~~~~ Part Links ~~~~ As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 🚗 Tire Repair Strip Kit ~ amzn.to/3BrT3TW Disclaimer: Knobsdialsandbuttons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com
40 years ago, I worked at General tire. I did many flat tire repairs back then. The patch plugs were the best for repairing a puncture. But, that required actually removing the tire, and working from the inside. I found those to be the most effective way to really seal a puncture. The plug repair, working from the outside, was the next best and quick, and effective method. However, when we would shove the plug in, we coated it with a rubber cement type of glue. That to me is better than just lubing it. Just my opinion from my experience.
Ya, I was getting ready to say dip into rubber cement or dap some on before inserting. Add a good brand of tire balancer/leak sealer & it should last a while.
Used to do tire repairs at a tire shop decades ago. We used to light the top of the plug on fire and let it melt into the tread block. Never had one fail, even after years of use.
One thing to remember. Know the angle of the nail or screw. If it went in at an angle but you ream it out going at a 90 degree angle. You cause more damage. Outside of that, great video. People give tire plugs a bad rap but they work great, especially if you off-road or work construction.
Ive done three tire plugs on couple of my vehicles and theyre still holding up even though the plugs are supposed to be temporary. My kit comes with rubber cement that you put on the plug also.
Yeah my wife drove on a plugged tire for 12 hours a year and a half ago and it's still holding up today with no problems and no cement or lubrication was used!😀😀😀😀
As long as it is done correctly, these things can outlast the tire. I drove for over 22 years and over 1.5 million miles for a very large fleet. Most of us used to get about 2x flats per year on average and those that were repairable were plugged by the fleet's mechanics. I can't recall any of us ever having a problem with the repair thereafter.
Latest kit I just used didn’t come with cement/glue, just tacky strips. Worked great on a motorcycle tire. No lube necessary (or in kit). Has held fine for over 1500kms in last two weeks, including lots of gravel roads.
That's what I found, some kits come with rubber cement and some kits just come with sticky strips. This one just happened to have a tub of lubricant :)
Correct! If your kit did not come with glue then buy the contact cement separately. Toss the lubricant because the glue acts as a lubricant. Do NOT plug the sidewalls of a tire. It could lead to catastrophic tire failure that could be dangerous at high speeds.
I use these plug repairs for 12 years in my transportation company. Saved thousands of dollars on tires. I even repaired small cuts by filling it with two plug next to each other.
I see many people writing they last as long as the tire lasts. The process of installing is very simple, but knowing people, I for sure guarantee someone can mess it up, and then complain it doesn't work or doesn't last.
I've used thousands of plug patches since the early 1970s. Never a single failure. Tire companies hate this and swear they don't work. They work better than any other repair method.
@@Boss_Dimas Tires have a date stamp on side( look up video on how to find and read) I once bought a "new" tire from a private party. It shredded (thread) on road at 30mph withing the year. Also I've heard tires when used(junk yard, or tire shops) are at risk if placed in opposite rotation( left side of car to right, etc). Otherwise, great video demonstration. Thank you.
Everyone should have a tire patch kit in their cars as well as a portable tire pump,a battery jumper and cables, a good jack, a spare tire, water, emergency food and a charger to call for help. Also people should touch up on their skills in case of an emergency like getting a flat tire. 👍
A quick tip; when you insert the spike into the hole to prep it up and sand it, nail holes are hard to penetrate and you need the strength of a 250-lbs man, heat up the tip of the spike with a torch or lighter and it will go through the tire like a hot knife through butter, save you lots of work.
Forget the lube, just use a lighter to heat up the tacky strip, then plug the hole. Do the same with the bit outside the tire, then fold down the strip between the tire grooves.
The serrations act like a saw blade . But it still had to cut the steel belts . When someone owes me money and doesn't pay , 4" dry wall screws in the sidewall are FUN !
There is a hold down sleeve to keep the tire plug from coming back out when you pull the T-handle out. You forgot that, but it's shown on the video cover pic.
great video. some videos say to push the entire plug into tire and then pull out. going in 3/4 like you did makes more sense, great cut away demonstration. thanks
I recognize this kit. It is made by Safety Seal. I've used one for 40+ years and never had a failure. You can use it with air still in the tire while mounted on the vehicle.
Great video. But my recommendation is please regularly check the plugged area to make sure it is still in tact. Usually it would last about 2 years or so, with regular driving.
Nice video and explanation of how a tire plug works! For anyone who drives an AWD vehicle it makes much more sense to try and fix the tire than having to replace all four tires (since all the tires wear at an even rate on an AWD vehicle. Fixing the punctured tired on the AWD vehicle makes much more sense if the all the tires have little wear.
@Cerus98 What he may have meant is that when you replace a tire, you then have one tire with different wear. Many manufacturers detect tire low pressure by tire revolutions, especially AWD vehicles. My 2015 CR-V constantly reports low pressure because we replaced one tire. The dealer told us you have to replace all four tires to correct this.
The viscous awd coupling will be damaged by mismatched tires turning at different speeds relative to each other. Even installing a new set on one axle now disrupts the speed reading between the two as the computer sees it thru the wheel speed sensors.
I repair punctures myself I was wondering about the inside of the tire. Watch this video and understand the current situation thanks for the great video
I've used these, albeit the black ones, for years. My truck has at least two of them that are at least 4 years old and the tires hold pressure just fine. Never really had issues with plugs. If I plug it and it continues to leak, I'll take it to a shop to get patched. Most of the time a plug will work just fine.
The easy and cheaper way to fix a nail flat is buy the plastic rubber screws type. You can but them online for about $5 to $8 for about 20 screws! You just screw them in with your fillips screw driver! I use this on my 2000 ford ranger tire. So far its has been on my tire with no problems for 4 years! I recommend them!!
Great idea. Just boight a couple and will stow one in the boot of my car. Not having a spare wheel any more is such a pain. I guess that I might need a jack too. I have a footpump already.
I used something similar about a week ago.. So far its holding up great, and judging by what i can see everyone else saying across the internet, this is likely going to outlast the tire.. even if it doesnt.. A pack of 5 of these costs so little, that even if if flies out after some months, i just put in a new one ;)
So you're a lucky bastard that the carcass didn't rust and given you a blow out with a speed of 120km/h. Trust me dis isn't a good repair, it's a temporary repair.
Nice job, but rubber cement should be used in place of the lubricant. The cement actually works as a lubricant and seals the puncture up for a permanent repair. Lastly, always cut the plug off even with the tread, otherwise the extra plug material may cause it too leak.
I found it difficult to insert the tool to clean out the punctured hole. I had to muscle it down which caused a minor scrape of my palm. I was going to use a drill as I seen shops do but was not confident enough. Finally after a struggle , managed to insert the plug in and pull it out. I believe the glue is for lubrication which I didn't know before watching thus video
Construction work near my house. So I'd to use 3 plugs on 3 different tyres in 2022 alone. End of 2023 I binned my old tyres. 2 weeks ago I plugged the first new tyre. I check my typre pressure religiously. But never had the slightest problem.
The repair kit resembles one I recently bought from HF, quite a good kit for less than $22. A few years ago I repaired a tire with Slime tire repair using one if its black plugs, recently I noticed the tire getting low on air, after checking the tire with a soap solution I found the plug was leaking so I used another black plug from the same kit, it began leaking immediately so I took it out and used one of the red plugs from the HF kit using plenty of glue, not the lube included with the kit, it is holding quite well. The plugs from the Slim kit are more sticky and a bit smaller than the HF plugs, Amen!
The Harbor Freight kit is no where near the quality of Safety Seal kits plus the safety seal plugs have 100% rubber saturation in them they are 250% rubber to 100% nylon yarns. Safety Seal is the best you can buy and they are made right here in America so you are supporting an American company.
Yep , you are right ! some ( USA ? ) repair kits use a sticky greasy rubber plug ( I have one , here in the UK ! ) but a lot of UK kits use a DRY red rubber rod ( about ¼ inch in diameter ) this , combined with Toluene based adhesive results in a repair that lasts until the tyre goes bald ! ! .. as you say , NEVER use grease + adhesive ( you might get it blow out on the interstate , not fun ! ) , hope this info assists you + your viewers ( ? ) .............. DAVE™ ..............
Thanks for the inside view 👍 A few years ago I kept seeing adds for mushroom plugs which seemed like a good way to plug a tire but I've noticed that I don't see any of that anymore. I'm curious to know why it didn't catch on?
It seems that using the lube gel (especially that much) would prevent the gummy plug from adhering to the inside surface and wall of the puncture. I’ve never repaired a tire myself, so am not familiar with the ins and outs of the operation. I just purchased a kit, but hope I never need to use it.
I will use rubber cement instead, two reasons: to lubricate and seal. I have been doing tire repair myself for decades already, never have any issue with rubber cement. One word of caution though, if the puncture in near the edge of the sidewall, replacement is a safer and better choice.
It comes with the kit. According to the instructions: "Apply the lubricant to the spiral shaft of the reamer tool. This will help to probe the hole and temporarily separate the steel belts without damage."
I agree with otuers; DO NOT use the petroleum jelly as a lube, use the rubber solvent cement instead. Using the solvent cement will have the live rubber of the rupe plug meldinto the bladder rubber of the tire and basically become part of that rubber.
It's NOT petroleum jelly. It's a lube that comes with the kit. According to the instructions: "Apply the lubricant to the spiral shaft of the reamer tool. This will help to probe the hole and temporarily separate the steel belts without damage."
I live a few miles down a gravel road, I get plenty of flats. I've used maybe 50 of these plugs in the last 20 years. My luck runs about 3 out of 4 work, the rest simply do not hold. They say the plugs are temporary, not true at all. The vast majority of my plugs will last the life of the tire. I always use rubber cement with them no matter what comes with the kit.
a small suggestion. If the needle is first turned a 1/4 turn before withdrawing, the hole will be filled better and you can close a larger hole. So that a larger hole is filled better.
Check out these videos of other types of emergency tire repair kits: Vacuum Tire Repair Nail Kit: th-cam.com/video/gv1hRxQFvU4/w-d-xo.html Mushroom Plug Repair Kit: th-cam.com/video/_aegQnI1Pwc/w-d-xo.html Rubber Strip Repair Kit: th-cam.com/video/p75OAv9Zn_k/w-d-xo.html
Newer cars tend to include tyre repair kits instead of a spare tyre. This makes it difficult to locate the puncture site and repair it if a flat tyre happens at night.
FYI. Tires do have a date stamp on side. Look up video on how to find and read. I once bought a " new" tire at yard sale, still had all the nibbles. Lasted less than 6months. Treads blew out at 30mph on road.
Friend had something like were they +20 year old tires. Called then movie tires. They were insanely hard and they squeezed like in badly made old movie with just like turning in modest speed, as mentioned, movie tires
Having been in the tire service industry many many years. This type of tire repair is considered 100% improper and all tire manufacture warranties are voided for materials and workmanship coverage. Internal patch repair properly performed is the only approved repair.
I’ve used plugs all many times and never not once had an issue with them. Once every 6 months might need just a touch of air which I have never been bothered by. I know I know of all your horror stories but guess what? Plugs works 100% if used correctly
That was a Safety Seal Tire Plug Tool he used from the looks of it, at the start of the video you see a piece that fits over the shaft and has a wide head on it, that piece is designed to install the plug the correct depth. When he installs the plug in the video he removed that piece which was incorrect, it can be hard to push the plug through the tire and you can end up pushing the plug all the way into the tire, that sliding medal piece prevents that from happening. Always use that sliding piece to properly insert the plug to the correct depth.
Today i had a screw in my 18inch tire took it to the tire shop he said 130 plus tax for a new tire smh asked him to patch it he said he couldnt becasue its almost close to the side SMH sent the photo of it to my brother he said to bring it to him then boom he had this kind of tire repair kit repaired it and we been rolln all day no leakes no problems thank u bro 😊😊😊 saved me hella money even tho we would of just paid to say F it rather look out for the fam any day
The shoulder and sidewalls of tires are not reinforced and those areas also flex a lot more than the treaded part of the tire. The plug repairs in these areas can fail so I'd be cautious about plugging too close to the side.
This is still a stopgap solution and not a good repair because it can cause the carcass to rust and cause a blowout. A good repair is done through the inside so called with an umbrella.
One good place for those rawhide tire plugs is the trash can,they do not seal worth a shit.I have pulled them out with a pair of pliers easily.Also do not plug if near and close to the sidewall,not recomended
WARNING: Tires repaired in this way are to be considered a temporary fix and NOT considered to be permanently repaired. Tires that are safe to repair must still be properly patched by a tire professional shop. Just read the disclaimer on ALL tire strip plug kits... serious harm could result if the tire is not properly repaired. As a trained & certified VAG service tech since 1977 (now retired) I have seen literally hundreds of totally wrecked customer cars (Bentleys, VWs, Audis, Porsches, Lamborghinis, etc) with many fatalities and/or severely injured all because they were too LAZY and CHEAP to have their tire properly repaired... once again, just because some of you out there have beaten the odds, does not make it right nor safe. Read the small print on the plug’s packaging. Good luck to all you wise guys who believe cruising at a sustained high speed on a plugged tire on a hot summers day is safe... hahaaa
I bought a brand new car and on the very first week drove over a 1/4" bolt. Tire repair was under warranty so i took it to the dealer as i was unfamiliar with how easy and cheap this repair was. The mechanic available said it would have to be replaced because the puncture was too large and in my inquiries about what size is too large, another mechanic walked by and said it was borderline but they should try at least because the process was fast and cheap. Me thinking fast was mechanic speak for about an hour so i went to the washroom. I came back to watch the process and the guy's like "it worked!" with a look like on his face like someone who tried to get me to do a $200 dollar replacement for what was a $75 dollar repair. On the bill i asked how come i only got charged minimum 1hr labour fee and no material. They didnt even have and inventory cost for the plug strips. Thats when i new i coulf do this on my own. Man if it wasnt under warranty i would have been cheesed. Drove on it for 2 years with no issue before i had to sell the car.
Plugs and plug-patches are better than patches because they seal the belts so air can not get between them and separate them. Patches only seal the air inside the tire, but air can still work its way between the belts.
If you carry this kit in your car also pack a pair of needlenose pliers to remove the offending article. Also, if you're lucky it's sometimes possible to make this fix without removing the wheel. I keep a manual pump in the car too just for reliability..
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🚗 Tire Repair Strip Kit ~ amzn.to/3BrT3TW
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The strip worked great, but now I cannot inflate the tire because of that huge cutout on the side. I don't recommend following that step.
Lol. It's ok, just add another 240 strips to fill the cutout 👍
lmao
🤣🤣🤣
Duct tape.
lol
I’ve repaired at least 30 tire punctures using the rope plugs over the last 4 decades and have never had a single failure.
Hey is rubber cement recomended for plugs ???
@@mannybudhu3905 yes thats what i use just to make it even better
@@mannybudhu3905 it helps to lubricate but is not needed
@@terrygriss4132That's what she said
@@driftx2oh no what are you doing step plug? 😂
40 years ago, I worked at General tire. I did many flat tire repairs back then. The patch plugs were the best for repairing a puncture. But, that required actually removing the tire, and working from the inside. I found those to be the most effective way to really seal a puncture. The plug repair, working from the outside, was the next best and quick, and effective method. However, when we would shove the plug in, we coated it with a rubber cement type of glue. That to me is better than just lubing it. Just my opinion from my experience.
Ya, I was getting ready to say dip into rubber cement or dap some on before inserting. Add a good brand of tire balancer/leak sealer & it should last a while.
Plug kits are for home use
Patch kits for tire shops
Used to do tire repairs at a tire shop decades ago. We used to light the top of the plug on fire and let it melt into the tread block. Never had one fail, even after years of use.
@@nomadynofficialthat is actually really smart
Do you have to wait before inflating the tire again, because you use glue?
One thing to remember. Know the angle of the nail or screw. If it went in at an angle but you ream it out going at a 90 degree angle. You cause more damage. Outside of that, great video. People give tire plugs a bad rap but they work great, especially if you off-road or work construction.
Thanks for the tip
Ive done three tire plugs on couple of my vehicles and theyre still holding up even though the plugs are supposed to be temporary. My kit comes with rubber cement that you put on the plug also.
Some kits come with rubber cement and some kits come with just sticky strips on their own. This particular kit came with a tub of lubricant.
Yeah my wife drove on a plugged tire for 12 hours a year and a half ago and it's still holding up today with no problems and no cement or lubrication was used!😀😀😀😀
@@frederickneal4781goes to show the old school methods still work to this day.
As long as it is done correctly, these things can outlast the tire. I drove for over 22 years and over 1.5 million miles for a very large fleet. Most of us used to get about 2x flats per year on average and those that were repairable were plugged by the fleet's mechanics. I can't recall any of us ever having a problem with the repair thereafter.
I always use rubber cement, I suppose it acts like a lube til it drys
I've always used contact cement for a lubricant and that makes the seal even better.
And I always thought that the cement thing was to seal-tight the hole, never knew it was just to lubricate the spike so it can be inserted easily.
Latest kit I just used didn’t come with cement/glue, just tacky strips. Worked great on a motorcycle tire. No lube necessary (or in kit).
Has held fine for over 1500kms in last two weeks, including lots of gravel roads.
That's what I found, some kits come with rubber cement and some kits just come with sticky strips. This one just happened to have a tub of lubricant :)
Correct! If your kit did not come with glue then buy the contact cement separately. Toss the lubricant because the glue acts as a lubricant.
Do NOT plug the sidewalls of a tire. It could lead to catastrophic tire failure that could be dangerous at high speeds.
@@sirreus3003 can you explain why you can't do the side of a tire? I don't understand. Thank you 😊
I use these plug repairs for 12 years in my transportation company. Saved thousands of dollars on tires. I even repaired small cuts by filling it with two plug next to each other.
Impressive to hear that those repairs are long lasting. I was very unsure about that.
I see many people writing they last as long as the tire lasts. The process of installing is very simple, but knowing people, I for sure guarantee someone can mess it up, and then complain it doesn't work or doesn't last.
I've used thousands of plug patches since the early 1970s. Never a single failure. Tire companies hate this and swear they don't work.
They work better than any other repair method.
Plug patch is way better
I always carry one of these kits in my car. It's saved me more than once over the years.
Lets appreciate this man's commitment. He did took a good tire to make this video.👍🏻
The tire was not new. It was never used but it was at least 11 years old
@@knobsdialsandbuttons dont lie, the tire looks 95% good & my car tires are worse than yours 💀 & it actualy just 2 years old 💀
@@Boss_Dimas Tires have a date stamp on side( look up video on how to find and read)
I once bought a "new" tire from a private party. It shredded (thread) on road at 30mph withing the year. Also I've heard tires when used(junk yard, or tire shops) are at risk if placed in opposite rotation( left side of car to right, etc).
Otherwise, great video demonstration. Thank you.
Legend made a youtube content on a brand new tire for all of us. He is the new god.
Everyone should have a tire patch kit in their cars as well as a portable tire pump,a battery jumper and cables, a good jack, a spare tire, water, emergency food and a charger to call for help.
Also people should touch up on their skills in case of an emergency like getting a flat tire. 👍
And preferably a Staccato
Just a smartphone, and everything else will come fast, whatever you need.
Some cars such as Tesla doesn't even come with spare tire, lug wrench and jack.
you forgot the fire extinguisher 🙄
do not forget the cigar and hot coffee.
A quick tip; when you insert the spike into the hole to prep it up and sand it, nail holes are hard to penetrate and you need the strength of a 250-lbs man, heat up the tip of the spike with a torch or lighter and it will go through the tire like a hot knife through butter, save you lots of work.
Thanks for the tip
or get off the couch and work out.
A drill bit is what I always used but this is better . I wish I had known this 30 years ago 😮
Good tip
I’m a 250-lbs man, I don’t need this tip.
Forget the lube, just use a lighter to heat up the tacky strip, then plug the hole. Do the same with the bit outside the tire, then fold down the strip between the tire grooves.
Just did mine. I used these plugs for 20 years never had a problem
I'm kind of impressed you cut a chunk out of that car tire with what looked like a cheap steak knife
It wasn't that cheap.....lol
The serrations act like a saw blade . But it still had to cut the steel belts . When someone owes me money and doesn't pay , 4" dry wall screws in the sidewall are FUN !
me too.. I thought the steel wires inside rubber is harder than that cheap knife
It wasn't that cheap......lol
@@knobsdialsandbuttons where can I get that knife?
It’s was a new tire !😭. Thanks for your video. Very good 👍
Thanks 👍
Your shop should be able to patch it for free
😭
Great inside view. seeing how it actually works is confident to use. 👍
Thanks 👍
@@knobsdialsandbuttons Important not to twist or turn when inserting the rope.
tire plugs have saved me several times out in the desert. small, portable compressor and plug kit are must have in tool kit.
I repaired tires for 85 years and this method has been the best
How old are you?
There is a hold down sleeve to keep the tire plug from coming back out when you pull the T-handle out. You forgot that, but it's shown on the video cover pic.
Thank you for showing us how to repair flat tires. Now I understand how it works.
You're welcome, thanks for watching !
great video. some videos say to push the entire plug into tire and then pull out. going in 3/4 like you did makes more sense, great cut away demonstration. thanks
Thanks 👍
That was pretty cool seeing how it works from the backside! Cool video, thanks.
Thanks for watching !
I recognize this kit. It is made by Safety Seal. I've used one for 40+ years and never had a failure. You can use it with air still in the tire while mounted on the vehicle.
Great video. But my recommendation is please regularly check the plugged area to make sure it is still in tact. Usually it would last about 2 years or so, with regular driving.
Good tip!
maybe by that time 2 years you have now the money to replace it.
Nice video and explanation of how a tire plug works! For anyone who drives an AWD vehicle it makes much more sense to try and fix the tire than having to replace all four tires (since all the tires wear at an even rate on an AWD vehicle. Fixing the punctured tired on the AWD vehicle makes much more sense if the all the tires have little wear.
Thanks for watching !
Rotate the tires
That's not True Sir.
@Cerus98 What he may have meant is that when you replace a tire, you then have one tire with different wear. Many manufacturers detect tire low pressure by tire revolutions, especially AWD vehicles. My 2015 CR-V constantly reports low pressure because we replaced one tire. The dealer told us you have to replace all four tires to correct this.
The viscous awd coupling will be damaged by mismatched tires turning at different speeds relative to each other. Even installing a new set on one axle now disrupts the speed reading between the two as the computer sees it thru the wheel speed sensors.
I repair punctures myself
I was wondering about the inside of the tire.
Watch this video and understand the current situation
thanks for the great video
You're weclome, thanks for watching !
Thanks for sharing. I was a little bit concerned about the lubricant, but it sounds like that came with the kit, so should be OK.
I've used these, albeit the black ones, for years. My truck has at least two of them that are at least 4 years old and the tires hold pressure just fine.
Never really had issues with plugs. If I plug it and it continues to leak, I'll take it to a shop to get patched. Most of the time a plug will work just fine.
The easy and cheaper way to fix a nail flat is buy the plastic rubber screws type. You can but them online for about $5 to $8 for about 20 screws! You just screw them in with your fillips screw driver! I use this on my 2000 ford ranger tire. So far its has been on my tire with no problems for 4 years! I recommend them!!
they work great been using them for years, patches never work right. I have seen them in the middle of the side wall and working just fine amazing
It works really well. I just hope no one follow the bullshit of lubrificate at every step. The glue is not made to work with anything else.
Oh. Oh. Oh not allowed in sidewalls any more
Great idea. Just boight a couple and will stow one in the boot of my car. Not having a spare wheel any more is such a pain.
I guess that I might need a jack too. I have a footpump already.
I usually use a lighter and with the heat melt the strip ends to create a better seal. Hasn't steered me wrong so far.
You’re wasting your time. Without melting it seals just as good.
You heat melt the strip ends that you cut off later?
I used something similar about a week ago.. So far its holding up great, and judging by what i can see everyone else saying across the internet, this is likely going to outlast the tire.. even if it doesnt.. A pack of 5 of these costs so little, that even if if flies out after some months, i just put in a new one ;)
Been using them for years, and saved fortunes on new tyres !
So you're a lucky bastard that the carcass didn't rust and given you a blow out with a speed of 120km/h.
Trust me dis isn't a good repair, it's a temporary repair.
@@DonOctane98 I never had a problem.
@@DonOctane98 You're full of it.
@@DonOctane98 yeah, this type of repair is only good enough to get you to a shop. I wouldn't drive on this for too long either
@@doom3380 really been doing them for decade and the life of the tire, never any issues
Nice job, but rubber cement should be used in place of the lubricant. The cement actually works as a lubricant and seals the puncture up for a permanent repair. Lastly, always cut the plug off even with the tread, otherwise the extra plug material may cause it too leak.
I found it difficult to insert the tool to clean out the punctured hole. I had to muscle it down which caused a minor scrape of my palm. I was going to use a drill as I seen shops do but was not confident enough. Finally after a struggle , managed to insert the plug in and pull it out. I believe the glue is for lubrication which I didn't know before watching thus video
I learned at 17 years old that lubrication definitely makes insertion easier.
Wow you were fixing car tires at only 17 ?.......lol :)
With the adhesive glue of course not silicon grease !
Yeah and liquid tar works wonders
That's what she said.
Construction work near my house. So I'd to use 3 plugs on 3 different tyres in 2022 alone. End of 2023 I binned my old tyres. 2 weeks ago I plugged the first new tyre.
I check my typre pressure religiously. But never had the slightest problem.
I've done this many times in my day as a lube tech. I never did see it from the inside... I always called the strips 'slim jims'.
The repair kit resembles one I recently bought from HF, quite a good kit for less than $22. A few years ago I repaired a tire with Slime tire repair using one if its black plugs, recently I noticed the tire getting low on air, after checking the tire with a soap solution I found the plug was leaking so I used another black plug from the same kit, it began leaking immediately so I took it out and used one of the red plugs from the HF kit using plenty of glue, not the lube included with the kit, it is holding quite well. The plugs from the Slim kit are more sticky and a bit smaller than the HF plugs, Amen!
The Harbor Freight kit is no where near the quality of Safety Seal kits plus the safety seal plugs have 100% rubber saturation in them they are 250% rubber to 100% nylon yarns. Safety Seal is the best you can buy and they are made right here in America so you are supporting an American company.
Yep , you are right ! some ( USA ? ) repair kits use a sticky greasy rubber plug ( I have one , here in the UK ! ) but a lot of UK kits use a DRY red rubber rod ( about ¼ inch in diameter ) this , combined with Toluene based adhesive results in a repair that lasts until the tyre goes bald ! ! .. as you say , NEVER use grease + adhesive ( you might get it blow out on the interstate , not fun ! ) , hope this info assists you + your viewers ( ? ) .............. DAVE™ ..............
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the inside view 👍
A few years ago I kept seeing adds for mushroom plugs which seemed like a good way to plug a tire but I've noticed that I don't see any of that anymore. I'm curious to know why it didn't catch on?
Lubrication is always important before inserting in hole🌚
Pulling out fast is hard
I see what you did there.
I see what you do there@@prayforthe_1644
@@prayforthe_1644 but you can pull out hard if you're fast enough 😉
Cool, I just did this for the first time and didn't know if I was doing it right.
It seems that using the lube gel (especially that much) would prevent the gummy plug from adhering to the inside surface and wall of the puncture. I’ve never repaired a tire myself, so am not familiar with the ins and outs of the operation. I just purchased a kit, but hope I never need to use it.
The plug itself would remove the lube while being inserted
@@atticstattic Not completely. But that's a very valid question. Or maybe stickiness has nothing to do with it. Maybe it's just pressure fit.
The only lube that should be applied to the tire and plug is rubber cement, nothing else.
Use rubber cement NOT lubricant.
I used only what came with the kit
Thank you for a simple no nonsense video hard to find these days
You're welcome!
Folks, use rubber cement as lube and you'll get it done right the first time.
I only use what's in each particular kit and go strictly by the instructions. If the kit comes with rubber cement then I'll certainly use it.
I will use rubber cement instead, two reasons: to lubricate and seal. I have been doing tire repair myself for decades already, never have any issue with rubber cement. One word of caution though, if the puncture in near the edge of the sidewall, replacement is a safer and better choice.
You can also use the adhesive cement as a lubricant when pushing the string through.
Never seen lube used before, most are used dry or with rubber cement.
It comes with the kit. According to the instructions: "Apply the lubricant to the spiral shaft of the reamer tool. This will help to probe the hole and temporarily separate the steel belts without damage."
Rubber cement works a lubricant and comes with most repair kits. I burn my strips for a quick second or two before insertion, but to each his own.
I agree with otuers; DO NOT use the petroleum jelly as a lube, use the rubber solvent cement instead. Using the solvent cement will have the live rubber of the rupe plug meldinto the bladder rubber of the tire and basically become part of that rubber.
It's NOT petroleum jelly. It's a lube that comes with the kit. According to the instructions: "Apply the lubricant to the spiral shaft of the reamer tool. This will help to probe the hole and temporarily separate the steel belts without damage."
they work great I'''ve had these plugs on my tires with no problems, eventually the tire wears out first than the plugs.
I live a few miles down a gravel road, I get plenty of flats. I've used maybe 50 of these plugs in the last 20 years.
My luck runs about 3 out of 4 work, the rest simply do not hold.
They say the plugs are temporary, not true at all. The vast majority of my plugs will last the life of the tire.
I always use rubber cement with them no matter what comes with the kit.
I've never had a plug leak in my life. Every one lasted the entire life of the tire, even to the point of the tire going bald
I fixed.my tyre yesterday, tyre plugs work great will keep some in my car.
I always lubricate the tip
Me too, lubrication is important for insertion 😂
well that's how it's supposed to be to avoid more damage done 🤣🤣
Same here...😂
Got this today, plug is inside the wheel. Mechanic adviced me to buy a new 200€ tire. But I read that people just drive years with those plugs?
There is no need to ruin a brand new tyre for this demo.
Also the lubrication might interfere with the adhesive of that sticky plug.
The tire had good treads but was years old. The lubricant comes with the kit and I used it per instructions.
a small suggestion. If the needle is first turned a 1/4 turn before withdrawing, the hole will be filled better and you can close a larger hole. So that a larger hole is filled better.
I always put glue on the strip .
I only use what comes with the kit :)
i had one tire sadly with like 6 of these from working in construction sites, all held up fine
You could have just demount the tire, no need to destroy it.
He didn't destroy it... Just hang it in a tree and it's a nice birdhouse !
I couldn't find my tool last week when I had a flat so I just used a small flathead screwdriver still worked
Check out these videos of other types of emergency tire repair kits:
Vacuum Tire Repair Nail Kit: th-cam.com/video/gv1hRxQFvU4/w-d-xo.html
Mushroom Plug Repair Kit: th-cam.com/video/_aegQnI1Pwc/w-d-xo.html
Rubber Strip Repair Kit: th-cam.com/video/p75OAv9Zn_k/w-d-xo.html
The Mushroom 🍄 Plug 🔌 Repair Kit looks really good. Definitely going to look for one of these. 👍
you realize we see that you liked your own comment? just asking, lol.
@@HxTurtle I do, it was a great comment lol
@@knobsdialsandbuttons LMAO 😂🤣😂🤣
If a plug has already been used and failed can a new plug be fitted or is it better to get a new tire
Great idea. Thanks for this tutorial now we can travel comfortable
You're welcome !
In the UK this is only legal for off road use i.e. tractors and farm equipment, if used on a road vehicle it will fail its MOT
Newer cars tend to include tyre repair kits instead of a spare tyre. This makes it difficult to locate the puncture site and repair it if a flat tyre happens at night.
Demonstrated well.
Thank you 👍
FYI. Tires do have a date stamp on side. Look up video on how to find and read.
I once bought a " new" tire at yard sale, still had all the nibbles. Lasted less than 6months. Treads blew out at 30mph on road.
Friend had something like were they +20 year old tires. Called then movie tires. They were insanely hard and they squeezed like in badly made old movie with just like turning in modest speed, as mentioned, movie tires
Good video 👍
Thank you ! 👍
Instead of destroying a new tire, you could remove the tire from the wheel. Then you could show the plug from inside the tire. Good demo though!
LOLOLOL
Having been in the tire service industry many many years. This type of tire repair is considered 100% improper and all tire manufacture warranties are voided for materials and workmanship coverage. Internal patch repair properly performed is the only approved repair.
That’s nice, dear. I’m in the driving business and have used these plugs just fine for many years. Screw tire warranties.
I’ve used plugs all many times and never not once had an issue with them. Once every 6 months might need just a touch of air which I have never been bothered by. I know I know of all your horror stories but guess what? Plugs works 100% if used correctly
I have followed the same method but still air is leaking theough the strip. What could be the reason please? Any suggestions/idea please
To be honest the best way to use plugs are when there is some air still in the tire...
I agree
Yea but he cut the the side of the tire out so we could see which would make that impossible lol
Correct ! :)
thank your for show the inside too.
Thanks for watching !
Tire plugs are illegal in Aus. Our government loves regulations. Mechanics can only patch a hole from the inside.
You can't even buy them and do it yourself?
That was a Safety Seal Tire Plug Tool he used from the looks of it, at the start of the video you see a piece that fits over the shaft and has a wide head on it, that piece is designed to install the plug the correct depth. When he installs the plug in the video he removed that piece which was incorrect, it can be hard to push the plug through the tire and you can end up pushing the plug all the way into the tire, that sliding medal piece prevents that from happening. Always use that sliding piece to properly insert the plug to the correct depth.
Today i had a screw in my 18inch tire took it to the tire shop he said 130 plus tax for a new tire smh asked him to patch it he said he couldnt becasue its almost close to the side SMH sent the photo of it to my brother he said to bring it to him then boom he had this kind of tire repair kit repaired it and we been rolln all day no leakes no problems thank u bro 😊😊😊 saved me hella money even tho we would of just paid to say F it rather look out for the fam any day
The shoulder and sidewalls of tires are not reinforced and those areas also flex a lot more than the treaded part of the tire. The plug repairs in these areas can fail so I'd be cautious about plugging too close to the side.
This is still a stopgap solution and not a good repair because it can cause the carcass to rust and cause a blowout. A good repair is done through the inside so called with an umbrella.
Worked as a truck tire fitter for 11 years and followed several courses through Michelin. So I know what I'm talking about them
This kind of repair with a string is not a problem for agricultural vehicles because they do not enter the highway and do not drive 130 km/h.
I agree. I would only use this as an emergency repair.
Just for our benefit....you ruined a new tyre!!! I salute you...!
Thanks lol. the tire had never been used but it is well over a decade old :)
One good place for those rawhide tire plugs is the trash can,they do not seal worth a shit.I have pulled them out with a pair of pliers easily.Also do not plug if near and close to the sidewall,not recomended
what do you recomend?
I always wondered how the tool releases the plug inside the tyre but it slips loose when pulling the tool back out.
Seems dangerous,mushroom plugs are best
Are you slightly biased Mr. Room ?......lol
@@knobsdialsandbuttons lol no i dont own mushroom plug patent,but seems to be more secure way to fix puncture
To get me out of trouble i used this on my Bush plane Tire worked ok .
Don't buy that brand, it was very easy to cut with a kitchen knife
dipping it in rubber cement actually works well as lubrication when plugging. And then itll become a bonding agent as it dries.
True, but when I'm demonstrating repair kits I only use what comes with each kit. If it doesn't come with rubber cement, I won't use it.
WARNING: Tires repaired in this way are to be considered a temporary fix and NOT considered to be permanently repaired. Tires that are safe to repair must still be properly patched by a tire professional shop. Just read the disclaimer on ALL tire strip plug kits... serious harm could result if the tire is not properly repaired.
As a trained & certified VAG service tech since 1977 (now retired) I have seen literally hundreds of totally wrecked customer cars (Bentleys, VWs, Audis, Porsches, Lamborghinis, etc) with many fatalities and/or severely injured all because they were too LAZY and CHEAP to have their tire properly repaired... once again, just because some of you out there have beaten the odds, does not make it right nor safe. Read the small print on the plug’s packaging. Good luck to all you wise guys who believe cruising at a sustained high speed on a plugged tire on a hot summers day is safe... hahaaa
Strange, I've put 30,000 miles or more on a tire with a plug. LOL 😂
hearing it for the first time lol.... i have driven 1000s of kms without any problem with just using plug kits.
I've plugged hundreds of tires over the years, even on motorcycles and never had one fail. Stop fear mongering.
Same type of person that thinks they have to call a licensed electrician to screw in a light bulb too.
lol :)
You sacrifice a tire for this video, thank you
You're welcome :)
I bought a brand new car and on the very first week drove over a 1/4" bolt. Tire repair was under warranty so i took it to the dealer as i was unfamiliar with how easy and cheap this repair was.
The mechanic available said it would have to be replaced because the puncture was too large and in my inquiries about what size is too large, another mechanic walked by and said it was borderline but they should try at least because the process was fast and cheap.
Me thinking fast was mechanic speak for about an hour so i went to the washroom. I came back to watch the process and the guy's like "it worked!" with a look like on his face like someone who tried to get me to do a $200 dollar replacement for what was a $75 dollar repair. On the bill i asked how come i only got charged minimum 1hr labour fee and no material. They didnt even have and inventory cost for the plug strips. Thats when i new i coulf do this on my own. Man if it wasnt under warranty i would have been cheesed.
Drove on it for 2 years with no issue before i had to sell the car.
I drove over a nail and recently fixed my tire using this plug/strip and I'm just wondering how long does it last for?
I hear differing opinions on that. I would only ever use these as temporary repairs, just to be safe
Thank you for the clear explanation.
You're welcome, thanks for watching !
Plugs and plug-patches are better than patches because they seal the belts so air can not get between them and separate them. Patches only seal the air inside the tire, but air can still work its way between the belts.
im impressed how easily he cut the tire with knife.
Thanks :)
Thank you for uploading this video...this clears my doubt❤️🔥
Thanks for watching !
If you carry this kit in your car also pack a pair of needlenose pliers to remove the offending article. Also, if you're lucky it's sometimes possible to make this fix without removing the wheel. I keep a manual pump in the car too just for reliability..
I enjoyed this video, a very good demonstration but… was that a new tire?!
Thanks, the tire was never used but it was about 12 years old :)
Excellent tutorial
Thanks !