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 wheel problems that occur 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 eliminate by repairing the resulting damage.

The method of re-sealing a wheel depends on the type of tire. On cars, tubeless and chamber are now used. But due to the fact that the second option is outdated and is used less and less, we will not consider methods for repairing chamber tires.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 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. Information is applied to all tires, which includes dimensional parameters, design and operation features, as well as its type. If looking at the markings you find the word "tubeless" - it means that the tire is tubeless. The chamber one 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 it is “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 tall and has a flange at the base that ensures a snug fit in the disc hole. In the chamber tire, the nipple is high and if you move it, it easily changes position relative to the disk. Alternatively, you can lower the wheel and try to push the valve inward (in a tubeless it is impossible to do this 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 contact a tire service station, where the wheel will be disassembled and the damage repaired from the inside. 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 protruding screw, piece of wire or nail is found in the tire, do not rush to pull it out. While the element that has pierced the wheel is in it, it clogs the hole. And although the air through it will be etched, 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, the air will exit through the hole very quickly. In this case, repair is required, which boils down to blockage of the resulting hole.

Tubeless tire repair kit (awl, rasp, 3 bands)

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 "first aid kit for wheels." The repair kit includes:

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

Repair using such a kit is convenient because it does not require removal and disassembly of the wheel, since you can repair a breakdown without problems even on a car.

A little about the types of harnesses, as 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 out and air begins to escape through it. Although re-terminating with a new harness solves this problem.The second option is rubber bands with an adhesive sheath. They are more expensive, but the service life is longer. But for such products, a special awl for pulling is required - with a side exit.The third type is porous rubber bundles with the same adhesive sheath. They differ in that they are able to work out the entire life of the tire after tightening. But they require special awls for cleaning and tightening. Note that the harnesses themselves can be bought separately, and not as part of a kit, which allows you to buy a set only once, and then buy more of them as you use them.Tire repair technology using harnesses is very simple:The first step is to mark the punctureThe second stage - determine the puncture angle Image - DIY car tire repair

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

The fourth stage - we place the tourniquet in the needle

Fifth stage - coat the tourniquet with glue on both sides, then place the needle with the tourniquet all the way into 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, you can remove the inflated wheel and immerse it in water. On the way, in order 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 to clean the hole and put it in the puncture, after which we release the handle and determine the angle of the hole.
We apply a layer of glue on 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 to the stop and leave it in this position.
We take the tourniquet and install it in the slot of the awl for tightening (if there is a protective film, we first remove it). Then cover the entire surface of the tourniquet with a layer of glue.
We unscrew the awl for cleaning and quickly drive the awl for pulling into the hole. In this case, it should be controlled that the ends of the bundle do not fail (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 is worth noting that in this way it is recommended to close up punctures only on the working surface. With regard to damage to the sidewalls, the tourniquet can only be used to repair the breakdown for a short time (to get to the service station, where the sidewall puncture will be repaired with the help of vulcanization and patches).

If a cut that is short in length is closed, but one tourniquet is not enough for embedding, then two of them can be pulled in order to securely clog the sample.

The second method of do-it-yourself tubeless repair is carried out using special sealants in the form of a spray. On the market, we buy a can of such a product (the kit comes with 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 cannot cope with the task.

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

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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 disk. 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 a shape in the form 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 the wheel.

It is possible to check the presence of a chamber in the wheel by pressing the spool inward, if such a procedure can be performed, there is a chamber inside the product.

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

There are situations when, having processed the surface of the tire, the puncture site was not found: bubbles did not appear anywhere. Apply a soap solution around the nipple and along the rim of the fit of the tire to the rim. Reasons for air leakage:

lack of tightness at the points of contact between the side of the disk and the tire;
the spool is damaged;
mechanical damage to tires.

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

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

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

File for cleaning and expanding the puncture hole. The tool is a file with a handle, round in shape, pointed at the end.

A special awl, its purpose is to install a tourniquet. 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 set are equipped with special handles that come in various shapes: round or rectangular. Performing repairs, 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;

stationery knife, with its help it will be possible to cut off the excess part of the tourniquet.

Having decided to do the repair of tires with your own hands, follow the sequence:Tubeless car tires can be repaired 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 into the wheel. After these procedures, remove the object that punctured the tire. At the same time, the air inside the tire will begin to come out, carrying the sealant with it, which will clog the hole formed.Please note: when the pressure inside the wheel drops below 1 atmosphere, the sealant will not work: a flat tire below the specified limit must first be pumped up. Please note that the sealant will not work for a long time, it will last for 100 km. When driving on a repaired wheel in this way, the speed of the vehicle must not exceed 60 km/h. At a higher speed, the sealant will collapse, the tire will begin to descend.Repairing tires with harnesses allows you to eliminate the puncture site. A tire repaired in this way is able to serve the full operational 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, performed 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 masters. The breakdown is, in fact, shitty. There are many ways to repair a tubeless tire with your own hands.The tubeless tire repair method below is only suitable 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 and conventional. In the first option, when damage is received, the air will exit at a minimum speed, which will ensure safety on the road. In the second case, in order to even get to the garage, you will need to screw a self-tapping screw into the hole. Of course, if you have a tubeless tire repair kit, all operations can be carried out right on the road. The design itself consists of such elements as:

ribs,

protectors,

tread blocks,

protector shoulders,

grooves,

rings,

radial frame,

nylon bandage,

lamellas,

valve,

steel breaker,

boards, etc.

This is the standard, however, every tire manufacturer is trying to bring something new, striving for perfection. This type of wheel has the following advantages:

small heating;

increased security;

long service life;

reduced weight in comparison with chamber counterparts.

Unfortunately, outwardly tubeless tires are extremely difficult to distinguish from conventional ones. But there are a few proven ways to help you decide whether to buy a tubeless tire 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 short-sighted way to determine is a puncture. Tubeless tires deflate much more slowly. While ordinary ones almost immediately lose their shape.To understand what type of wheels is on your car, pay attention to the nipple. In a design where there is a chamber, it is cylindrical or cone-shaped. The tubeless type has a rubber seal at the base of the nipple with a small rim. It is designed to keep air out of the wheel.A good technique for testing at a puncture is to press the nipple inward. If you succeed, then there is a camera inside. Otherwise, you can safely take on the repair kit.The first step in the repair is to determine exactly where the puncture is. However, apart from a nail in the road, there are a number of reasons that can lead to an air leak:

The place where the sides are adjacent to the disk is depressurized.

Misses the golden one.

The valve is loose.

The wheels have been used for a long time without pumping.

If we talk about mechanical damage, then this is most often a tread puncture with a nail or a screw, or a side cut. There is nothing complicated in the method of determination. Just dip the tire in water or smear it with soapy water. Any astringent liquid 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 - focus on the surface around the nipple, as well as on the places where the tire is adjacent to the disc.If a third-party object pierces the tire, you can do the repair yourself and save time and money on a trip to the service station. The main thing is that the nail should not be thicker than five millimeters. Otherwise, certain difficulties may arise.The main advantage of such a repair is that it can be carried out without removing the wheels. In the process, you will need the following tools:

tool for expanding the puncture.

raw rubber bands.

harness installation tool.

activator glue for repairing tubeless tires or a 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 get by with the tools available in the garage, then keep in mind that the knife must be very sharp. The reinforced structure of the bundle is extremely difficult to cut.When choosing a tool to expand a hole, keep in mind that the tire has many layers and has extremely high strength. The standard version in the kit is a round file with a sharp end. The "T" shaped handle allows it to be easily screwed into the tire, giving the hole the desired size.The widening file is made of hardened steel and can withstand high mechanical loads. With it, you prepare holes for inserting a tourniquet.Special attention deserves a tool for inserting a tourniquet. It is usually only provided in tubeless tire repair kits. A special cut in the lower part serves to fix the patch. In this case, as soon as you pull the steel rod out of the tire, the tourniquet will slip into the hole and remain inside.The harnesses themselves are made from the 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 necessary tools, it's time to proceed with the direct repair of tubeless tires.First you need to remove all dirt from the damage site. Then evaluate whether a set of harnesses for repairing tubeless tires can help eliminate this defect. If the hole is larger than 5 mm, then a trip to the service center is indispensable. There, specialists will install a special “fungus” that ensures complete sealing of large holes.At the second stage, release the air, approximately the pressure in the tire should be no more than 0.5 atmospheres. This will relieve the tension of the structure and save the cord. Insert the tool into the puncture, scroll several times and remove it back. Repeat the operation 2-3 times.After forming a hole of the desired diameter, insert a harness for repairing tubeless tires, after coating it with glue or a special paste. Inflate the tire and treat the puncture site with soapy water or spray. If bubbles appear, the operation will have to be repeated again.At the end of the work, carefully cut off the ends of the protruding bundle. Below is a detailed video of do-it-yourself tubeless tire repair. It will help you clarify many details and make the process more understandable.