Home / Magazine / The Best Tire Plug Kit Is the Simplest
The best tubeless tire plug is effective, easy to use, and most of all, affordable. There are a lot of options from the Stan's Dart to Dynaplug, but Bruce explains why he thinks a simpler tool is better.
Written by:Bruce Lin
Published on:
Posted in:Tech
Pssshhh-shhht-shhht-shhht. That’s the sound every cyclist dreads — a puncture, and your tire rapidly losing air. Fortunately, in the age of tubeless tires, flats have become far less common. Run good sealant and tire inserts, and your chances of experiencing a ride-ruining flat are even lower. But even with modern tire tech, there are some punctures that refuse to seal. That’s why every rider should carry one final line of defense: tire plugs.
Plugging a tubeless tire is super easy and there are plenty of plug options on the market. If you’re riding tubeless tires, there’s literally no reason not to carry one. But which tire plug is the best? My answer might surprise you.
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I started riding tubeless tires in 2015 and never looked back. In fact, since I went tubeless and added tire inserts to all of my bikes (yes, even my road bike!), I no longer carry spare tubes on my daily rides. I can repair any unsealable puncture with a tire plug 99.9% of the time.
At this point, I’ve used pretty much every tire plug on the market. They all promise exceptional sealing power, speed, and convenience. And when I tested them, they pretty much all delivered. As a tech-obsessed rider always willing to spend big bucks on the best gear, this led to a surprising conclusion — riders should save their money and just buy the cheapest tire plug kit possible.
The tire plug kit I now recommend to most riders is the humble Genuine Innovations Tire Repair Kit.
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For less than $10, you get a small, lightweight plug tool, and a “Side of Bacon” — a sheet of five tire plugs. That’s all you need.
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Here’s why I think this Genuine Innovations Tire Repair Kit is the best kit:
The Genuine Innovations Side of Bacon tire plugs have never let me down, even with the worst punctures. Not sealing? Just add more!
The only exception is my gravel bike. I use this bike for commuting as well as racing. As a result, it sees a lot of rain, snow, and mud. This bike gets the slightly fancier Genuine Innovations Tubeless Tackle kit. It’s a bit heavier, and more expensive, but you get a waterproof aluminum case that keeps your plugs nice and dry. It has a plug tool and a valve core tool built into it, plus, you also get a couple of extra valve cores. I can also fit a spare quick link in the case, which is a nice bonus.
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Now, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with more expensive plug kits. Riders who enjoy the finer things might prefer the thoughtful design and refined packaging of a Dynaplug Racer and its brass-tipped plugs. We even offer an awesome Radavist version of the Dynaplug Racer Pro. It comes with four plugs, and replacements are slightly more expensive (five for $13), but I can’t deny that it works really well and looks great.
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No matter what tire plug you choose, make sure you know how to use it. Familiarize yourself with the technique, and if you have a big race or event coming up, it might be worth it to sacrifice an old tire to practice plugging a few punctures. In fact, that’s how I came to love the Genuine Innovations kit. Because extra plugs were so affordable, I used it to teach my wife, step-brother, cousin, and a few others how to plug tires. It proved so effective, that I ultimately saw no need to use anything else. So save a few bucks when you’re putting together your flat kit, and spend it on something more fun — like snacks!
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Added 9 days agoI chose the best tire repair kits by looking for products that are designed for easy, on-the-road use when tires spring a leak or get punctured. I took a look at many different types of tire repair kits, from plug style to patches, considering options for car tires as well as motorcycle, bike, lawn mower, and ATV and UTV tires. Those that were easy to use and could reliably stop a leak – at least long enough to travel additional miles so you can make it home or to a tire shop – were my top picks, and I looked at the patching style, security, and reported durability to determine which were the best of the bunch. Repair kits that included coverage and items for a variety of different kinds of tire woes were also top choices.
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
Learn more
Best Overall: Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit
Best Value: Pittsburgh Automotive Radial Tire Patch Kit
Honorable Mention: Husky T-Handle Tire Repair Kit
Best for Small Vehicles: Slime Patches with Rubber Cement
Best for Off-Road Tires: GlueTread External Patch Kit
Best Comprehensive: Smittybilt Tire Repair Kit
Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit
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When it comes to tough tires and dependable repairs, the Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit is your top choice. This kit is versatile and highly capable, providing repairs for tire punctures of all kinds. It’s comprehensive, providing you with durable, heavy-duty plugs as well as well-built tools that’ll make repairs a little easier. Featuring 86 pieces packaged in a convenient and compact storage kit, you’ll have everything you need to quickly plug up tire problems, seal them, and get back on the road without waiting for a tow. The entire process is simple enough that it takes just 15 minutes to get you driving safely once again. And it’s a suitable fix for everything from your car tires to your RV tires to bike, lawnmower, and off-road vehicle tires.
However, it’s important to remember that this kit is only meant to be used on tubeless tires.
Pittsburgh Automotive Radial Tire Patch Kit
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With a budget-friendly price and an incredibly easy application method, the Pittsburgh Automotive Radial Tire Patch Kit is a great value pick. In this affordable kit, you’ll get a selection of 56 rubber patches in sizes from 1 inch to more than 4 inches and in various shapes. Plus, this kit also includes two tubes of rubber cement for a strong, secure patch seal and two small metal scuffers to ensure your patches can properly adhere to the tire. With a little roughing up and the strongly adhesive rubber cement, these patches should cover tears and punctures fast. And best of all, there are enough to cover many kinds of tires. These patches work on any radial tire, but they’re also a quick fix for bike tires, inflatables, rafts, and more.
The only drawback is that these patches tend to work best on smaller tires. While they’re technically suitable for use on all radial tires, the best performance isn’t found on heavy-duty tires or tougher, thicker off-road tires.
Husky T-Handle Tire Repair Kit
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The Husky T-Handle Tire Repair Kit is a great all-in-one kit that’ll have you covered no matter what you happen to roll over on the road. With tools and sealing solutions that work for both punctures and tears, this comprehensive option includes plugs and patches for every kind of seal. It’s got both tire plugs and tire patches, plus a tube of rubber cement for sealing, a tire rasp, a tube scuff pad, and insertion tools so you have everything you need in one compact kit that stashes in your glove compartment. These assorted tools are made for roadside use, and their design cues, like a pistol grip design on the tools and handheld scuff pad, are comfortable though small.
Unfortunately, the tools require quite a lot of strength to use properly, and getting plugs and patches in place can be a challenge for some users. It’s also somewhat tough to get a secure enough seal to prevent slow leaks, so you’ll only want to rely on this repair kit for a quick fix to get to the shop.
Slime Patches with Rubber Cement
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When it comes to small vehicles and smaller tires, a set of Slime Patches with Rubber Cement is a handy tool to keep nearby. This tire repair kit includes 56 patches, with a selection of rounded rectangle, round, square, and rectangular patches in sizes from 21 mm to 75 mm. Plus, those patches come with a pair of tire scuffers to rough up the rubber for better adhesion and two tubes of strong rubber cement. Made specifically for puncture-related flats on the tires of ATVs, lawnmowers, bikes, and similar vehicles, you can apply your tires easily and get a longer lifespan out of them, and this kit includes plenty of patches for multiple repairs over time.
This kit is not meant for use on car or truck tires. It’s designed for smaller vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs, lawnmowers, and bikes. Additionally, because the patches and rubber cement need to sit and set for a while, you shouldn’t expect to be able to slap a patch on and get back to work.
GlueTread External Patch Kit
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If you need a tougher solution for off-road tires, the GlueTread External Patch Kit might be your best bet. Made specifically for repairs on off-road tires, this kit is able to stop leaks, cover punctures, and fix tears. You can use these rubber compound patches on all types of off-road tires, whether you’re driving a car, crossover, or ATV. Meant to be extra easy to apply, these patches come with durable GlueTread adhesive, which dries and bonds in just minutes. Plus, they’re so easy to apply that you don’t need any special tools (aside from the included sandpaper), and you don’t have to remove your tires or wheels. As an added bonus, there’s so little down time that you can repair your tire and get back to normal use the very same day.
The only disadvantage of this tire repair kit is it doesn’t include a lot of patches. With just two of each patch size, you won’t be able to make more than four total repairs; you may need to purchase a second if you’re prone to punctured or torn tires.
Smittybilt Tire Repair Kit
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The Smittybilt Tire Repair Kit has it all. Whether you’re in need of a set of plugs to stop puncture leaks or want to patch up your tire from the inside to fix damage, this set includes everything you need. And there’s no rubber cement required to get the job done. Featuring an array of tools that includes lubricant, a folding knife, needle nose pliers, and a tire pressure gauge, you’ll get both interior tire batches and a set of self-vulcanizing plugs that bond with your tire’s rubber compound. This kit’s items are tough enough for car and truck use, but they’ll also work well for trailers and off-road vehicles. The entire kit is compact and lightweight, with tools made from aluminum so it’s easy to carry anywhere.
As with many other plug and puncture repair kits, this tire set comes with some challenges. Its tools and its plugs can be difficult to securely seal up. You’ll need hand strength and force to get the job done.
The Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit is your best bet for fixing tire punctures on the road, with a set of highly versatile repair items and tools that can withstand wear once applied. However, if you’re looking for an affordable price and super speedy fixes, the Pittsburgh Automotive Radial Tire Patch Kit is another great value-rich pick that includes patches alone.
Before you grab any set of tire patches, know what qualities and components make for a quality tire repair kit. Here’s what to think about as you’re equipping your vehicle with a kit that’ll help you perform quick tire fixes.
Tire patches are simple; they’re pieces of rubber with adhesive backing. When your tire gets punctured or torn, you can stick a patch over the problem area to reseal the rubber. Patches can provide a strong, lasting seal, but they do have limitations. They require a bit more work to get in place, and they can’t be used for sidewall holes, big holes and punctures, or other not-straight, oddly located problem spots.
Tire plugs are made for punctures and holes rather than tears, rips, or similar tire issues. Slim strips made out of leather and rubber compounds, tire plugs are inserted into a hole with a handy tool (which is usually included in the kit) to create a seal on the inside of the tire. Plugs are ideal if you’ve rolled over a nail, screw, or similarly sized item, as they can fix small holes. However, they can be tough to use correctly, and like patches, they have limitations when it comes to sidewall holes, flat tires, and bubbled areas of rubber.
An all-in-one tire repair kit is exactly what it sounds like: A single solution that includes everything you need to both patch and plug your tires. These more expansive kits include tire plug strips and tools, plus tire patches. They can also include additional accessories meant to make roadside repairs easier and quicker. These are a great item to keep in your emergency kit.
Tire repair kits are usually affordable. If you’re looking for patches that’ll repair smaller tires, such as tubeless bike tires, lawnmower tires, or even ATV and UTV tires, you can get a set of two to 10 patches for $2 to $15. Typically, these patches cost less than $10. For car tires, you’ll spend a little more; patches alone can run between $5 and $20. And if you want comprehensive tire repair, you can find all-in-one kits that include both patches and plugs, plus any tools you need to stop leaks or fix punctures, for $20 to $35.
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A: As long as they’re used correctly and you follow the instructions, tire repair kits shouldn’t ruin your tire. Most of these products are meant to be a temporary fix for damaged tires, so you’re going to ultimately need to replace your tire in the long run.
A: While tire plugs might seem more secure than a rubber patch you stick on, patches are actually considered the most durable repair option. Sure, plugs are a reliable fix, but tire repair patches last longer and tend to stay securely in place better.
A: Quick tire fixes aren’t meant to be used for long-distance driving. Whether you’ve applied a tire plug or tire patch, it’s best to only rely on these repairs for a few miles.
A: Patches can safely cover holes up to a quarter-inch long in your tire. Anything bigger, and a quick patch fix likely won’t be as secure or hold in air as well.
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The set of elements for skirting boards allows using skirting boards in kitchens of any configuration, creating a finished look.
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Boksitogorsk
Vaskelovo
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Designation | Cornice Standard Optima three-row (158O-240d) |
Length | 2400 mm |
Width | 87 mm |
Thickness | 15 mm |
View of cornice | Tire |
Number of rows | 3-row |
Configuration | Straight profile |
Material | Plastic |
Color | White |
Mounting method | Ceiling (to ceiling) |
Equipment | Three-row tire 240 cm - 1 pc. |
Stopper for plastic tire - 6 pcs. | |
Plug for plastic tires - 2 pcs. | |
Hook for plastic bar - 75 pcs. | |
Dowel 6 mm - 3 pcs. | |
Screw 3x12 mm - 3 pcs. | |
Manufacturer | Comfort (Russia) |
Sometimes these PVC curtain rods are called splints, but they are not quite right. Separately, plastic tires are only constructive part of the cornices with a baguette strip, where the tire is connected to the plastic strip special adapter. But the plastic tires, to which the fasteners are included, plugs and hooks, just the same, they are called plastic ready-made cornices.
Price: for 1 pc.
Cornices | |
Brand | Comfort |
Length, mm | 2400 mm |
Width | 78 mm |
Number of rows | 3-row |
View | Ready, | can be added
Material | Plastic |
Color | White |
Additional design | No |
Collection | Optima |
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