Punctures are always a nuisance. You are driving down the highway and suddenly your car’s TPMS indicator lights up, indicating a loss of air pressure in one of the tyres. Now you will have to safely pull over and inspect the vulnerability. While most tubeless tyre punctures are repairable using a tyre plug, a more seriously damaged tyre may need a tyre patch.
In today’s post, we have a look at the process of patching up tyre punctures and what it entails. But before getting into the nitty gritty of things, let’s understand the basic difference between a tyre plug and tyre patch.
A tyre plug is a sticky and flexible piece of rubber that is inserted into the puncture area using a hand tool. The excess part is then cut off and smoothened using a reamer. Tyre plugs are also available as DIY puncture repair kits in the market.
A tyre patch is a thin flexible patch of rubber that is attached to the inside of your tyre to cover the punctured area. The tyre has to be removed from the wheel for installing a tyre patch effectively. Installing a tyre repair patch requires technical know-how and ideally it should be done by a professional.
While tyre plugs are most commonly used for fixing smaller punctures caused by nails or road debris, a tyre patch is used to fix larger or multiple punctures in close proximity. Tyre patches generally provide a more reliable, longer-lasting seal against air leaks compared to tyre plugs, which can occasionally fail to maintain a complete seal.
Use of tyre patches also depends on the repairability of the punctured tyre. In general, a tyre can be repaired when:
The puncture is more than 1/2 inches away from the edge of the tyre sidewall. Tyres with damaged sidewalls and shoulders cannot be repaired.
The diameter of the puncture is less than 1/4 of an inch.
The puncture isn’t overlapping or in close proximity to a previous repair.
Here’s a step-by-step on how a tyre technician installs a tyre repair patch:
First the puncture area is located and marked.
Then the tyre is dismounted and removed from the rim.
A reamer is used to clean and roughen up the puncture hole to allow the patch to bond securely.
A quick-dry adhesive is applied to the patch and the cleaned area.
The patch is placed over the punctured area and secured to avoid any air bubbles.
Once the adhesive has dried the tyre is mounted on the rim and inflated to its proper psi.
Tyre repair techniques may also vary depending on the type of puncture and the expertise of the technician. Some punctures may need both plug and patch techniques to form a proper seal. Hybrid solutions like a singular patch-plug combos are also available at some tyre repair shops. The technician pulls the plug through the punctured hole from outside while the patch is attached to the inside of the tyre.
As mentioned above, tyres that suffer sidewall punctures or damage cannot be repaired effectively because the structure of the tyre is compromised. Such tyres, even if repaired, tend to blowout or fail at critical moments.
In such instances, Vredestein experts advise replacing both tyres on the axle. Because even if a single tyre is damaged, a combination of new and old tyres on an axle can create further imbalance to vehicular stability, and often results in uneven wear.
Vredestein’s car and SUV tyres are now available in India through authorised dealerships and our online tyre shop. For more expert help, visit a Vredestein tyre shop near you, or call our helpline 1800-212-7070.
