seat the patch with your roller, and then trim the protruding plug so that it's flush with the tire tread.

Double-check the plug. When you're satisfied that it's holding air, go ahead and reinstall the tire on the rim.

Here's an important tip for every car owner: be sure to always have a good spare tire in your truck or mounted under your car. After all, there's nothing worse than having a flat with no spare. Also, check your spare regularly to make sure it's properly inflated.

Nothing is more frustrating than having a flat tire. Fortunately, this guide to repairing tire punctures will help get you back on the road in no time.

 

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B&M Auto Repair and Towing is proud to offer mechanic services to the Collegeville, Phoenixville, and Oak PA areas. We fix brakes, provide towing services, and everything in between, so contact us at (484) 358-6784 and let B&M Auto be your auto service and repair partner.