A flat tire is one of the oldest excuses for arriving late, but it still works. Plugging a flat tire is akin to survival when you have to go somewhere and a flat tire is no longer an excuse. The cost of not having a tire plug kit at that time can be high.
It is essential to know how to plug a tire without a plug kit in situations like these.
In order to plug a tire without a kit, you need some artistic skills. With a screwdriver, insert a small piece of rubber from an old tire into the punctured hole.
Apply gorilla glue to the rubber strip before pushing it in to stick to the tire. Cut out the rubber protruding from the tire and continue your journey.
Find out how to plug a tire without a kit in this excerpt.
Table of Contents
The Best Way to Plug a Tire Without a Plug Kit
Perhaps you’re wondering whether to plug the tire or patch it? It doesn’t matter what you do, both of these solutions provide temporary assistance.
Hence, plugging the tire is not a permanent solution, even if you use a professional kit. Tires that are too old to run with plugs and patches should be replaced.
Do not plug a puncture or leak on the tire sidewall. Although a tire getting from the sidewall is rare, if you run into this unfortunate situation, don’t plug it. There is a reason for this.
Tire rotations cause some unprecedented expansion changes. During high-speed driving, the tire can also bulge or contract, forcing the plug out. Cars can also tip over in the same way.
You’ll Need These Supplies To Plug Your Tire
You will need the following items to plug a tire without a plug kit.
- Air compressor
- Working gloves
- Sharp scissors or knife
- Screwdriver
- Rubber or Screws
- Gorilla glue
The following is one reason why you should always keep a Swiss knife in your vehicle. As for the other items, gorilla glue can be found in any department store. A screwdriver and a pair of gloves should also be kept in the vehicle.
Basically, all these items are used every day, so you should keep them in your car even if you don’t want to spend money on a plug kit.
The best way to plug a tire without a plug kit
The following steps will show you how to plug a tire without using a professional plug kit.
- 1st Step: Take the tire off the wheel and place it in a well-lit area. The sun’s light should suffice if you are under the sky. The real challenge will be plugging the tire at night. Make sure you take either your car or the tire to a well-lit location.
- 2nd Step: Look for the object that pierced the tire. Even in daylight, it can be difficult to see. Therefore, soapy water is a better option. Pour paper soap over the tire to make it. Watch out for bubbles coming out of the tire. Bubbles indicate leakage.
- 3rd Step: Wear gloves and run your hand around the tire from the inside to remove the pierced object. The protrusion will be towards the inside of the tire. You don’t want to cut your fingers, so don’t rush. It will be more difficult to locate the pierced object if it has snapped. For better visibility, you can also use the flashlight on your phone.
- 4th Step: Use a screwdriver to pry out the object. If you can find a pair of pliers, however, there is nothing better. You should also ream the puncture site with the same screwdriver.
- 5th Step: hen using rubber, cut a small piece the same size as the punctured hole. It must be thick enough not to break or tear apart when pushed down the punctured hole. Only screws with the same diameter as the hole will work.
- 6th Step: Glue all sides of the rubber or screw before inserting it into the punctured hole. Make sure the rubber is in a straight line with the tire by pushing it down. To ensure that the rubber or screws hold firmly to the tire, glue is used.
- 7th Step: Remove any excess rubber from the tire if necessary. Inflate the tire with the air compressor after the glue has dried for 10 minutes. Overinflating can cause the rubber to come out.
Again, plugging a tire is a temporary fix. You will reach your destination on time, but don’t expect it to last long. Get the tire replaced or checked by a professional as soon as you can. You can expect to pay between $10 and $40 to have your tire patched.
Replace the tire if it is already in a lamentable condition. For one thing, plugging a bald tire is not a good idea.
No matter what you use to plug the hole, it won’t stick since there is no support from the grooves and treads of the tire. As a result of the extra pressure placed on bald tires, the plug will detach from the tire, putting your safety at risk.
References and Resources:
How To Plug a Tire Without a Plug Kit Video Explanation
FAQs
What is the longest period of travel I can make with a plugged tire?
Your tire’s condition determines the answer. The tire can run for up to 200 miles if it is in good condition and does not get punctured again.
A poor-quality tire, however, won’t be able to hold the plug for long. Therefore, you should find a replacement as soon as possible.
Does driving with a plugged tire legal?
Currently, no federal or state law prohibits driving a car with plugged tires. You should get your tire checked after plugging it yourself for your safety.