Your videos are so useful. I really like that you explain things in a way that’s easy to understand. I have wondered about these kits for so long but never found a useful video. Will be getting one tomorrow. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion about going in the same angle as the screw! I was having a really tough time getting it in there until I watched this video and tried that idea. Worked perfectly.
I was able to follow your video and successfully plug my tire. I did not remove the tire from the car as I was on my own and the screw was in a good spot where I could get to it easily. Thanks so much.
Someone else may have mentioned this, but I always use the pliers on the end of the patch to flatten it so it goes into the insertion tool more easily.
I walk around with a magnetic tool that can pick up those nails and screws that seem to find their way on to the roadway like the cement nail that took out his tire. If you find a telescoping magnet (Titan makes a variety that are inexpensive) it's almost like a game and I'm sure it will up your karma score against getting a flat.
Great question! I believe most tire shops will consider this a temporary fix, but before I plugged my own tires my local tire store used this exact same process to fix nail holes etc in my vehicles. A patch (which is installed inside the tire, and requires removing the tire from the wheel to do properly) is considered a permanent fix, but I've had these plugs work perfectly well for the life of the tire. Thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for demonstrating this. It was very helpful to someone like me who is still learning how to perform common maintenence and repair tasks for my home or car. I was wondering if you need to wait for any period of time to drive on the repaired tire after plugging the hole or if it will be ready to drive right away. Thanks for your time.
Hi there New Hope - apologies for the delay in my response. Unlike that delay, there is no waiting period necessary to drive on a repaired tire like this. As soon as you can get it back on the vehicle, it'll be ready to go!
LOL! 🤣🤣🤣 Late and sweat. Kidding , still a very good tip. One kit like that and a portable 12v compressor can save you in long trips. In the city, is more for people that really like to fix they own things.
Couple of suggestions for DIYers: Chalk/Sharpie mark the puncture site for future reference during the repair. Once the object is out, it's amazing how quickly you can lose sight of the puncture. When plugging, DON'T TWIST THE PLUGGER TOOL ON THE WAY OUT like he did, which can narrow the plug width and thus decrease the puncture site seal. Just pull the plugger straight out following the same orientation/angulation of the causative object that you removed. This is a common mistake because, obviously, you just used the reamer with a twisting motion! LOL Finally, keep ample air pressure in the tire when working on it so the tire tread/belts don't collapse making your reaming/plugging efforts more difficult, like you saw happen in the video. This may necessitate some refilling during the repair and tolerating a bit of hissing as you work. Leaving the reamer in place until you've inserted your plug into your plug tool will help reduce air loss. Do the repair at or near an air station, if you don't have an air source. PS--Don't use canned tire fixes (Fix-a-Flat/Slime etc. etc.). They're more trouble than they're worth (they complicate patching), especially with plug kits so cheap and widely available. Everyone should have a plug kit in their TRUNK--not their garage as stated in the video) along with a cigarette-lighter portable air compressor. This small investment will save your bacon (or more likely a friend's or fellow-motorist's), especially in the era of no spare tires that we currently inhabit with factory run-flats or donut spares that limit traction/cornering and safe top speed to 45 MPH.
Good advice, had my first puncture today and just finished patching it up. Would’ve saved so much time if i had the kit in my trunk already. On the bright side, now i have one, and the tire inflator was only like $27 (we’ll see how long it lasts)
I did this and a few months later it started to leak. About 1 PSI per day. I sprayed that area with soapy water and sure enough it's leaking around the patch. What options do I have for stopping that leak?
If the plug did not seal it up, then it's time to take it to a tire shop where they can unmount the tire from the wheel, and install a patch *inside* the tire that will be a permanent fix. Most shops will do this relatively inexpensively, but of course costs will vary etc. Good luck!
Hi Coral - I would not recommend silicone. Rubber cement is very flexible when it dries, and it bonds really well to the rubber of the tire. It also does a good job of lubricating the hole as you perform the repair. Good luck!
Is this a temporary fix or can it be permanent until you get new tires? I just got a new tire because a screw got in it and a week later got another screw in the same one 😐
Oof. Opinions vary a bit about whether this can or should be a permanent fix. Others may disagree, but I've patched tires this way many times, and the fix has been permanent, and lasts the life of the tire. A better patch is one that is installed from the inside of the tire, but this typically has to be done at a tire store. If you are concerned about the longevity of these patches, you can always use one to get the car driveable, then get it to a tire shop to install a patch from the inside which is considered permanent by tire manufacturers. Good luck!
How is the tire plug repair kit to be used while hanging on the wall, when one is on the road with a flat tire? Please disregard this comment if this has been rectified later in the video. You are UA-cam fluffing! You go from having a flat on the road to your garage, did you call AAA for a tow back?
Hi Super Specialty - the flat was discovered while the car was parked on the road... in front of my house. As much as I'd love to show my house and home address on UA-cam...well, you can imagine why I prefer not to do so. Didn't have to tow the car anywhere - just jacked it up right where it was parked, removed the wheel, and rolled it up into my garage 50 feet away...
How long can a patched tire, done in this method, be used before it needs to be replaced? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is it basically good to go until any further issues come up? I had a slow leak in one of my tires recently, and noticed the culprit rather quickly. Did this exact method and don't see any signs of air escaping the tire (I've been checking daily for the past ~4 days or so, still sitting at the 32 psi I keep each tire at). But I'm also wondering if I should just swap that tire out soon, or if I should just continue using the tire as normal as if nothing happened to it. These are fairly new tires (less than 10k miles on them), so it would be great news to know I don't have to replace one asap now that it's patched and seems to be fine. I know next to nothing about doing work to my own vehicles (trying to change that) so if this simple ~10 minute video saved me from buying a whole new tire, then I am very grateful for the time you took to make this vid.
Hey cheese - in my experience when these patches are installed properly, they can last the life of the tire. If you've had it patched for several days with no leaks, I wouldn't worry about it anymore. Good luck!
As a female I’d like to know how to do this when your not strong enough to remove a tire…and you sounded like you were struggling pushing the tool into the tire to prep it to receive the plug…and what if I’m on the road and need a repair and can’t afford a tow truck for a simple tire repair?
Hi fourkids - This process definitely requires some body strength, but my college-age daughter was able to do this on her own, so I don't believe it's beyond the capability of any adult. Thanks for watching!
That insert is called a plug. A patch is a flat disk of rubber that goes on the inside of the tire after removing it from the rim. Please do not use the terms interchangeably, they are completely different things.
I suggests you consult the tire manufacturer to see what they say about plunging radial tires.Defiantly not recommended.All radial tire have to be repaired from the inside out.You just voided the tire manufactures warranty.
Hi Scott - When plugged properly as shown in the video, this does not violate the warranty (depending on tire manufacturer, of course - some may be stricter than others). My local tire shop does it this way as well. Internal patches are considered a better solution, but a plug installed correctly as shown is fine. If you are planning to use your tires under extreme conditions (heavy off-roading, racing, etc) then any puncture should not be repaired at all, and the tire should be replaced. But under normal driving conditions, a patch like this works fine. Thanks for watching!
The American Rubber Asociation say differently. I had a case with auto dealership over this issue. They plugged my tire. I got a new tire. Please do your homework before posting video.
@@scottwiz1136 LOL What exactly would you expect the "American RUBBER Association" to say? Don't buy new rubber? REALLY? Ditto for tire manufacturers and tire stores. Apply common sense before replying to a video. Let me guess--you probably lather and rinse twice a day too, on the advice of a shampoo manufacturer? LOL
*QUESTION: I recently pulled a screw out of my front tire... It left a visible hole. Went around corner to local tire place. He sprayed hole with soapy water like you did here. NO leak detected, plus he pushed a poker in to make sure hole didn't go all the way through. It didn't, so it looks safe? However, I'd still like to push something into that hole for safe measure. Could I purchase one of these patch kits, shove some rubber cement and some of that sticky patch stuff in hole to seal it for safe measure?*
Hi JungleYT - If the tire shop recommended no repair, the tire is likely just fine. I would not recommend attempting to shove one of the patches into the visible hole in your tread... But do keep an eye on the tire to make sure it is holding air and that the hole is not getting any larger, etc. Good luck!
When you bore into rubber that dark, you are making a BLACK HOLE from which not even studio light escapes and which will eventually collapse our entire galaxy! The proper technique, according to my car manual, is to fill the tire with an expanding foamy glue stuff and drive to the nearest shop on it. 😂
Heh - if you want to ruin the day of the poor person at the shop who has to deal with the horrific mess that stuff makes, then go for it. 😂 Me? I'll risk the black hole. Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY thought yal had a trick. I usually do my wife's sedan just fine. But tried this on my truck the other day and spend a good 15 mins trying to get through the tire
Why would u go off the psi in ur door? What if it’s not the stick tire and requires different psi? That’s the only thing I’d say not to follow in this video. Go off what ur tire says guys.
Hey there osoivory- you actually should go off the sticker in the door jamb. It takes into account the weight of your car and the weight distribution of the vehicle, and will list the optimal psi for the best ride and fuel economy. The listing on the sidewall of the tire is the *maximum* pressure you should put into that tire, and does not usually match what the manufacturer of your vehicle recommends. If you go off the sidewalk rating, your ride will generally be much firmer and more harsh. Thanks for bringing this up, as it’s a common misconception - and thanks for watching!
Hi Ash - apologies for the late reply... hopefully you were able to complete the repair. If you are still stuck, feel free to reply and I'll do my best to help out.
Sorry I took longer than you thought was necessary. Bear in mind that not everyone who watches may be as quick a learner as you are - and I try to make sure I don't lose anyone who may need some extra detail. I'll keep your comment in mind for future videos, though, and try not to waste anybody's time. Thanks for watching!
Your videos are so useful. I really like that you explain things in a way that’s easy to understand. I have wondered about these kits for so long but never found a useful video. Will be getting one tomorrow. Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestion about going in the same angle as the screw! I was having a really tough time getting it in there until I watched this video and tried that idea. Worked perfectly.
I was able to follow your video and successfully plug my tire. I did not remove the tire from the car as I was on my own and the screw was in a good spot where I could get to it easily. Thanks so much.
Great job!
I agree. Definitely don't skimp on the reaming.
I love the chopped shirt ✌🏼 Marty and Moog would be proud 😎👍🏼
P U R I T Y - from the best 4 wheel driving channel on the internet!
Someone else may have mentioned this, but I always use the pliers on the end of the patch to flatten it so it goes into the insertion tool more easily.
This is a great tip. Thank you!
I walk around with a magnetic tool that can pick up those nails and screws that seem to find their way on to the roadway like the cement nail that took out his tire. If you find a telescoping magnet (Titan makes a variety that are inexpensive) it's almost like a game and I'm sure it will up your karma score against getting a flat.
You are awesome! Thanks for picking up all those tire killers, Marc!
Well I'll be dipped! You have a Vice Grip Garage hat! Great video, thanks.
So is this considered a temporary fix till you get a patch on the inside or will this last all by itself?
Great question! I believe most tire shops will consider this a temporary fix, but before I plugged my own tires my local tire store used this exact same process to fix nail holes etc in my vehicles. A patch (which is installed inside the tire, and requires removing the tire from the wheel to do properly) is considered a permanent fix, but I've had these plugs work perfectly well for the life of the tire. Thanks for watching!
Thank for making this. Really helped!
Glad it helped!
Thanks for the info.
Thank you so much…
You are welcome!
Thank you so much for demonstrating this. It was very helpful to someone like me who is still learning how to perform common maintenence and repair tasks for my home or car. I was wondering if you need to wait for any period of time to drive on the repaired tire after plugging the hole or if it will be ready to drive right away. Thanks for your time.
Hi there New Hope - apologies for the delay in my response. Unlike that delay, there is no waiting period necessary to drive on a repaired tire like this. As soon as you can get it back on the vehicle, it'll be ready to go!
As long as it is holding air, you are good to go.
Great video and info. I will buy a kit and keep in the garage and vehicles. Thank you again for the information.
Right on, Armando! Thanks for watching!
legend
Thank you ! You’re the best ❤️❤️❤️
Awww... thank you!
After this you are REALLY going to be late.
Still faster than getting it to a tire store.
LOL! 🤣🤣🤣 Late and sweat.
Kidding , still a very good tip. One kit like that and a portable 12v compressor can save you in long trips. In the city, is more for people that really like to fix they own things.
Couple of suggestions for DIYers: Chalk/Sharpie mark the puncture site for future reference during the repair. Once the object is out, it's amazing how quickly you can lose sight of the puncture. When plugging, DON'T TWIST THE PLUGGER TOOL ON THE WAY OUT like he did, which can narrow the plug width and thus decrease the puncture site seal. Just pull the plugger straight out following the same orientation/angulation of the causative object that you removed. This is a common mistake because, obviously, you just used the reamer with a twisting motion! LOL Finally, keep ample air pressure in the tire when working on it so the tire tread/belts don't collapse making your reaming/plugging efforts more difficult, like you saw happen in the video. This may necessitate some refilling during the repair and tolerating a bit of hissing as you work. Leaving the reamer in place until you've inserted your plug into your plug tool will help reduce air loss. Do the repair at or near an air station, if you don't have an air source.
PS--Don't use canned tire fixes (Fix-a-Flat/Slime etc. etc.). They're more trouble than they're worth (they complicate patching), especially with plug kits so cheap and widely available. Everyone should have a plug kit in their TRUNK--not their garage as stated in the video) along with a cigarette-lighter portable air compressor. This small investment will save your bacon (or more likely a friend's or fellow-motorist's), especially in the era of no spare tires that we currently inhabit with factory run-flats or donut spares that limit traction/cornering and safe top speed to 45 MPH.
Good advice, had my first puncture today and just finished patching it up. Would’ve saved so much time if i had the kit in my trunk already. On the bright side, now i have one, and the tire inflator was only like $27 (we’ll see how long it lasts)
easy-peezy
I did this and a few months later it started to leak. About 1 PSI per day. I sprayed that area with soapy water and sure enough it's leaking around the patch. What options do I have for stopping that leak?
If the plug did not seal it up, then it's time to take it to a tire shop where they can unmount the tire from the wheel, and install a patch *inside* the tire that will be a permanent fix. Most shops will do this relatively inexpensively, but of course costs will vary etc. Good luck!
Can you use silicone instead of rubber cement?
Hi Coral - I would not recommend silicone. Rubber cement is very flexible when it dries, and it bonds really well to the rubber of the tire. It also does a good job of lubricating the hole as you perform the repair. Good luck!
Can you repatch previously patched place
I would not recommend doing so. If your original patch fails it's time to take the tire to a professional.
Is this a temporary fix or can it be permanent until you get new tires? I just got a new tire because a screw got in it and a week later got another screw in the same one 😐
Oof. Opinions vary a bit about whether this can or should be a permanent fix. Others may disagree, but I've patched tires this way many times, and the fix has been permanent, and lasts the life of the tire. A better patch is one that is installed from the inside of the tire, but this typically has to be done at a tire store. If you are concerned about the longevity of these patches, you can always use one to get the car driveable, then get it to a tire shop to install a patch from the inside which is considered permanent by tire manufacturers. Good luck!
How is the tire plug repair kit to be used while hanging on the wall, when one is on the road with a flat tire? Please disregard this comment if this has been rectified later in the video. You are UA-cam fluffing! You go from having a flat on the road to your garage, did you call AAA for a tow back?
Hi Super Specialty - the flat was discovered while the car was parked on the road... in front of my house. As much as I'd love to show my house and home address on UA-cam...well, you can imagine why I prefer not to do so.
Didn't have to tow the car anywhere - just jacked it up right where it was parked, removed the wheel, and rolled it up into my garage 50 feet away...
How long can a patched tire, done in this method, be used before it needs to be replaced? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is it basically good to go until any further issues come up? I had a slow leak in one of my tires recently, and noticed the culprit rather quickly. Did this exact method and don't see any signs of air escaping the tire (I've been checking daily for the past ~4 days or so, still sitting at the 32 psi I keep each tire at). But I'm also wondering if I should just swap that tire out soon, or if I should just continue using the tire as normal as if nothing happened to it.
These are fairly new tires (less than 10k miles on them), so it would be great news to know I don't have to replace one asap now that it's patched and seems to be fine. I know next to nothing about doing work to my own vehicles (trying to change that) so if this simple ~10 minute video saved me from buying a whole new tire, then I am very grateful for the time you took to make this vid.
Hey cheese - in my experience when these patches are installed properly, they can last the life of the tire. If you've had it patched for several days with no leaks, I wouldn't worry about it anymore. Good luck!
@@AmplifyDIY Thanks for the info and thanks for the video! Might be simple, but it taught me well enough it seems.
As a female I’d like to know how to do this when your not strong enough to remove a tire…and you sounded like you were struggling pushing the tool into the tire to prep it to receive the plug…and what if I’m on the road and need a repair and can’t afford a tow truck for a simple tire repair?
Hi fourkids - This process definitely requires some body strength, but my college-age daughter was able to do this on her own, so I don't believe it's beyond the capability of any adult. Thanks for watching!
@@AmplifyDIY I remember when I was younger too..I was much stronger 😂
Those are plugs not patches
Did I call them patches? Apologies for the confusion if I did. The title clearly says Plug. Thanks for watching!
That insert is called a plug. A patch is a flat disk of rubber that goes on the inside of the tire after removing it from the rim. Please do not use the terms interchangeably, they are completely different things.
Thanks for the tip, Robert!
I suggests you consult the tire manufacturer to see what they say about plunging radial tires.Defiantly not recommended.All radial tire have to be repaired from the inside out.You just voided the tire manufactures warranty.
Hi Scott - When plugged properly as shown in the video, this does not violate the warranty (depending on tire manufacturer, of course - some may be stricter than others). My local tire shop does it this way as well. Internal patches are considered a better solution, but a plug installed correctly as shown is fine. If you are planning to use your tires under extreme conditions (heavy off-roading, racing, etc) then any puncture should not be repaired at all, and the tire should be replaced. But under normal driving conditions, a patch like this works fine. Thanks for watching!
The American Rubber Asociation say differently. I had a case with auto dealership over this issue. They plugged my tire. I got a new tire. Please do your homework before posting video.
You're a moron. Get lost, junior
@@scottwiz1136 LOL What exactly would you expect the "American RUBBER Association" to say? Don't buy new rubber? REALLY? Ditto for tire manufacturers and tire stores. Apply common sense before replying to a video. Let me guess--you probably lather and rinse twice a day too, on the advice of a shampoo manufacturer? LOL
Had Conrad’s repair mine for $24. Better solution. 😎
Great video! I keep a repair kit and a mini compressor in each vehicle.
That's a great idea!
Thank you! I have a flat with a nail in it and this is really helpful since I had no idea how to use the kit I had in my truck until I watched this!
I hope you were able to get it fixed, Mary!
*QUESTION: I recently pulled a screw out of my front tire... It left a visible hole. Went around corner to local tire place. He sprayed hole with soapy water like you did here. NO leak detected, plus he pushed a poker in to make sure hole didn't go all the way through. It didn't, so it looks safe? However, I'd still like to push something into that hole for safe measure. Could I purchase one of these patch kits, shove some rubber cement and some of that sticky patch stuff in hole to seal it for safe measure?*
Hi JungleYT - If the tire shop recommended no repair, the tire is likely just fine. I would not recommend attempting to shove one of the patches into the visible hole in your tread... But do keep an eye on the tire to make sure it is holding air and that the hole is not getting any larger, etc. Good luck!
When you bore into rubber that dark, you are making a BLACK HOLE from which not even studio light escapes and which will eventually collapse our entire galaxy! The proper technique, according to my car manual, is to fill the tire with an expanding foamy glue stuff and drive to the nearest shop on it. 😂
Heh - if you want to ruin the day of the poor person at the shop who has to deal with the horrific mess that stuff makes, then go for it. 😂 Me? I'll risk the black hole. Thanks for watching!
What if the reaming tool does not go all the way through hahaha.
Yeah, it can be difficult to get that thing in there. It frequently takes nearly all my body weight if the puncture is a small one.
@@AmplifyDIY thought yal had a trick. I usually do my wife's sedan just fine. But tried this on my truck the other day and spend a good 15 mins trying to get through the tire
Thanks for great video as always!
Thank you, I just used this video today and it's working well. Do you know if this lasts for a long time? The guy autozone seems to like that stuff
When I've plugged tires as demonstrated in this video, the plug has lasted the life of the tire. Thanks for watching!
Why would u go off the psi in ur door? What if it’s not the stick tire and requires different psi? That’s the only thing I’d say not to follow in this video. Go off what ur tire says guys.
Hey there osoivory- you actually should go off the sticker in the door jamb. It takes into account the weight of your car and the weight distribution of the vehicle, and will list the optimal psi for the best ride and fuel economy. The listing on the sidewall of the tire is the *maximum* pressure you should put into that tire, and does not usually match what the manufacturer of your vehicle recommends. If you go off the sidewalk rating, your ride will generally be much firmer and more harsh. Thanks for bringing this up, as it’s a common misconception - and thanks for watching!
I did exactly this but now can’t get my tire back on the rim. Help
Hi Ash - apologies for the late reply... hopefully you were able to complete the repair. If you are still stuck, feel free to reply and I'll do my best to help out.
Another reason again of why I love your channel. Always such helpful, everyday insights.
Thank you, E S!
Holy shif u didnt need to take so long to get to the point
Sorry I took longer than you thought was necessary. Bear in mind that not everyone who watches may be as quick a learner as you are - and I try to make sure I don't lose anyone who may need some extra detail. I'll keep your comment in mind for future videos, though, and try not to waste anybody's time. Thanks for watching!
Triggered commenter on a 9 minute and 28 second instructional video on plugging a hole in a tire.
Thanks for the great video, @AmplifyDIY!