No Matter Where You Are or What Kind of Vehicle You Drive, Every Tire Eventually Needs to Be Patched. the Problem Is That Most Car Owners Don’t Know Much About Patch a Tire, so They End up Paying Too Much or Getting Poor Results.
If you’ve ever gotten a flat tire on a road trip, you know how frustrating it is. Luckily, you don’t have to put up with a flat tire anymore. But first, you have to know how to identify the problem, so that you can prevent a future flat tire from ruining your weekend vacation. Here’s everything you need to know before you patch a tire on your car:
In this article, I will take you through a step by step guide on how to patch a tire properly. I will also show you why this is not just a simple task, and what could potentially cause you problems.
7 Things You Need to Know Before Patch a Tire
1. Check The Tire Air Pressure
Check the tire pressure if the air pressure in a tire isn’t correct, it may cause the tire to fail and this could result in a car accident.
There are two main problems with under-inflated tires. One is that they wear out faster, another is that they create more rolling resistance.
A properly inflated tire is a better tire, and it usually helps in driving the car by giving us a better level of confidence, a good traction with a smooth and pleasent drive. So a tire shop should check tire air pressure at least once a month.
2. Patching tools and equipment
Lifting equipment –- Repairing a flat or damaged tire properly requires that the wheel assembly be removed from the vehicle and tire demounted from the rim. Depending on where the damage happened and how far the driver dared travel, a vehicle jack or lift is used to get the vehicle off the ground and the tire/wheel assembly off the vehicle.
Proper lighting –- Always inspect tires internally and externally prior to performing any repair. Talk to your equipment supplier. A minimum of 200 foot-candles of lighting is required (300 foot-candles is recommended) at the surface being inspected. That includes the tire’s internal cavity. A hand-held inspection light can help ensure that these conditions are met.
Bead spreader (aka tire spreader) –- To inspect and repair the tire properly, it is necessary to have the right equipment to spread the sidewalls to get a good look and access to the inside.
Leak detection spray — Slow air leaks can be inspected and detected with a soapy solution applied to the tire surface using a spray bottle. While liquid dishwashing soap and water can do the trick, an easier and more consistent option is to use tire leak-detection fluid.
8-inch blunt awl –- In order to perform a quality repair, a blunt awl can be used to “get in there” to probe the puncture area, to determine the extent and angle of the wound and to remove any debris that may be trapped. The blunt tip helps prevent damage to the cords while making repairs.
Innerliner scraper, cloth and cleaner –- The inside of a tire can be contaminated by mold, lubricants, sealants, liquid bead lubricants, balancing compounds and more. Using an innerliner scraper, cloth and pre-buff cleaner will help remove those contaminants prior to buffing the repair area. Failing to clean the innerliner properly can cause immediate repair failure.
Electric or air-powered drill — Some repairs recommend the use of a powered drill (1,200 rpm max.) fitted with an appropriate sized carbide cutter.
Tire crayons –- Paint sticks or tire marking crayons help the technician mark and later locate areas requiring attention, such as leaks and injuries, for tire repair.
Tire repair materials –- Tire plug kits, patch kits, string plugs, inserts, and sealants are engineered to make it easy for technicians to perform quality tire repairs. It is important to not mix products from different repair material manufacturers.
3. Tire patching methods
There are two methods to fix a tire with patches. One is by using the air gun method, and the second is by the “sticky” method.
4. How to patch a flat tire
By using the air gun, it is possible to inflate the tube of the tire to the level where it can no longer be punctured. This is done by pumping air into the tire, until it reaches a point where the tire cannot be pierced anymore. The “sticky” method is a little different, as it involves spreading rubber around the area that is damaged.
After the tire is inflated and repaired, it is important to use a hose and spray the outside of the tire to keep it clean, as well as the inside of the tire to prevent the damage from being repeated.
5. How long does it take to patch a tire?
Patching a tire with a radial patch can take about 20 to 30 minutes while installing a plug takes only a few minutes and usually can be done while the tire is still on the car. Often, it is necessary to vulcanize the tire patch, a process which uses heat and curing agents to reinforce the rubber of your tire.
Mostly it depends on the equipments and the level of experience you have to patch a tire. If you are a Pro at this job you can do it within 20 to 30 minutes. But if you are a Newbie in this job it can be the most time consuming work and it can cost you hours too.
6. Can you patch a tire more than once?
Yes, you can. But most people don’t even bother, because there is usually more than one flat tire in the average vehicle. But it would be safer and better to get yourself a new tire.
7. How To Check A Tire After You Patch It?
As long as you notice the puncture or leak in time and don’t continue to drive on a flat, then the patched tire will function as well as your other tires on the road.
The adhesive takes a few hours to cure but it will hold air immediately. The plug clogs the hole. They say 10 minutes but in my opinion for the best results wait 20 to 25 minutes. Better to be safe than sorry.
You can check the tire by looking at the air pressure if the tire is not flat and to the ground the patch is applied correctly and you can drive the car again.
Conclusion
In conclusion, patching your car’s tire is quite a complicated process, and here’s why: there’s not just one single thing you have to worry about while repairing a damaged tire. You have to consider the following issues when patching a tire: the location, the kind of damage, and the size of the hole. So, to avoid costly mistakes, it’s best to be carefull while repairing your tire.
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