Things one should know before tyre puncture repair
Car journeys are one of the greatest pleasures of traveling. Perhaps, it is the constant innovations of the automobile industry that have allowed us to travel even the long distances at ease. Be it the small chore or the long mile, people often prefer to travel by car. This is majorly due to the comfort and convenience they bring on board.
However, not every journey is as smooth as expected. There are instances when something goes wrong with the car, leading us to be stranded in the middle of nowhere. it is found that the tyre punctures are often the culprits of the cause in most cases. Perhaps, it is one of the most frustrating inconveniences that could happen to one on the road.
There are instances when one does not carry extras and needs to repair the damaged flat tyre on their own. Sometimes, there are chances that one might not know if a tyre is repairable or not. With that in mind, here are some tips that one should know before every tyre puncture repair. These will ensure that one does the car tyre puncture repair the right way.
Check the treads:
Each car tyre has an average life of about 4 years. This is an approximate value and changes based on the miles driven and the damage taken by the tyres. So if one has been already been driving with old tyres, one must not extend their edge runtime.
Also, repairing such a tyre is extremely hazardous. Possible risks of repairing such a worn tyre may lead to pressurized tyre explosions. Patching a previously patched tyre should often be avoided to avoid such kind of mishaps. One must always look forward to checking the tyre tread before performing a tyre puncture repair. Having a tyre tread of about 1/16– inch at a minimum means that the car still can push for a few miles before you go in for a recovery. A spare tyre is the only viable solution in case of extremely worn-out tyres.
Avoid patching a patch:
If the car tyre has happened to have faced a puncture in the same place as the previously patched area, avoid fixing it at all costs. This is something that should not be attempted to repair as it may lead to dangerous consequences later. Patching over an already patched tyre compromises the integrity of the tyre from an engineering perspective. Forcefully repaired tyres may burst out loud in the middle of driving, leading to tragic accidents.
The only sound idea in such a case is to opt for a tyre replacement instead of going for a repair.
Aided approach:
There are several instances where a tyre puncture might happen. There are times when it happens on a city road and there are times when it happens on a national highway. Either way, one might not be aware of how to fix a tyre by themselves most of the time. This is when the aided approach can prove beneficial to repair the puncture.
If you happen to be stuck on a city road, it might be easy to find professional assistance. In such a scenario, one can always reach out to a reputed professional puncture service provider and get it fixed the right way. This assures that you avoid putting yourself in jeopardy just to save some bucks.
However, if you end up with a flat tyre on places such as a national highway, you can always resort to media assistance. One can look up a professional video guide made to help for easily repairing tyres on the internet. Resorting to such a measure ensures that the car driver can patch the tyre in the right way by making use of appropriate tools at an appropriate time. such a patch and plug method lets you drive your car for some miles until you reach take the assistance of a professional for a proper repair.
Diameter inspection:
There are chances that a flat tyre may have a huge hole. Such kind of huge holes are not feasible to repair in most cases. If the hole size exceeds a diameter count of more than a quarter-inch, one must look forward to replacing the tyre instead of repairing it.
Possible consequences of repairing a big hole tyre include sudden air leaks due to hole expansion and tyre bursts in some cases. In the end, you end up with flat tyres in such repairs. Hence, it’s in the best interest of tyre and driver to replace the tyre for the best results. Such a safe decision guarantees better safety and brings a seamless driving experience.
Rim separation:
One needs to completely remove the tyre from the transmission to analyze the wheel for the puncture damage. It allows the repairer to check the tyre and tube from all the angles. It also has several advantages like an all-round check, regular tyre cleaning and more. It also allows detecting if the tyres or tubes have developed cracks as normal signs of wear. Such a precautionary check enables one to get notified of a damaged tyre on an early basis. An early replacement ensures that the car stays off the accidental hazards.
Range of repair:
Car tyres can only be repaired under certain conditions. One such condition is the area of the damage. To check if your car is repairable or not, one must inspect the exact location of the damage that is taken by the tyre. The tyre repair is only approachable if the hole is among the premises of tyre tread.
If the hole happens to be in the places other than the tyre tread, the damage is unlikely to get repaired in such cases. The replacement is the only feasible option in such cases. Any puncture within the sidewall’s inch length often leads to tyre replacement in most of the cases. One must also look for possibilities for the reopening of the puncture while repairing to avoid any unexpected events.
Right methodology:
Repairing tyre punctures is a step by step process. Following the chronological order allows us to follow a streamlined process, making the task of repairing at hand easier. Here are the steps one should follow to fixing the tyre hole:
- Inspect the tyre exteriors. Remove the tyre penetrating object (if visible) and mark the spot using a highlighter.
- Remove the remaining air from the tyre and detach from the car.
- Clean the innards of the tyre, especially from the regions near the area to be repaired.
- Get rid of the dirt and other garbage collected in the innards.
- Make use of liquids like cleaning solution to firmly clean the damaged surface.
- Point out the exact hole location.
- Scrape and buff the damaged area with a brush
- Make use of the patching kit and cover the hole with it. Make use of designated sealants to seal off the applied patch from all sides.
- Iron out the applied patch flat by making use of plug stem from the exteriors of the car tyre.
Repairing tyre using the stated procedure allows anyone to repair at ease. Following the guide assures that anyone will be easily able to fix the damaged tyre, irrespective of the conditions, given that they carry the right set of equipments and accessories at all times in the car.