Roadside Puncture Repair

[mikey k]

A few years ago I had a rear puncture in France with no spare.
I tried tyre foam which got me to a garage.
It then cost me £400 for two new rears
I've been thinking how best to prevent this and came across this video earlier;

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-repair-and-plu...

(no idea what the plastic chicken is about )

So I've just decided to buy one of these;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Black-Handle-Tire-Tyre-Punct...

Prefer this one as the clean up tool looks more like a file rather than a cork screw, like some of the other stuff, so it ought to work better.

Edited by mikey k on Saturday 9th July 13:16

[GoldenDrummer]

Interesting, I've not seen those before. Got to be worth a go compared to £400 for a new pair!

I assume the repair is intended to be permanent?

While I'm here, do you know if the Aston foam kit compressor can be used to inflate the tyres without using the foam? Like in this situation, it would be very handy if you could re-inflate the tyre at the roadside.

[mikey k]

GoldenDrummer said:

Interesting, I've not seen those before. Got to be worth a go compared to £400 for a new pair!

I assume the repair is intended to be permanent?

While I'm here, do you know if the Aston foam kit compressor can be used to inflate the tyres without using the foam? Like in this situation, it would be very handy if you could re-inflate the tyre at the roadside.

Reading the manual no
The selant bottle has to remain on the compressor so I presume it is required to seal the compressor.
I'll have a fiddle later and try it out.

[Highrisedrifter]

Looking at the eBay item it says the repair is only designed to be a temporary one. I wonder if that is actually the case in the real world or if it's the usual disclaimer to absolve them of any liability?

[KarlFranz]

GoldenDrummer said:

Interesting, I've not seen those before. Got to be worth a go compared to £400 for a new pair!

I assume the repair is intended to be permanent?

While I'm here, do you know if the Aston foam kit compressor can be used to inflate the tyres without using the foam? Like in this situation, it would be very handy if you could re-inflate the tyre at the roadside.

I've repaired many (at least 10) tires using plugs. I usually keep a set in the glove box of some of my cars. The kind I use don't require the use of contact cement. In the US, you can get them at any Walmart or auto parts stores—but they don't come with a rubber chicken; you must supply your own!

In each case, the repair has lasted the life of the tire. Note that you cannot repair a puncture if it is on a sidewall.

One of the hardest parts of plugging a tire is enlarging the hole using the rasp in order to get it large enough for the plug to go in. I have actually cheated many times and used a cordless drill with a drill bit. It looks brutal to be drilling into the tire, but sometimes that's the only way to get the hole large enough—just make sure the drill bit isn't too large in diameter.

Oh and, yes, you can use the sealant kit in the Aston as just a tire inflator.

[GoldenDrummer]

Thanks for the info, sound like a good investment to me - I'll shop around and see if I can find the Walmart type kits.

Gutted about the lack of rubber chicken though

[JohnG1]

Really?

Would you drive on it just to get you to the next town or use it as a permanent fix?

[ockhamsrazor]

mikey k said:

Reading the manual no
The selant bottle has to remain on the compressor so I presume it is required to seal the compressor.
I'll have a fiddle later and try it out.

Don't know if it varies with MY, but my 06 handbook has directions on how to use the compressor without using the sealant, the section is entitled, "To Pump Air Only".

[sjp63]

Here in Italy they use it in the tyre repair shops as a permanent fix. I couldn't believe it first time I saw saw it done on a Merc SL 500 with a large stone right through the tread. Guy put in several strips of the plug material.

[Jockman]

ockhamsrazor said:

Don't know if it varies with MY, but my 06 handbook has directions on how to use the compressor without using the sealant, the section is entitled, "To Pump Air Only".

Yup.

I use it on all the kids cars as and when I´m checking their tyre pressures. Not only is it simply a compressor, but it can be used on any car you like.

I do of course utilise it primarily to check my DB9 tyres before a long journey

[macpaul]

Plugged loads of motorcycle tyres and they have all lasted the life of the tyre. I suspect motorcycle tyres have a harder life in normal use than car tyres (lean angles, acceleration etc).

They all say 'temporary fix' but in real life they're fine. The tyre dealer I buy from said he'd put three in the same hole on his own bike and been round the Isle of Man circuit on it, no problems.

Very effective pieces of kit.

[Petrolhead]

Does it matter the ebay kit has no tube of glue?

[Zod]

I haven't inspected it, but I'd be amazed if the compressor can't be used without the foam, as the BMW ones can.

[Petrolhead]

This answere my question - http://www.uxcell.com/public/a09061000ux0113.JPG

I have bought one as it will be usefull for the Caterham as well

[David W.]

Most of the tyres on the farm here are repaired this way. The tool that you push the plug in with is not always easy to get off of the plug once inserted, so a practice run on an old tyre where you can see what you are doing may be worthwhile. The other thing that happens a lot is that you push the plug in to far and lose it!

Once mastered it will get you home fine but I'd still have the repair checked out by a tyre company + re-balance asap.

The tyre Co I use has a 24hr tel number and uses a network of garages all over the country of which the nearest one will respond to a problem, it's not a cheap call out but worth it in an emergency.

P.S. best put some disposable paper overalls + gloves in the boot as well as inevitably it will be raining and you will be "dressed up" when puncture occurs.

Edited by David W. on Sunday 10th July 10:04