How to Plug a Flat Tire (easily), by ChrisFix on YouTube. 1 min.
- Video length
- 1 min
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Pull off the road onto flat, level ground and switch on your hazard lights. Set the parking brake and put chocks or a heavy object behind a wheel so the car cannot roll.
Find the puncture by looking for a nail or screw head in the tread, or by listening for the hiss. Mark the spot with chalk or tape so you can find it again.
Pull out the nail or screw with pliers, turning it as you go. Expect a louder hiss once it comes free.
Push the reamer from the kit into the hole and work it in and out to rough up the edges. Push it in and out several times to make the hole clean and slightly wider.
Thread a sticky plug strip through the eye of the insertion tool so it sits centred, then coat it with rubber cement.
Push the tool into the hole until about an inch of the plug is still showing outside the tread. Push straight in, not at an angle.
Pull the tool straight back out, leaving the plug in the hole. Trim the leftover plug flush with the tread using a knife or side cutters.
Inflate the tire to the pressure shown on the sticker in your door jamb, then check the plug for bubbles with soapy water. Top up the air if the tire is still low.
Drive slowly at first and check the pressure again after about 10 miles. Have a tire shop inspect the repair and fit a proper patch from the inside.
Tips and common mistakes
Never plug a hole in the sidewall or shoulder of the tire, and skip the repair if the hole is larger than a quarter inch or the cords are showing.
A plug is a temporary fix, so drive gently and get an internal patch or a new tire soon.
Do not jack the car up for a plug repair, since you can reach the tread with the wheel on the ground.
If the tire keeps losing air or the plug will not seal, fit the spare or call for help instead of driving on it.
Questions
Can I plug a tire and keep driving on it normally?
Treat it as a short-term repair. Drive at lower speeds and get the tire patched properly from the inside or replaced within a few days.
What if the hole is in the sidewall?
Stop and fit the spare. Sidewall damage cannot be plugged safely and the tire needs replacing.
Do I need to let the air out first?
No. Plug kits work with the tire still inflated, and the air pressure helps push the plug into the hole.
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.
