- Child's Play
- Mother-In-Laws Do It
- Tricky at Times
- Instructions Required
- You'll Be Here for a
few hours

  • Tire Plug Kit
  • Tape
  • Pen or Marker
  • Pliers
    		•

    Tire plugs may just seem like a temporary solution, but the fact is that a properly repaired tire will last years. Why should you have to replace a perfectly good tread just because a nail danced its way under your car? For about $5 and 5 minutes of your life, you can give a dead tire a new lease on life. The Part Pros will show you how.

    Remember, if you have any questions or if you're unsure of anything, feel free to contact the Parts Pros at your local PartSource. They'll always ready to help, no matter what the job is.

    Let's go!


    		 
    Make Safety Your Top Priority

    Every vehicle is different. When it comes to maintenance and repairs, always follow the vehicle's owner's manual.

    Safety should be your number one priority. Don't smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or wear a necktie while working on the car. Watch out for hot objects, sharp instruments, hazardous materials and other potential safety hazards in and around your workspace.

    Don't work with a Philips when the job calls for a flat. Substituting tools can compromise your safety or your vehicle's performance.

    Finally, when the fun turns to frustration, or if the job requires specialized knowledge beyond your capabilities, please do not attempt it yourself. Talk to a Parts Pro or seek the assistance of a professional mechanic or installer. The last thing we want is someone getting hurt.

    		  
     
    Before you Begin

    Never attempt to plug a sidewall! Your tire's sidewall is under higher strain and pressure than the part that makes contact with the road. Plugging a sidewall may result in a blowout, so don't try it.

    		  



    Find the Object

    Spin the tire until you find the debris that’s embedded. If you're lucky, it will be a big, easy to remove nail or screw.

    If you aren't so lucky and can't see the object that pierced your tire, you'll have to find it by other methods. One interesting method is to pour soapy water on the tire and wherever the leak is, small bubbles will appear.
    Mark the spot

    Before you remove the object, take a piece of tape and put it just below the object. With a pen, mark the exact spot that has the object in it. This will allow you to find the hole again once the object is out of there.

    Don't worry if you forget to mark it, or if your tape comes off. You can always do step one again.
    Remove the Object

    Now that you have a plan for finding your hole again, you can go ahead and remove the object from the tire. You might have to grip it with pliers or vice grips if it proves hard to remove. If it's a screw, you can just unscrew it.
    Ream Out the Hole

    In your tire plug kit, you'll see a tool that looks like a round file with a handle. This is used to clean out and rough up the hole in your tire prior to plugging. Push the tool into the hole left by the object. Move it around to rough-up the inside.
    Tread the Repair Tool

    Now you finally get to play with the tar-worms. Peel one of them off and thread it through the tool that has an eye on one end, like a giant needle. You'll have to pinch the end of the worm to get it in there. Pull it through until it is centered in the plugging tool.
    Plug the Tire

    With the worm threaded onto the plugging tool, stick the end of the tool into the hole in your tire. Once it's in just a little, start to really push on it so that the tool and the plug sink into the hole. It will be pretty hard to push in, but you're looking for a tight fit to hold in all that air. Push the plug in until only about 1/2 inch is sticking out. Now pull the plugging tool straight out, leaving the plug where it's supposed to be, in the hole.

    If you have something to cut the ends of the plug off with, go ahead and trim it close to the tire. If nothing is handy, you can trim it later.
    Fill the Tire

    Fill your tire with air to the proper pressure, and you’re back in action.
    IMPORTANT - Just to be on the safe side it’s a great idea to carry a can of Puncture Seal by Gunk onboard your vehicle. It’s good for leaks and can get you off the highway safely to where a proper repair can be done.