DIY car tire repair

In detail: do-it-yourself car tire repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

One of the most common problems with wheels that arise during the operation of a car are punctures and cuts. They lead to the fact that the operation of the damaged wheel is impossible. But such problems are relatively easy to fix by repairing the resulting damage.

The method of restoring the tightness of a wheel depends on the type of tire. Tubeless and tubeless cars are now used on cars. But in view of the fact that the second option is outdated and is used less and less, we will not consider methods for repairing chamber tires.

But here it is worth noting that before choosing a recovery method, you should definitely make sure that the tire is tubeless. Of course, the easiest way to find out is by disassembling the wheel. But there are other signs that do not require any disassembly. There are only two of them:

Marking. All tires are marked with information, which includes dimensional parameters, design and operation features, as well as its type. If, looking at the markings, you find the word "tubeless", then the tire is tubeless. The chamber is designated as "tube type". In some cases, not words are used for designation, but letter indices - for a tubeless one it is "T", and for a chamber one - "TT".
Nipple. If the marking is erased, or the type designation is not found, you can carefully examine the nipple. In a tubeless tire, the valve is not high and has a flange at the base, which ensures a snug fit in the opening of the disc. In a chamber tire, the nipple is high and if you move it, it easily changes its position relative to the disc. Alternatively, you can lower the wheel and try to push the valve inward (in a tubeless tube, this cannot be done without applying significant effort, since it sits tightly);

Video (click to play).

We figured out the type of tire, now about the repair. The best option for a puncture or cut is to go to a tire service station, where the wheel will be disassembled and the damage will be repaired from the inside with high quality. But this is far from always possible, so you will have to repair tubeless tires with your own hands.

There are several ways to restore tightness. It is worth noting that if a self-tapping screw, a piece of wire or a nail is found in the tire, do not rush to pull it out. While the element that pierced the wheel is in it, it clogs the hole. And although the air through it will etch, but not much. It will be quite possible to operate the car, periodically checking the condition of the tire and pumping it up.

If you pull out the element, air will escape through the hole very quickly. In this case, repair is required, which is reduced to blocking the resulting hole.

Repair kit for tubeless tires (awl, rasp, 3 harnesses)

The most common option is to use special harnesses. They are usually sold in a repair kit for repairing tubeless tires. Often such a set is popularly called a "wheel kit". The repair kit includes:

harnesses;
an awl for cleaning a hole (with a screw thread);
an awl for pulling a tourniquet;
glue;

Repair using such a set is convenient in that it does not require removing and disassembling the wheel, since it is possible to close the breakdown without any problems even on a car.

A little about the types of harnesses, since they come in different types. The most common are cord, treated with butyl rubber impregnation. They are the cheapest, but they have one drawback - over time, the material dries up and air begins to escape through it. Although re-sealing with a new harness solves this problem.The second option is rubber bands with an adhesive sheath. They are more expensive, but also longer service life. But for such products, a special pulling awl is required - with a side exit.The third type is a cord made of porous rubber with the same adhesive shell. They differ in that, after tightening, they are able to work out the entire service life of the tire. But they require special awls for cleaning and tightening. Note that the harnesses themselves can be bought separately, and not as part of a set, which allows you to buy a set just once, and then buy them in addition as you use it.The tire repair technology with harness is very simple:The first step is to mark the punctureSecond stage - determine the puncture angle Image - DIY car tire repair

The third stage - we coat the puncture with a spiral awl along the entire depth

The fourth stage - we place the tourniquet in the needle

The fifth stage - we coat the tourniquet with glue on both sides, then place the needle with the tourniquet until it stops in the damaged area of the tire and remove the handle with the needle in the opposite direction

We remove the element that punctured the tire, then lower the tire. If the puncture is not visible, the inflated wheel can be removed and immersed in water. On the way, so as not to remove the wheel, it can be poured with water, after which the breakdown will be visible by air bubbles. After finding the puncture, we mark it.
We take an awl for cleaning the hole and put it in the puncture, after which we release the handle and determine the angle of the hole position.
Apply a layer of glue to the surface of the awl and screw it all the way into the tire, then turn it out. We make several such passes, each time applying glue to the awl. At the last pass, we sink the awl all the way down and leave it in this position.
We take the harness and install it in the slot of the awl for tightening (if there is a protective film, remove it first). Then we cover the entire surface of the bundle with a layer of glue.
Unscrew the cleaning awl and quickly drive the broaching awl into the hole. In this case, it should be monitored so that the ends of the bundle do not fall through (they must be on the surface). We take out the awl, while the tourniquet remains in the hole.
We inflate the wheel and check the tightness with water.
Cut off the protruding ends of the bundle.

It should be noted that in this way it is recommended to seal punctures only on the working surface. As for damage to the sidewalls, the tourniquet can only be used to patch up the breakdown for a short time (to get to the service station, where the sidewall puncture will be sealed with vulcanization and patches).

If a cut with a short length is closed, but one cord is not enough for sealing, then you can stretch two of them in order to reliably clog the sample.

The second method of repairing a tubeless with your own hands is carried out using special sealants in the form of a spray. On the market we purchase a can of such a product (the kit includes a tube with a tip for screwing onto the nipple) and take it with us. Note that only well-known brands should be purchased, otherwise a low-quality sealant will not cope with the task at hand.

The breakdown is sealed with a sealant like this: first, we remove the element that pierced the tire (if it is not visible, then you do not need to look for the hole). Next, the damaged wheel must be jacked up. Using a tube with a tip, we connect the can with the nipple. We inject all the available sealant inside the tire, after which we turn the wheel several times so that the sealant spreads evenly over the inner surface. We are waiting for a couple of minutes for the product to fill the hole and thicken, thereby clogging the existing hole.The following self-repairs involve removing and disassembling the wheel, since the puncture is repaired from the inside. Minor damages are repaired with patches glued to the breakdown site. Medium-sized breakdowns are eliminated by "fungi". For large damages, vulcanization is already involved. These methods are often used at service stations.On the way, it is very difficult to use them due to the need to disassemble the wheel. Image - DIY car tire repair

(1 estimates, average: 5,00 out of 5)

(1 estimates, average: 5,00 out of 5)

It is possible to carry out minor repairs of tubeless tires (puncture up to 0.5 cm) with your own hands without even removing the tire from the rim. To do this, follow the instructions below.

Tubeless tires are allowed to be repaired in the manner described below. It will be possible to determine what type of tires is installed on the car by the shape of the nipple. Structurally, in products with a chamber, the nipple has the shape of a cone or a cylinder. Tubeless tires are equipped with a nipple, the base of which has a rubber seal with a small rim to prevent air from escaping from the wheel.

It is possible to check the presence of a chamber in the wheel by pressing the spool inward, if it is possible to perform this procedure - there is a chamber inside the product.

It can be difficult to establish the puncture site of a tubeless tire: air comes out slowly through the hole formed. Determining where exactly the tire is damaged will allow a soapy solution. To make it, dilute any foaming agent in a little water. Then apply soapy water to the surface of the tire, bubbles will form at the air leakage.

There are situations when, after processing the surface of the tire, the puncture site was not found: the bubbles did not appear anywhere. Apply soapy water around the nipple and around the rim of the tire to the rim. Air leakage reasons:

lack of tightness at the points of contact between the rim of the disc and tires;
damaged spool;
mechanical damage to car tires.

We recommend watching a video about repairing tires with a tourniquet:

Before starting repair work, make sure the tire is tubeless. Then purchase a special tubeless rubber kit from a store or car market. It consists of:

Bundles for repairing tires, which include reinforcing fibers and rubber.

File for cleaning and widening the puncture hole. The tool is a file with a handle, circular in shape, sharpened at the end.

A special awl, its purpose is to install a harness. The end of the awl has a special cut that allows you to leave the seal inside the tire.

Please note: the tools included in the kit are equipped with special handles, which come in different shapes: round or rectangular. When carrying out repair work, you will have to make an effort, so it is better to use a file and an awl with a specially shaped handle (shown in Figure 1).

pliers, with their help it will be possible to remove a nail, glass or bolt from the puncture site;

a clerical knife, with its help it will be possible to cut off the excess part of the bundle.

Having made the decision to repair tires yourself, follow the sequence:Repair of tubeless car tires can be done using a sealant. To do this, having found a foreign object on the surface of the tire, do not rush to remove the foreign material. Take a bottle filled with sealant, connect it to the valve, then pump the sealant inside the wheel. After these procedures, remove the item that punctured the tire. At the same time, the air inside the tire will begin to escape, carrying a sealant with it outside, which will clog the hole formed.Please note: when the pressure inside the wheel drops below 1 atmosphere, the sealant will not work: a deflated tire below the specified limit must first be inflated. Please note that the sealant will not work for a long time, it will be enough for 100 km of run. When driving on a repaired wheel in this way, the vehicle speed must not exceed 60 km / h. At a higher speed, the sealant will collapse, the tire will begin to descend.Repair of tires with harnesses allows you to eliminate the puncture site. A tire repaired in this way is capable of serving the full operating period specified by the tire manufacturer.The second repair option is not long-term, it will come in handy in a force majeure situation. Both options are simple, carried out without the involvement of specialists.If you puncture a wheel while driving, it is not necessary to immediately go to the service and spend money on the services of the masters. The breakdown is, in fact, nothing. There are many ways to repair a tubeless tire yourself.The tubeless tire repair technique, which will be presented below, is suitable only for this type of tire. Therefore, before starting work, it is important to decide which type is installed on your car.The main difference between a tubeless tire is the absence of a rubber tube. Its role is played by a rubber airtight layer. On average, its thickness ranges from 2 to 3 millimeters, depending on the manufacturer and model. It literally melts into the inner surface. This ensures high tightness.This design allows you to use a tubeless tire repair kit and restore the integrity of the structure in 20-25 minutes. The cost of restoration work rarely exceeds 300-500 rubles.Tubeless tires can be self-adhesive or regular. In the first option, upon receiving damage, the air will escape at a minimum speed, which will ensure safety on the road. In the second case, to get even to the garage, you need to screw a self-tapping screw into the hole. Of course, if you have a tubeless repair kit, all the operations can be done right on the road. The structure itself consists of elements such as:

ribs,

protectors,

tread blocks,

shoulders protector,

grooves,

rings,

radial frame,

nylon bandage,

slats,

valve,

steel breaker,

boards, etc.

This is the benchmark, yet every tire manufacturer strives to bring something new, striving for excellence. This type of wheel has the following advantages:

low heating;

increased security;

long service life;

reduced weight in comparison with chamber analogs.

Unfortunately, externally tubeless tires are extremely difficult to distinguish from ordinary ones. But there are some tried and true methods to help you decide whether or not to buy a tubeless repair kit.In recent years, tubeless tires have been installed on all new passenger cars. If your car was released no earlier than 5 years ago, most likely it has just such wheels.The simplest but shortsighted way of determining is a puncture. Tubeless tires deflate much more slowly. While ordinary ones almost immediately lose their shape.To understand what type of wheels your car has, pay attention to the nipple. In a design where there is a camera, it is cylindrical or cone-shaped. The tubeless type has a rubber seal with a small shoulder at the base of the nipple. It is made so that air does not escape from the wheel.A good puncture test is to push the nipple inward. If you succeed, then there is a camera inside. Otherwise, you can safely take up the repair kit.The first step in repairing is to determine exactly where the puncture is. However, besides the nail on the road, there are a number of reasons that can lead to air leaks:

The place where the beads adjoin the disc is unsealed.

Skips the spool.

The valve is loose.

The wheels have been in operation for a long time without pumping.

If we talk about mechanical damage, then this is most often a puncture of the protector with a nail or a screw, or a side cut. There is nothing complicated in the determination method. Simply immerse the tire in water or cover it with soapy water. Any astringent fluid will do. Bubbles will appear at the puncture site.If, after processing the entire surface of the tire, the puncture site is still not found, concentrate your efforts on the surface around the nipple, as well as in the places where the tire adheres to the disc.If a third-party object pierces the tire, you can do the repair yourself and save time and money for a trip to the service station. The main thing is that the nail is not thicker than five millimeters. Otherwise, certain difficulties may arise.The main advantage of this repair is that it can be done without removing the wheels. In the process of work, you will need the following tools:

a tool to expand the puncture.

harnesses made of raw rubber.

harness installation tool.

adhesive activator for repairing tubeless tires or special paste.

In this case, you can use both improvised means and a set (it can be purchased for 200-300 rubles). If you decide to do with the tools available in the garage, then keep in mind that the knife must be very sharp. The reinforced structure of the rope is extremely difficult to cut.When choosing a tool to widen the hole, keep in mind that the tire has many layers and is extremely durable. The standard version of the kit is a round file with a sharp point. The T-shaped handle allows it to be easily screwed into the tire, adjusting the hole to the desired size.The file for enlarging the hole is made of hardened steel and can withstand high mechanical stress. With it, you prepare the holes for the harness insertion.The harness insertion tool deserves special attention. It is usually only provided in tubeless repair kits. A special cut at the bottom is used to fix the patch. In this case, as soon as you pull the steel bar out of the tire, the tourniquet will slip into the hole and remain inside.The harnesses themselves are made from so-called raw rubber. To increase the strength, special fibers are used. A tire with such a patch can withstand tens of thousands of kilometers.Once you have found the puncture site and prepared all the tools you need, it's time to start repairing your tubeless tires directly.First you need to remove all the dirt from the damaged area. Then assess whether a tubeless tire harness kit can help fix the defect. If the hole is more than 5 mm, then you cannot do without a trip to the service center. There, specialists will install a special "fungus" that ensures complete sealing of large holes.At the second stage, release the air, the approximate pressure in the tire should be no more than 0.5 atmosphere. This will relieve stress on the structure and maintain the cord. Insert the instrument into the puncture, rotate it several times and remove it back. Repeat the operation 2-3 times.After a hole of the required diameter has been formed, insert a tourniquet for repairing tubeless tires, having previously coated it with glue or special paste. Inflate the tire and spray the puncture site with soapy water or spray. If bubbles appear, the operation will have to be repeated.At the end of the work, carefully cut the ends of the protruding bundle. Below is a detailed video of DIY tubeless tire repair. It will help you clarify many of the details and make the process easier to understand.