How To
A Quick Trailside Lesson
By ATV Rider
May 9, 2014
Remove the valve stem core, and pump the recommended amount of SLIME into the tire (the bottle will have recommended doses). Reinstall the valve stem core, and inflate the tire. Make sure the vehicle is driven around for a bit after installing the SLIME so it doesn’t puddle in the bottom of the tire.How To
10 Things to Know When Purchasing Used ATV Shocks
How To
Can Your Truck’s Tailgate Handle Your ATV?
How To
Starting Repairs on a 2010 Arctic Cat 400
How To
Sponsorship Lessons from a Pro
How To
Top Quad: Building a Racer on a $3,000 Budget
If you have an ATV, and it has a flat tire, you may be wondering if the tire can be plugged?
In this article, we will answer all of these questions and more.
We will also discuss when it is better to replace an ATV tire instead of fixing it. So, whether you are looking for information on how to fix a small hole in your ATV tire or how to find a leak in your ATV tire, we have you covered!
The short answer is yes, ATV tires can be plugged. However, it is important to note that not all holes in ATV tires can be safely plugged.
For example, if the hole in your ATV tire is too large, or if the tire has been punctured in multiple places, it is likely that the tire will need to be replaced.
In addition, it’s often recommended against plugging an ATV tire sidewall or even close to the sidewall.
Now that we know that ATV tires can be plugged, let’s discuss how to find the hole and plug an ATV tire.
To find the hole in your ATV tire is very simple, all you need is a spray bottle with soapy water.
This soapy water can be regular water from the sink and the soap can be hand soap or dish soap, whichever you have handy.
No need to overthink it, put mostly water in the spray bottle and then add some soap, and that is it.
With the ATV secured and not moving, lift the ATV tire up that is leaking air. Make sure the tire has air in it or this will not work.
Take the spray bottle with soapy water and spray the ATV tire until you start to see bubbles coming out. When you see bubbles, you found the leak and can work to patch the tire. If you see no bubbles, then add more soap to the water or the hole is not leaking, or the tire is out of air.
One of the most common ways to plug an ATV tire is with a tire plug kit (Amazon Link Ad). These kits typically come with everything you need to plug a hole in your ATV tire, including a plugging tool and several plugs.
To use a tire plug kit, you must remove whatever is causing the hole if it’s still in the tire, this could be a nail, staple, torn, or whatever.
Once you remove the item from the tire, you need to clean the hole with the included tool, this will make entering the patch easier.
Then insert the plug into the puller, coat the plug with the supplied glue, insert into the hole, and quickly pull out the handle and this will leave the plug behind. Cut off any excess plug that protrudes too much out.
Here are video instructions:
Slime is a product that can be used to fix flat tires. It is a thick, gooey substance that is inserted into the tire through the valve stem.
Once in the tire, it quickly expands and seals any holes or leaks.
While slime can be an effective way to fix a flat tire, it is not recommended for use on ATV tires.
This is because ATV tires typically have larger holes and punctures than car tires, and as such, they require a more substantial repair. Slime also creates a mess and will only piss off the tire guy and can make your tire unbalanced.
Generally, I like to avoid Slime, but that is me.
If your ATV tire keeps going flat after siting, then we have a post that can help you here.
Now that we’ve answered the question “Can ATV tires be plugged?” let’s discuss the pros and cons of patching vs plugging ATV tires.
Patching an ATV tire is typically considered to be a more permanent repair than plugging.
This is because a patch covers the entire hole and little around the hole, while a plug only covers the hole.
Patches are also better for bigger holes and odd shaped holes, especially ones that are not straight or perfectly round. A patch should not be used to repair sidewalls, generally, a new tire is needed when you puncture the sidewalls.
Plugging an ATV tire is considered to be a temporary repair, but can last if done right.
However, plugs are typically much easier to install than patches, and they can often be done without having to take the wheel off the ATV.
The answer depends on the situation. If you have a small hole in your tire that is not leaking too much air, then a plug is all you need.
However, if you have a large hole in your tire that is leaking a lot of air, then a patch may be necessary.
But to be honest, if the tire is leaking a lot, and you’re considering a patch, you should also consider replacing the tire too. A hole in a tire too large can’t be fixed easily and often means you need a new one.
It’s best to not patch or plug a hole that is larger than 1/4 inch diameter, you need a new tire at that point.
One final note on ATV tires: If you have a flat tire, it is important to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Riding an ATV on a flat tire can damage the rim and tire and make it more difficult to fix.
In addition, riding on a flat tire can also damage your ATV’s suspension and other components. Bending your ATV rim because you drove on a flat tire is much worse than having to fix a flat tire, so fix the tire right away.
ATVs are famous for their stability and reliability, however, even the highest quality models, including Stels ATVs, can fail. Of course, only a master can deal with serious breakdowns, but you can do something with your own hands, and some breakdowns will have to be repaired on your own, including punctured tires. This is one of the most common problems that ATV riders face, and it's not surprising, especially given that ATVs move on such surfaces, where there is no need to talk about safety.
That is why you need to be ready in case of trouble to solve the problem. The main thing, as in many ways, is not to panic, so if you hear a suspicious hiss, don't be scared, but take out the first aid kit of your ATV. nine0003
I must say right away that it is better to replace a damaged tire, but this is not always possible and can be done on the spot, and minor repairs will allow you to finish the trip and return home on your fours. In fact, there is nothing complicated about this, and it is quite possible to repair holes up to 5 centimeters in diameter, the rest are usually associated with damage to the device itself, so there is no need to talk about the end of the trip.
In order for the test not to take you by surprise, you need to prepare in advance and always have a few basic things with you. Designate storage space on your ATV ahead of time and remember to refill as you use it. Often in repairs, the main problem is precisely the need to get out of the ground what you forgot to take with you from home.
So, here is a list of what will make you feel confident on any road - a repair kit, it includes a reamer - an expander and a special tool for installing patches. nine0003
Patches, this is exactly what ends quickly and that you need to constantly buy more, the rest of the materials are not consumables or you can do without them. Patches come in different shapes, for example, I prefer long ones, the main thing is their good stickiness.
Pump. After the “treatment”, the tire will have to be pumped up and you cannot do without a pump. Here the choice is yours, manual or electric, as for me, the simpler the better, folding pumps are still good, they take up less space in the trunk, although it's more about your personal preferences and the possibilities of your wallet. nine0003
Rubber adhesive. In principle, there is usually enough sticky layer on the patches, but just in case I carry it in the trunk too, the whole gluing process is greatly simplified. A pressure gauge is a device for measuring tire pressure, if you bought an ATV in a store, it usually comes with an ATV.
If you notice an air leak, start by looking for a hole in the tire, if the tire is already deflated and the air is coming out weakly, inflate the tire and find where the air comes out. It is usually quite easy to find a hole if it is caused by a foreign object - a nail or a branch. If you don't see the hole, spin the tire on the wheel and listen for exactly where the hiss of the escaping air is heard. In the most extreme case, put the tire in water - a puddle or lake - and you will be able to see the air bubbles escaping. Remember that air can escape not only through a hole in the tire, but also through the junctions of the tire parts or the tire and the valve. nine0003
Once you find the hole, work the edges of the hole with a reamer, making the surface rough, after that the patch will better adhere to the rubber. Take a patch tool and thread the patch into it, if there is glue, smear it with a little glue and insert it into the tire halfway. The next moment is very important - you need to quickly pull the tool out of the hole, but do not pull the patch with you.
If you are doing this for the first time, you may need to practice - I told you that patches run out quickly. Usually, if the hole is microscopic, one patch is enough, but sometimes you have to use several, in this case, repeat the steps, inserting the patches until the air stops coming out of the hole. When the hiss is no longer heard, leave the tire for a few minutes to allow the glue to dry. Do not forget to trim the ends of the patches protruding from the operation site, leave no more than three millimeters, otherwise such a patch may simply fall out while driving. When everything is ready and your tire has restored its integrity, pump it up to the required pressure and you can continue driving. Do not forget that if the hole was large enough, after returning home, the tire will have to be changed to a new one. nine0003
As you can see, everything is not so difficult and you will quickly learn how to spend no more than a few minutes on repairs, by the way, if you don’t want to practice repairing a tire in the middle of a track or forest, do it at home, especially if you have never used a repair kit before.
Unit / system: Wheels
Fault: How to fix a puncture on the road
Never drive on a flat tire!
Possible consequences of failure to eliminate
Driving on a flat tire or with low pressure can lead to complete tire wear, deformation of the rim, as well as to an emergency! nine0003
First of all, you need to try to pump up the wheel and get to the tire shop. In case the wheel deflates very quickly, it is necessary to apply a special Liqui Moly sealant spray.
The use of the Reifen-Reparatur-Spray Tire Repair Spray allows you to quickly and independently repair and inflate tubeless tire punctures when operating the car in places remote from the service. Allows you to get to the tire shop without changing the wheel. The contents of the cylinder are sufficient for pumping into a tire up to size 215. nine0003
Code: 3343
Volume: 0.5 l
Do not use if the tire is torn or comes off the rim. It is not recommended for use in the presence of a centralized tire pressure monitoring system.
