How tire plugs work


How Long Does A Tire Plug Last? Is It Safe To Plug In A Tire?

Tire plugging is the fastest method to repair a punctured car. Tire plugging uses a cord to prevent the airhead from escaping. If you are an experienced person, you can avoid damage to your car with simple tips.

So, how long does a tire plug last? Most manufacturers say that plug versions can last 7-10 years if installed correctly. 

Yet, this number is meant as a reference because you can’t always fix it perfectly. The article gathers useful knowledge and some of the most frequently asked questions about tire plugs. Let’s scroll down to read more information!

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What Is A Tire Plug?

It is the primary tool in the repair by plugging method. From the outside, it looks like a standard wire, and the structure is quite remarkable; it is a sticky object; depending on the case, the item can expand or contract to match the size of the hole.

Its working principle is also quite simple: after being inserted into the tire, the plug wire will sense the pressure, determine the shape of the wound, and then automatically expand to adapt.

In addition, the material that makes the wire must be guaranteed to meet the standards, confirming the certainty so that after the air is pumped in, there will be no problems.

There is no denying the convenience that the plug method brings, and you can even repair it without removing the tire from the rim. You can even plug in the tire in some exceptional cases, even when the wheels are connected.

How Long Does A Tire Plug Last?

When a vehicle is repaired correctly and maintained, a plug’s life span can last up to 7-10 years. It is an unbelievable number for a wheel that has been repairable.

However, manufacturers advise users not to overdo patching like this in practice. When using too many repair measures, the impact will affect the inherent functions, causing deflation and explosion.  

When traveling on the road, the car’s wheels have problems, do not rush to decide when the experience is not proficient; the best way is to take the car to a repair center to have expert advice on the appropriate repair method.

Is Plugging A Tire A Good Idea?

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Plugging or patching is only a temporary measure before you have enough time to change into a new tire. The life of a tire after plugging can last from 7-10 years or 25,000 miles; no one can be sure that there will not be any problems. 

Plugging in tires will be a good idea, even effective if the wheel is in an emergency that needs to be moved.

Is It Safe To Plug In A Tire?

You can safely use your plugged-in tires when traveling in a specific section of the road. Unlike a spare tire, which has a short life, it is possible to prevent air from escaping through a previous puncture completely with a plug repair method.

Via many surveys, experts think there is a better measure than a plug – radial patch. It is a suitable method available on almost all popular tires on the market.

The process takes about 30 minutes while using a wire to insert the air hole takes up a few minutes. Both must be vulcanized to reinforce and increase the rubber surface’s certainty.

Is It Ok To Drive On A Plugged Tire?

As long as the wound has adequately been reinforced, you are entirely safe traveling by car with tires. The safest time to use is not too long from when you repair using the above method.

 Besides, some notes have also ensured stability when operating this type. 

However, do not drive when there is a wound near the wall or on the side of the wheel; if the plug diameter exceeds ¼ inch, it is best to replace the tires. 

Finally, the body’s weight, do not use plug tires to carry heavy objects; this inadvertently puts pressure on the wheels when the tires are weak.

How To Plug In A Tire?

Here are some ways to help you better understand the plugging process.

Step 1: Locate the leak
  • Fill the tires with air, press to see if the pressure has reached the standard when you feel the hardness, then ok.
  • Dilute the soap and water solution and spray it all over the surface of the wheel, where there are air bubbles; that’s where the puncture is.

This step does not require you to remove the wheel altogether, but you can use a jack to support the wheel’s weight, so it is pretty easy to do the following steps.

  • Use pliers to pick up the sharp object, locating the hole.

Step 2: Drill holes
  • Use a T-tool to close the hole, of course, before doing this step, and you need to sand around the wound.
  • Pierce the damage to an appropriate extent, once the spot is round.
  • If the pin is too small to be reamed, use a hand drill with a smaller tip to expand and then machine the whole face.

Step 3: Plugs ready
  • Prepare a strip of plugs from the kit; insert the repaired string into the eyelet (plug tool). 
  • Use pliers to pull the thread through the hook to a certain length.
  • Apply a layer of cement powder to cover the thermos strip and the hole in the car’s body.

Step 4: Insert strip
  • Press the plug firmly into the hole.
  • After the pin has entered the muscle a certain length, leave about an inch outside the wheel surface, slowly remove the plug. 
  • End slot in eyelet, allowing free fall as long as the pin goes into the tire.

Step 5: Pump tires
  • Fill the tires with air again, and the required pressure index is 10% lower than the standard.
  • Spray a layer of solution all over the face to check the level of leakage occurs again or not.

Step 6: Cut off the excess
  • Use a piece of paper to wipe off the cement coating; let it cool down to dry completely (about 5 minutes).
  • Use a cutter to cut the cord, leaving only about ⅛ inch.

Step 7: Test
  • Continue to spray a layer of solution on the surface; check for the last time to see if the gas is still fizzed.
  • Remove the auxiliary equipment, to let the car return to its original state.

Conclusion

The above article has provided you with knowledge related to plugging or manipulations to perform this process. Hopefully, it will help you when you encounter a similar situation. 

This post was last updated on

How To Use A Tire Plug Kit The Right Way

Posted by Jefferson Bryant Know How

Flat tires tend to happen at the worst time in the worst places. If you are on the road or outside of normal business hours when your vehicle has a flat and the spare is missing or no good, you might feel stranded, but there is an option—a tire plug kit. This is something that anybody can do, you just need the right parts.

Liquid tire repair might get you down the road, but it could make your tire repair difficult and possibly damage the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) unit inside the rim itself depending on the formula. The best solution for an emergency tire repair is a tire plug. Made from cork and a gooey adhesive that keeps it place and seals the tire, a tire plug repair is an excellent way to get your car back on the road until you can get to a tire shop for a proper internal patch.

Installing a plug in your tire works for pierced tread area only. You cannot fix sidewall damage, compression breaks (from potholes, gravel roads or curbing) or any other type of catastrophic tire damage. The most common road hazards you will find are punctures from nails and screws. Fixing these issues are perfect for the good old fashioned tire plug. If you are wondering how long does it take to plug a tire, then the answer is just a few minutes. Most of the time is spent preparing to perform the plug itself. Here’s how to plug a tire with a plug kit.

These are the tire plug kit tools you need for an emergency tire repair, which you should keep in your vehicle along with a 12-volt compressor. Starting from the left are diagonal side-cutters, tire plugs, reamer, tire plug insertion tool, and a knife.

Tire Plugging Supplies

You will need the following to make a tire plug repair:

  • Tire plug kit
  • Pliers, preferably needle-nosed or diagonal side-cutters
  • Compressed air to refill the tire

There are all kinds of tire plugging kits, but you want the most complete tire repair kit which comes with the plugs, the installation tool, and the reamer tool. Some flat tire repair kits just come with the plugs and installer, but the reamer tool is a necessary component to a good repair. Some tire plugging kits also come with liquid cement. You can use it or not, but the cement helps make a more permanent repair.

How To Use A Tire Patch Kit

Step One – Find The Leak

Locate the puncture. If you don’t see or hear the puncture, spray some soapy water on the tire and look for bubbles.

This is a small staple that was dropping tire pressure by 20 psi in about 12 hours. It needs to go.

Step Two – Remove The Foreign Object

Remove the offending item. This is usually easy, but sometimes the nail or screw is worn down, making it hard to get a bite on it. This is where the side-cutters come in really handy. You will want to position the tire where you get the most leverage.

Side cutters work best for removing these items, as they can grip small round objects better than regular pliers.

Step Three – Prep The Area

Insert the reamer. This will take some effort, as you have to push it through the steel belts. Use a twisting motion and push it into the tire. Once the reamer is through, saw it in and out of the tire a few times to really make a nice hole for the plug. Yes, it is counter-intuitive, but it is necessary.

The reamer requires some effort. You will hear the belts scrubbing the reamer as your break through.

 

Push the reamer all the way and then saw it in and out a few times to make a clean hole.

Step Four – Prepare The Plug

Prep the plug and installer. Pull a plug off the strip and push it through the eyelet of the installer tool. The pliers will make this easier. Push a little through, grab it with the pliers and pull the plug halfway through the eyelet.

Pull a cork strip from the tire plugging kit and grab the installer tool, which looks like a large needle with a slit in the eye.

 

Threading the sticky cork tire repair plug is not easy, but if you can get it squished into the hole, you should be able to pull it on through. The side cutters might help.

Step Five – Insert The Tire Plug

Insert the plug into the tire. If the kit has liquid cement, apply some to the plug before inserting it into the tire. Simply push the installer into the hole in the tire until the plug is about 3/4 of the way in. Twist the installer tool 90-degrees and pull it out. The plug will stay in the tire and the tool will come out nice and easy. You may trim away the excess plug or leave it to wear away as you drive.

Push the tire plug into the hole. Don’t twist the plug as you push it in, just go straight down and stop when there is about a 1/2-inch exposed.

 

This is what you should see when the tire plug is installed.

 

Once the tire repair plug is in you can now twist the handle 90-degrees and pull the tool out.

Step Six – Air Up The Tire

Fill the tire to the proper PSI. If you have a portable air compressor, this will make things easy. However, if you do not, you need to get air very soon.

All done. You can trim the tire plug or leave. You will need air, so don’t go driving until you have the tire aired up.

Every automobile you own should have an emergency tire plug repair kit in the tool box, along with a portable air compressor. These emergency repairs are quite good, but for a long term repair, you should take the vehicle to a tire shop for a proper repair as soon as possible. They will know the best way to patch a tire for your type of damage.

Check out all the steering & suspension parts available on NAPAOnline or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on how to use a tire plugging kit, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA Auto Parts store.

Categories

Know How

Tags

emergency repair, flat tire, flat tire repair, patch flat tires, sealant, tire maintenance, tire plug kit, tire pressure, tire safety, tire wear, tires, wheels

A life-long gearhead, Jefferson Bryant spends more time in the shop than anywhere else. His career began in the car audio industry as a shop manager, eventually working his way into a position at Rockford Fosgate as a product designer. In 2003, he began writing tech articles for magazines, and has been working as an automotive journalist ever since. His work has been featured in Car Craft, Hot Rod, Rod & Custom, Truckin’, Mopar Muscle, and many more. Jefferson has also written 4 books and produced countless videos. Jefferson operates Red Dirt Rodz, his personal garage studio, where all of his magazine articles and tech videos are produced.

10 important tire repair kits from Aliexpress / Selections from Aliexpress and more / iXBT Live

Almost every car owner has experienced a tire puncture. The most insidious thing is if it happened on the road, and there is no way to quickly get the car to the nearest tire service. In this situation, any car owner will come to the aid of special tool kits for quick tire repair, which can be bought on Aliexpress at an affordable price. All sets have positive feedback from real buyers, good quality and free shipping.

FDIK

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Starts the list with a good kit for a quick repair of tubeless tires. Supplied in a plastic case in which each tool has its place. The kit includes: cutter, rasp, awl with a spare tip, rubber bands and glue. Using the set is quite simple and convenient. If a puncture is found in the tire, you need to carefully expand it with a rasp, thread the tourniquet into the eye of the awl, insert it into the hole so that a small piece of thread sticks out of the hole. In conclusion, it remains to remove the tool, and cut the tourniquet with a blade.

MILING

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Another very interesting set that will come in handy for every car owner. Judging by the reviews, the set is really useful and has a good quality. With it, you can quickly install plugs for repairing tire punctures. The principle of operation is simple: first, a rubber plug is taken, which is installed in a vacuum gun, after which the rubber plug is inserted into the puncture with a tool. Everything is very simple. It only takes a couple of minutes and you can move on.

MANMAN

Ask for price

Effective tire repair kit, which includes: universal patches and a special roller. This method of self-repair of a punctured wheel will require its disassembly, so it cannot be called quick and simple. However, this set allows you to most effectively repair a large puncture. Judging by the reviews, the patches are of good quality, made of thick rubber. The roller is comfortable, has good corrosion resistance. There is expedited shipping, so you don't have to wait for the goods.

MAOZUA

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Every self-respecting car owner should have such a simple but effective kit. It includes: a spiral file, an awl with an eye, harnesses (5 pieces + 5 pieces as a gift) and glue. The set is very useful, it will allow you to quickly and easily fix a puncture of tubeless tires right on the road. The thing is really worthwhile, and it is inexpensive.

JOSHNESE

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A very useful set for any car owner, which consists of two special screwdrivers with a screw nozzle. The nozzle has three special hooks that allow you to pull stones out of the tread of car tires. The length of each screwdriver is 320 mm. Supplied in a carry case for easy storage.

AIRLINE

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This repair kit is popular among owners of vehicles with tubeless tires. The set includes: a tool with a file tip, a tool with an eye, 5 cords and a special activator glue. The kit will help to quickly restore the integrity of the wheel after a puncture. The reviews are positive, the product is fully consistent with the description, there is an expedited delivery. The set is inexpensive and successfully copes with its task.

VORCOOL

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A very useful set of universal clamps that will allow you to remove the rubber from the wheel with your own hands. Size: 16x13x5 cm. Made of hard plastic. Judging by the reviews, the product is worthwhile, made with high quality, does not scratch the disk during operation. However, it is recommended to hold the tool a little, as it can pop out on alloy wheels. The thing is interesting. The seller is responsive, promises to deliver the goods quickly.

Ai CAR FUN

Sell here

Very interesting kit for quick repair of punctures in tires up to 10 mm in diameter. Allows you to perform quick repairs without removing the wheel on the road, which is very convenient. The kit includes: vacuum gun and special paste. Tool size: 30x5.5x3 cm. Judging by the reviews, the set is convenient and effective. The only thing is that the delivery is not very fast.

VGEBY

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A good set of good quality tire changers. Includes 24 mushrooms. With its help, it is possible to carry out high-quality and reliable tire repair. Installation work is easy and simple. Fungi fill the puncture channel, protecting the tire carcass from moisture, dirt and foreign bodies, thereby protecting the tire. Allows you to repair damage of a fairly serious size.

ONEVER

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Rounding out the list is a great quick repair kit that every self-respecting motorist should have. The set includes: a case made of durable plastic and 98 essential tools. Its weight: 1.5 kg. In an emergency, the car owner will be able to independently make minor repairs to the wheel without removing it from the car. This set does not take up much space in the trunk, easy to transport. Judging by the reviews, it has good quality and fast delivery.

Thank you all for your attention. I hope the selection was interesting, and for someone even useful. All successful shopping.

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When the temperature drops, tires become stiffer, which negatively affects their traction and ride comfort.In addition to tires, cold also has a negative effect on other automotive components, primarily springs and shock absorbers.0003

Representatives of the Finnish company Nokian told how tires work in winter conditions.

Nokian CTO Allan Ostrovskis says the starting point for any winter tire is designing a solid structure. The rubber mixture from which the tread and sidewalls of a winter tire are made also plays a significant role. The so-called budget tires are often made of synthetic materials, therefore they are able to provide acceptable performance only at temperatures slightly below zero, and in real cold weather they become ineffective. Quality winter tires have the same high performance at different temperatures.

In winter, it is extremely important for motorists to remember the correct tire pressure. Many novice drivers are unaware that cold temperatures lower tire pressure, which increases tread wear and increases fuel consumption. According to Mr. Ostrovskis, many car enthusiasts check the pressure in a warm room, forgetting that it will decrease in the cold. When the temperature drops by 10 degrees, the pressure decreases by about 0.1 bar. This means that in winter it is advisable to set the pressure somewhere 0. 2 bar higher than the level recommended by the manufacturer.

If we talk about the difference between studded and friction tires, in very cold weather there are no serious differences between them. Mr. Ostrovskis notes that performance differences between studded and non-studded tires appear as temperatures rise. So, for example, at temperatures from -5 to +5 ° C, when a film of water forms on its surface when driving on ice, studded winter tires will provide more efficient grip.

Braking distance measurements show that the greatest difference between studded and friction tires will be at zero degrees. So, for example, when braking from a speed of 50 km / h, the results of studded tires and non-studded tires of the Scandinavian type were 43 and 60 meters, respectively - a difference of 17 meters, and this is the length of four cars.

When it comes to non-studded tires of the European type, the difference with studded tires is almost eight cars long. Tire tests also show that when the temperature drops to 18-10°C, the difference between different winter tires begins to decrease. Studded tires again show the most effective braking, but friction tires are already less behind them.

There is a widespread opinion among drivers that winter tires increase fuel consumption. This is nothing more than a myth. In fact, Mr. Ostrovskis argues, modern winter tires have lower rolling resistance than most summer tires, so they don't increase fuel consumption.

However, it should be remembered here that in order to use fuel efficiently, the driver needs to monitor tire pressure. It is also worth considering that cold engine starts increase fuel consumption in winter conditions.

In addition, the Nokian expert reminds motorists to change their wheels regularly. On a front-wheel drive car, the tires on the front axle wear out much faster than on the rear, so every car owner should periodically check the degree of tire wear and swap the front and rear tires.


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