Fix a Tyre Puncture Quick! 🛞 #cars24, by Cars24 on YouTube. 2 min 47 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 47 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park on flat, firm ground away from traffic. Switch on the hazard lights, apply the handbrake and set out a warning triangle if you have one.
Spray soapy water over the tread and look for bubbles. That is where the air is escaping. Mark the spot with chalk or a dab of mud.
Pull out the nail or screw with pliers, twisting gently as you go. Note the angle it went in, because the plug follows the same path.
Push the reamer tool straight into the hole and work it in and out a few times. This cleans the hole and roughens the rubber so the plug grips.
Thread one plug strip through the eye of the needle tool so it sits in the middle, then coat the strip with the rubber cement from the kit.
Push the needle and plug firmly into the hole until about 2 cm of the strip is left sticking out. Twist a quarter turn and pull the tool straight back out.
Trim the leftover strip level with the tread using a sharp knife. Leave a small nub if the tyre is still soft.
Inflate the tyre to the pressure on the door pillar sticker or the owner's manual. Spray soapy water on the plug and check for bubbles before you drive.
Tips and common mistakes
Never plug a hole in the sidewall or shoulder of the tyre, and skip the repair if the hole is wider than about 6 mm.
Treat a string plug as a get-you-home fix and have a tyre shop fit an internal patch soon after.
Check the pressure again after 24 hours, since a slow leak usually shows up then.
Keep the plug kit, pliers and a small pump in the boot so you are not stuck waiting for a tow.
Questions
Can I fix the puncture without taking the wheel off?
Yes. Most tubeless punctures can be plugged with the wheel still on the car or bike, as long as you can reach the hole and push the tool in squarely.
How long does a plug repair last?
A string plug can hold for hundreds of kilometres, but most tyre makers class it as a temporary repair. Get a proper internal patch or a new tyre fitted when you can.
What if the tyre keeps losing air after plugging?
The hole may be too large, torn, or in the sidewall. Stop adding air and call for a recovery service rather than driving on a soft tyre.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
