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How to Plug a Tire

Flat tires are no fun. They always come at the worst time and they are a complete hassle to deal with. Yet, they are a fact of life for all drivers.  Kayserusedcarsmadisonwi.comsays the average driver gets a flat tire every 7.2 years.  That, of course, doesn’t mean you will get a flat every 7.2 years, that’s just the average; you might not get one for 10 years, or you might get one every couple of years.

How-to-Plug-a-Tire

In general, when you get a flat tiremost people put on a spare tire and head to a loalgarage to have it repaired.  That being said, some people, especially those who thrive on DIY projects are fixing simple tire punctures themselves.  While we don’t recommend this to everyone, the process is actually pretty easy and if you want to give it a try, here’s a procedure.

First, you’ll need a plug kit.  These are available at any car parts store. A popular kit comes from a company called Tire Slime.  The Tire Slime kit comes with ten plugs, a good reamer, and a strong plug gun, as well as rubber cement. The best part is that it retails for under $10 at most stores and can be used up to 10 times.

The first thing you do is pull out the foreign object that caused the puncture in the first place. This is likely to be a nail, drywall screw or some other metal object. Pulling it out usually requires a good set of pliers or a pair of diagonal cutters.

After the object is out, insert the reamer into the hole and work it all the way into the tire. Then pull it straight up and down a few times, until you feel the reamer move a bit more easily. This enlarges the hole. Once you’ve reamed the hole, spin the reamer a few times in the direction of the threads of the reamer. This roughs up the inside of the hole so the plug has more surface area to stick to.

Next up is the plug. First load the plug tool by pulling the plug through until there is an equal length on either side of the tool.  Then push the plug into the tireleaving about 1/2″ to 3/4″ hanging out. It will eventually wear down once the plug vulcanizes. If not enough length is left on the plug, it may suck into the tire. The last step is to seal the plug. Tire Slime provides a small tube of rubber cement. This seals the tiny air pockets and helps the plug vulcanize. Apply liberally and let the cement dry for about 10 minutes or so.

You’re finished! Put air into the tire and reinstall it on your car. Keep an eye on the tire and the pressure for a few days.  It should be fine but sometimes they might leak. If your tire is still holding air after a week, then you are in the clear.

Article Courtesy of: Kayser Used Cars of Madison

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