Keeping tires in good shape and free from any cracks and damages is important for ensuring safety while driving and prolonging the lifespan of your tires.
So if you’re researching ways to repair damages and improve the strength of your vehicle’s tires, you may be wondering – what is tire vulcanizing? Well, here is everything I’ve found out on this topic!
Tire vulcanizing is a chemical process that hardens rubber and is frequently used to repair cracks, tears, and punctures in tires. Most local automobile service centers offer tire vulcanization services for $10-$30. However, vehicle owners can also perform the vulcanization process themselves using DIY kits that cost anywhere from $2-$15 per kit.
If you want to learn more about how tire vulcanizing works, how much does it cost to vulcanize tires, and much more, keep on reading to find out more useful facts and tips!
Charles Goodyear invented the vulcanization process in the mid-1880s while doing experiments to improve tire tubes.
Although this process received heavy criticism in the beginning, people eventually came to appreciate the benefits of vulcanization in the manufacturing and repair of tires.
The vulcanization process involves sealing and repairing punctures, cuts, or gashes in tires under extreme pressure and heat.
Vulcanization can be done in three different ways:
1. Section Repair
The section repair method is used to deal with severe damage such as cuts and tears through the cords of the tire.
In this method, both inner and outer layers of the tire are first beveled and filled with rubber patches.
After that, sulfur is applied under high pressure and temperature to permanently seal and harden the patches.
2. Spot Repair
Spot repair can only be used to repair external damage including sidewall tears, cracks, and bead damage, and is not suitable if your tire’s cords are also damaged.
In spot repair, the surface of the damaged area is filed, evened out, and filled with a new rubber patch in the presence of sulfur or another curative under high pressure and temperature.
3. Stripping
Stripping involves adhering a thin layer of rubber to the inner surface and vulcanizing it with sulfur under high pressure and heat to form a permanent seal.
This method is primarily used to repair the inner surface of the tire, where the cords have been exposed due to extended wear and tear.
Vulcanizing fluid is a rubber-based, fast-drying liquid that is used to repair tires and tubes, which works by forming strong chemical bonds (of sulfur) with the tire patch at normal room temperature and pressure.
Afterward, once it has dried after application, the seal between the tire and patch becomes permanent and air-tight.
Here are the steps you should follow to properly apply vulcanizing fluid for your tire repair:
It should be noted that the drying time of the fluid is affected by its temperature and thickness.
To compare, a thin coating will dry in five minutes, but a heavy coating can take as much as fifteen minutes to dry.
Although you can use both rubber cement and vulcanizing fluid to repair your tire, there is a slight difference in their composition and in how they function.
Rubber cement is made from elastic polymers (latex) and solvents (hexane or acetone), whereas vulcanizing fluid uses sulfur as the main compound for bonding with the tire’s rubber.
Additionally, rubber cement is not strong enough to achieve long-lasting results from vulcanization, whereas vulcanizing fluid makes a permanent and strong seal.
Vulcanizing a tire is an excellent way to repair and strengthen your tire since vulcanized rubber lasts a lot longer than natural rubber.
In fact, vulcanized rubber becomes ten times stronger than natural rubber due to the cross-linking of sulfur and other metallic oxides with the rubber.
Because of this, manufacturing companies often use vulcanized rubber to produce tires as well, making it quite suitable for tire repairs.
Although it is safe to vulcanize a tire, you should avoid doing so if any of the below conditions apply, since the repair will not be effective or long-lasting:
You should have your tires inspected by a professional mechanic if you are not sure whether it is safe to vulcanize a tire.
You can expect to pay between $10 to $20 for vulcanizing a damaged tire, though the cost also depends on the size of the tire and the extent of the damage.
However, keep in mind that vulcanizing a tire with a sidewall tear usually costs more (up to $30) because the sidewall is integral to the tire’s strength, rigidity, and structure.
You can get your tire vulcanized from any local automobile repair shop, and you can also visit nearby service centers of any of the following automobile chains:
You can vulcanize your tires at home using DIY Vulcanizing Patch Kits, but keep in mind that it is only suitable for very small tears or cuts.
Additionally, the process becomes more complicated if the tires are heavy-duty or commercial, or if you have no prior experience with tire repairs.
You will find the following items in most DIY Vulcanizing Patch Kits:
If you’d like to purchase a vulcanizing patch kit, you can do so from stores like Amazon, Walmart, or even your local Auto Parts store for around $2-$15 per kit.
If you want to learn more, you can also check our posts on what are XL tires, what are all-season tires, and what are highway tires.
Tire vulcanizing is a chemical process used to repair cracks, tears, and punctures in tires to prolong the life of your tires.
Tire vulcanizing is a highly effective method for repairing tires, and vulcanized rubber is even used by manufacturers to produce durable and long-lasting tires for rough usage.
It’s never a good day when a tractor or combine tire goes down. Maybe a sharp piece of metal has speared it and left you completely flat. Or, maybe you’ve discovered a chipped lug, bead damage—or you’re staring at your tire’s cords through a nasty gash. If you find yourself in this situation, there’s actually good news: the tire may be repairable.
How Vulcanized Repairs Can Save You MoneyA damaged bank account is the first thing most farmers think about when they spot a damaged tire.
Or how the search for a decent used tire is going to waste time you don’t have. Don’t worry: NTS Tire Supply can help you with both these problems.
In reality, your damaged tire may still be good thanks to vulcanizing technology. Vulcanizing repairs can save your operation hundreds or thousands of dollars in tire replacement costs.
If for some reason a vulcanized repair isn’t a good fit for your tire (we cover the reasons below), we have a pretty good idea where you can find a quality used tire from a reputable seller. But first, let’s take a look at the 3 types of vulcanized repairs.
These repairs involve the most severe type of tire damage—cuts through the tire’s cords. Section repairs include sidewall, tread face, and shoulder reinforcement. To perform this repair, our vulcanizer grounds or bevels out the damaged area. The inside of the cut is then layered with new ply. Next, the cavity is filled with new rubber from the outside.
Then, a high-pressure heat cure forces the rubber tightly into the cavity to complete the repair. Our success rate for section repairs is about 95%.
Spot repairs address external tire damage that does not involve the tire’s cords. Examples include sidewall cuts, chipped lugs, shoulder cracks, and bead damage. During a spot repair, our vulcanizer grounds or bevels out the damaged area and fills the outside of the cavity with new rubber. A high-pressure heat cure then forces the rubber into the casing and repairs the tire.
Our success rate for spot repairs is over 99%.
We recommend using Orange Armor tire sealant to completely guard against future leaks.
3. StrippingUnder the demands of agricultural use, the inner lining of a tire can thin to the point where the cords become exposed. During the stripping process, our vulcanizer applies a layer of new rubber to the inside of the tire, then bonds the new rubber to the casing with a high-pressure heat cure. Our success rate for stripping repairs is nearly 100%.
You should choose your tire repair person the same way you would choose a mechanic—go with who you trust based on the company’s experience and reputation.
We’re fortunate to have Gary, our vulcanizer, who performs hundreds of tire repairs each year.
If you have a damaged tire, your first step is to contact us to see if we can fix your tire. Even though we can repair some of the nastiest-looking gashes, not every tire is repairable. A tire is unrepairable if:
Once you contact us about your repair, we’ll let you know what the next steps are. For example, we might need some pictures of the tire to determine if a fix is possible.
If we determine that vulcanizing can’t save your tire, your next step is a used tire. NTS Tire Supply has thousands of used tires in stock at any given time, so check if we can source a suitable used replacement before you look at a new one. We have everything from like-new tires with factory blemishes (that don’t affect performance) down to low-tread tires that you could mount for one more season before you invest in a whole new set.
Every used tire we sell undergoes a complete inspection, inside and out. We look for anything that could impact the performance of the tire—weathering, casing issues, odd tread wear, etc. Can you say the same for a tire you might find on Craigslist or another online retailer?
Every tire we sell (or repair) is covered by our Black Gold Warranty. Bringing in a tire for a vulcanized repair? You’re covered. NTS Tire Supply stands behind every repair job with a full 2-year warranty. In the rare case that a repair fails, we’ll redo the job free of charge or refund the full cost of the repair.
We also stand behind every tire (or track) we sell: a practice that has attracted loyal customers since the 1980s, when we first started selling used tires. If a product fails within the first 30 days after installation or 6 months after purchase (whichever comes first), NTS Tire Supply will offer free replacement, repair, or the full purchase price back including labor.
Read More: NTS Tire Supply covers every used tire we sell with our Black Gold Warranty.
Have a damaged tire? Contact us today and we’ll discuss your repair options. And if you need a used tire or want to upgrade the performance of a machine on your farm with a set of new rubber, our tire experts will work to find the best options for your operation. We’re here to help drive your farm forward.
NTS Tire Supply Team
Repair
Wheels play one of the key roles in moving a car. The condition of the tires affects the safety and driving behavior of the vehicle. It is necessary to constantly check the wheels: for integrity and for pressure indicators, especially before traveling on a long journey. Occasionally, tire problems can occur on the road that may require professional attention. Today it is possible to quickly and efficiently troubleshoot with the help of vulcanization.
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This process converts rubber into elastic rubber, which allows the integrity of the tire to be restored. Vulcanization is very relevant in the case when during the movement there is a violation of the integrity of the rubber. Such a nuisance significantly affects the pressure in the tires, and also leads to further destruction of the ramp.
After high-quality vulcanization of rubber, the tire becomes harder and stronger, acquires greater wear resistance and elasticity.
Each vulcanization method has its own characteristics, however, the hot method is suitable for tire repair on the road, because it does not require additional time to wait for the desired result.
In order to understand the difference between cold vulcanization and hot vulcanization, it is necessary to consider in detail the stages of their implementation.
In this case, a special patch, along the edges of which there is an adhesive, is attached to the tire from the inside. Then, using a press, the patch is firmly pressed against the rubber and reacts with it. Taking into account the fact that rubber bonding occurs without exposure to high temperature and requires preliminary degreasing, removal of various contaminants and cleaning of the tire surface, the process takes quite a long time and the tire remains in the workshop for a day. nine0012 If we compare these types with each other, then the cold vulcanization process itself is faster and cheaper, although it requires additional time to obtain the desired result.
If you take the hot method, the result of the work is more elastic, tight and the tire can be used immediately. Each car owner chooses a convenient type of vulcanization for himself, taking into account his preferences and the current situation. nine0005
Vulcanization extends the life of a tire up to 25,000 kilometers, but remember that no more than two patches are recommended per tire. Also, careful driving helps to avoid cuts.
If you need a professional tire vulcanization service, contact SM24 24 Hour Tire Service. Our branches are located in Moscow and the Moscow region. Thanks to the availability of modern high-quality equipment and the extensive experience and knowledge of our masters, your car will always be in good condition. Availability, speed and quality will please every client. Also, in addition to vulcanization, we can carry out vehicle diagnostics, repair work of any complexity, as well as dry cleaning. nine0005
Vulcanization is a complex technological process that transforms plastic rubber into rubber. At the same time, the shape of the product is fixed, it becomes more elastic, durable and solid. Rubber after vulcanization is difficult to break, its performance is improved, and endurance reaches incredible parameters. Chemists will call the process of vulcanization "cross-linking" of rubber macromolecules into a vulcanization network by transverse rare chemical bonds. For this, a special chemical agent is used. nine0005
The discovery of vulcanization, oddly enough, is not connected with intense research work, but with the banal negligence of work. An employee at the Massachusetts Rubber Factory accidentally dropped a lump of rubber mixed with sulfur onto a hot stove. The rubber was charred but not melted. It happened in 1839, the worker's name was Charles Goodyear, and therefore it is from that time that the development of vulcanization is counted. In 1844, the first patent appeared, according to which rubber was to be exposed to aqua regia and copper nitrite.
The process got its name from the ancient Roman god of fire, Vulcan. nine0005
The inventor found his own vulcanization mode, noting that after it the rubber becomes resistant to temperature effects. To do this, lead and sulfur are involved in the chemical process, which are heated to the desired temperature along with rubber. Thus, elastic rubber is obtained, which is immune to the influence of sunlight and cold.
In the century before last, only sulfur was used for vulcanization, but over time, many other substances were added to it, for example, calcium sulfide, alkali sulfide, arsenic sulfide, lead, antimony, zinc salts, sulfur chloride and many other substances with a high sulfur content . Vulcanization was the impetus for the industrial production of tires. The last solution to the dough is associated with the activities of the Englishman Robert Thomson, who invented "air" wheels in 1846, and the Irishman John Dunlop, who pulled a rubber tube on a bicycle wheel. nine0005
Tire vulcanization is one of the tools for repairing damaged rubber.
As a rule, special plasters intended for cold and hot vulcanization are used. In the process, the chamber repair fluid interacts with the active layer of the patch patch. To process the surface of materials and places of defects, special cement BL is used. Adhesives are used to fix and connect structural elements and parts.
• Without heat treatment, two rubber components are bonded together in a cold vulcanization process. In this case, a patch with an adhesive layer is attached inside the tire. This process proceeds quite slowly, and therefore, at an average ambient temperature of 20 C, the tire should stand for a day after installing the patch. If it is colder outside, it will take two days to complete the process. For the process to go right, one should not deviate from the technology in anything. To consolidate the effect, it is worth using additional means for rubber after the end of vulcanization; nine0005
• If high temperatures are used to bond materials, this is hot vulcanization.
