How do I Repair a Flat Tire?

It is a relatively simple procedure to repair a flat tire. You will need to gather a few basic tools and a tire repair kit first, and then remove the tire from your vehicle. Then locate the source of the leak and repair it using a tire plug. Finally, reinflate the tire to the appropriate pressure and put it back on your car. This temporary repair should last until you can have the tire permanently patched or replaced at a repair shop.

Some of the tools you will need to repair a flat tire are a small jack and a lug wrench; these should be located in your vehicle. You will also need a tire repair kit and a portable air compressor or a bicycle pump. Some soapy water, pliers, and a paint pen may also be useful.

The first step to repair a flat tire is to remove the tire from your vehicle. To do this, you will need to use the lug wrench to loosen all of the lug nuts that are holding the tire on your vehicle. They should be loose enough that you can finish removing them by hand. Then use the jack to raise your vehicle up so that the tire is no longer touching the ground. Then finish taking off the lug nuts and pull the tire off the vehicle.

Next, locate the source of the leak. Sometimes the source will be obvious, like a nail or other object that is still stuck in your tire. In other circumstances, you may be able to locate the leak from the hissing sound of air escaping from the puncture in the tire. If these methods don't work, put some air in the tire, then cover the tire with soapy water and look for the bubbles caused by the escaping air. Once the leak is found, it's a good idea to mark the spot with a paint pen.

Once the leak is located, plug the leak using the repair kit. If the object that caused the puncture is still stuck in the tire, pull it out with a pair of pliers. Then should carefully follow the instructions that came with the repair kit.

The general procedure is usually to insert and remove a tool included in the kit called a rasp; the rasp is used to clean and rough up the surface of the puncture. Then cover the plug with the included cement and load it onto the insertion tool. Insert the plug by pushing it straight into the hole using the insertion tool, then pulling the tool back out. This leaves the plug in the puncture; the cement causes it to fuse with the rubber of the tire, sealing the leak.

After the leak is sealed, reinflate the tire with the portable air compressor or bicycle pump and then put it back on the car. Hand-tighten the lug nuts, then lower the jack, and further tighten the nuts securely using the lug wrench. It's important to remember that simply plugging the leak is considered only a temporary repair according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You should drive cautiously to the nearest repair shop as soon as you can for a permanent patch or to replace the tire.