4 Tips For Plugging A Tire
Did you run over a nail and have air leaking out of your tire? If so, you can repair the tire with a tire repair plug. Here are some tips that will help you get this job done.
Find The Leak
The first step is figuring out where the tire is leaking air. It's incredibly hard to do this while the tire is still on your vehicle, so it will help to put the car up on a jack or hoist so that the tire can be removed. A nail should be easy to spot in your tire, and as long as it is in the tire tread, it is possible to repair it. A nail that is in the sidewall of the tire may mean that the entire tire needs to be replaced.
Can't find where the nail is located? It's possible that you don't have a nail in it at all. Try covering the tire with soapy water around the rim and valve stem to see where it is leaking out by looking for soap bubbles You may have a more complicated repair that requires taking your vehicle to an auto shop.
Smooth Out The Hole
You'll want to remove the nail with pliers so that you can smooth out the hole. The repair kit should have a special tool that allows you to easily grip onto it and use it to make the hole big enough for the patch and smooth out the walls of the hole. Use this tool a few times to prep the area for the plug.
Insert The Plug
The plug gets inserted into the special tool that comes with the repair kit, with the plug being perpendicular to the tool. You'll insert the tool back into the hole, and the plug will bend upward as it is pushed into the hole. Once the plug is almost all the way in with a little bit of extra plug sticking out of the tread, remove the tool and the plug will remain inside the hole.
Seal The Plug
There will be a sealant that you apply to the plug that helps it bond to the tire. You need to apply this sealant to the plug, and it will flow to the inside of the tire. The remainder of the plug can be cut off since any extra material will rub away as you drive the car.