Never Fear Flat Tires Again: Easy Tire Repair for Screw/Nail Punctures

The ability to fix a flat with an inexpensive tire repair kit is one of those basic skills that can get you out of a tough situation. I will walk you through the complete process using an example where I recently got a screw in one of my tires and was able to fix the issue in 10 mins.

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[GaryASobek]

I learned how to plug tires 50-years ago working at a local garage. Still using a plug repair kit I purchased 40-years ago. I have repaired all my own flat tires. Never had an issue with any plug I installed. All lasted till the tread was worn and the tire was scrap.

[thomasdaum]

Two things, don’t let the tire go flat and try to insert the plug. If at all possible inflate the tire to at least 30 lbs and the plug will go in much easier and if the nail or screw is very small don’t be afraid of enlarging the puncture a little so the plug will go in . If it is a larger puncture you can also use 2 plugs in the same hole. I have done this many times !….. Thanks for doing this video !…..

[donmoroz]

As well as carrying this kit in my vehicle, I also carry a 12 Volt mini compressor as well. This lets you pump up the repaired tire to the proper operating pressure after fixing the leak.

[mjremy]

Wow, I am so grateful for this video! So simple to fix. Now I can drive my RV or car worry free anywhere. Very well explained, excellent video, thank you!!! Subscribed.
Thank you for NO MUSIC, what joy for my ears. Very soothing to listen to, without the intense irritation of music blaring away.

[daveisnothere]

As a 18 year veteran of the tire industry I have a few points to make here.

The main reason the big chain tire stores wont repair even the puncture in this video is for liability issues. 1" from the edge of the tread is what I have had to go by ever since I started working for someone else. When it was my own shop I repaired holes everywhere all the time and never had any problems. I have patched sidewalls, the corners and everything in-between when I was in the business but I used a specific patch that was flexible. Most places now use a patch that is very stiff and I hate them.

Plugs are at best a temporary fix. The biggest problem with them is air can leak into the cords of the tire and cause it to catastrophically fail, or it might only start leaking a week/month/year later, or if you are lucky it will be fine until the tire wears out. The best thing to do is if you have to plug it, as soon as you get back to civilization, go to a tire guy and have them put a patch on the inside. Also, those plugs that are made out of rope dipped in gunk are prone to drying out and can start to leak shortly after putting them in when the gunk goes away. At that point you essentially have a piece of rope stuck in the tire, and nails hold air better than rope does. If you can find the pure rubber plugs those are way better, even for temporary use due to the fact they will also keep moisture from getting to the steel belts and allowing them to rust, rope plugs wont keep water out.

And last, any time a tire has been repaired it is a good idea to put it on the rear of your vehicle, no need to do anything special on a trailer though. Where I work now I work on city buses and none of the tires on the 200 bus fleet has repaired tires on the front. One thing though, this is buses, on passenger cars it isnt as important, just recommended. I do it myself if/whem I ever have a flat.

[TheCSRTech]

Keyboard Warrior here. Good tutorial on plugging a tire, an ability that has been around for almost as long as we have had tubeless tires. The "bonding helper" actually acts as a lubricant to help you insert the plug. For modern plugs it really doesn't help bond the plug to the tire (but it doesn't hurt either). Also, plugs outside the last tread groove are on the tire's shoulder and tire experts will tell you that the tire is "unrepairable", so if you plug in this area keep an eye on the repair to insure it doesn't turn into a future problem.

[hardlyb]

I like your 'box'. Nice idea. I have had plugs in my car for years (I live in central Texas, so it gets pretty hot for much of the year) without them drying out, but keeping everything together is a great idea. Also, I find that the cement is mostly helpful as a lubricant for the plugs. I use E6000, which I can get it tiny tubes. Rubber cement works, but the tubes dry out after you open them, whereas the E6000 sticks a LOT better (in case you actually need it for glue), and I've been able to reuse one of those little tubes more than a year later. A kit like this, and one of those plug-in air compressors, and I've never been stuck on the side of the road. I make sure my wife and daughters always have such a kit in their cars, as well. I've even repaired sidewall punctures with such things. I've always regarded these repairs as permanent, and never had any problems even with tires with multiple such patches leaking.

[williardbillmore]

The first time I used one of these kits I planned to only use that tire for a couple of more months after the flat from a nail and replace it.
Four years later and many thousands of miles the tire was still going strong and gave me no troubles till the tread eventually wore out.
It's true what the man said. These things are inexpensive and they work!

[LemonySnicket-EUC]

I've been doing this for 30 years on all of my vehicles and trailers. Never had an issue and I've done plenty of 'dangerous' type repairs.

[sergey]

Great advice in this video. As for storing extra plugs, I just put them in a Ziploc bag which keeps them from drying out.

[cwl]

totally agree! ive roped plugged a few tires in my lifetime and they have all lasted the life of the tire. i currently have a rope plug in my motorcycle which i got a few months back AND recently in my honda odyssey.

[nathanhale]

I always keep one of these kits in my vehicles. It has saved me from being stranded or having to change a tire so many times and has saved me hundreds of dollars. I've never had one fail on me. One time I even put 2 on a side wall cut on a friend's truck. He didn't have a spare so we were desperate. Not only did the plugs hold but the dummy drove on that tire for 3 or 4 months like that before replacing it and the plugs held. At this point I see little to no need for expensive patches at tire shops anymore.

[ClarVad]

Love your vids. Always helpful. I’ve been using plugs for flats all my life and they’ve never let me down. 💜💜💜

[mrpbright]

Heads up on a plug that close to the sidewall. Not as big a deal on a non steering non driven wheel assembly but still a consideration. A lot of flexing and moving happens right at the corner of the tread/side wall. Great video and good thing for people to know how to use and have on hand. 20 years in construction and untold nail in tire issues I can say that it is faster to plug and reinflate a tire than to install the spare tire if you even have one. (often missing or already in use in construction vehicles). I once had a screw in a tire and didn't have a plug kit on hand. Removed the screw and wrapped it with electrical tape and the last drips of rubber cement from an old tire kit and reinstalled the screw...held air ten miles to the auto parts store. Havent been without a plug kit in the vehicle since.

[readyplayer]

A lot of newer cars lack a spare tire, even some "SUV" styled crossovers. So a kit like this is great insurance. Another very handy tool is a small portable air compressor that will run off the 12V plug in the car. I have a portable Viair unit and it's served me very well, topping off slow leaks in tires. Project Farm here on YouTube had a great rundown of different portable compressors.

[gsilver]

I was doing this back in the 1960's when I was a teenager working at a gas station. tried and true fix.

[wholeNwon]

The last time I did this, I just couldn't force the reamer into the small puncture hole. Solution: Used an appropriate bit and electric drill to enlarge the hole enough to force the plug through. Worked well.

[techrescuestl]

EHR - I'm truly grateful for your no bullshit delivery, which makes viewing so much more enjoyable, and smart af troubleshooting solutions. Big fan. 🖖

[Eastsidegeorgiaboy]

I have never had an issue using these. Typically, they come with rubber cement to use as a sealant. The directions say to use the rubber cement very liberally, which means make sure the plug is covered by the stuff. This ensures no leaks. Also, don't wipe the excess rubber cement off. The directions also say you don't have to trim the excess plug off, but you can if you want to.

[pal]

0 seconds ago
They say it's not considered a "proper" repair unless it is also patched from the inside. I stopped doing that after I sold my tire removal tool and have gone a decade on several tires on my seasonal cars. The one bit of advice I was given worth passing on was to only turn the rasp tool in one direction. This makes sense. You're not trying to destroy the surface and make it all marbly . You just need 2 surfaces to mate well and adhere. Thx for taking the time to make the video