Difficulty
Easy
Steps
5
Time Required
5 - 15 minutes
Sections
1
- How to Plug a Tire
- 5 steps
Flags
0
BackTire
Full Screen
Options
History
Save to Favorites
Download PDF
Edit
Translate
Get Shareable Link
Embed This Guide
Notify Me of Changes
Stop Notifications
Introduction
What you need
Step 1
How to Plug a Tire
- Window cleaner or soapy water sprayed on the tire is a quick method for identifying the location of a leak. Always check the valve stem in addition to the tire itself.
- For a plug to be safe and work, the repair must be inside the main tread area, and not on the edge of the tread or sidewall.
Window cleaner or soapy water sprayed on the tire is a quick method for identifying the location of a leak. Always check the valve stem in addition to the tire itself.
For a plug to be safe and work, the repair must be inside the main tread area, and not on the edge of the tread or sidewall.
1024
Step 2
- Once you’ve identified the leak, prepare the tire and plug before removing the foreign object causing the leak (usually a nail or screw)
- Prepare your tire plug by feeding it through the eye of the insertion needle before pulling any objects from the tire that maybe causing leaks.
- Make sure your tire is well inflated. Inflate it to the maximum listed on the tire sidewall.
Once you’ve identified the leak, prepare the tire and plug before removing the foreign object causing the leak (usually a nail or screw)
Prepare your tire plug by feeding it through the eye of the insertion needle before pulling any objects from the tire that maybe causing leaks.
Make sure your tire is well inflated. Inflate it to the maximum listed on the tire sidewall.
Step 3
- Remove the foreign object with pliers or a similar tool.
- Immediately insert the reamer to plug the hole.
- Without removing it, plunge the reamer into the tire several times to make a uniform hole.
- Leave the reamer inserted in the tire until the needle with plug is ready to insert.
Remove the foreign object with pliers or a similar tool.
Immediately insert the reamer to plug the hole.
Without removing it, plunge the reamer into the tire several times to make a uniform hole.
Leave the reamer inserted in the tire until the needle with plug is ready to insert.
Step 4
- Insert 90% of the plug into the tire, leaving just short ends exposed.
- Pull the needle out slowly, leaving the plug in the tire.
Insert 90% of the plug into the tire, leaving just short ends exposed.
Pull the needle out slowly, leaving the plug in the tire.
Step 5
- Trim the plug ends flush with the tire.
- Recheck for leaks with window cleaner or soapy water.
- Reset your tire pressure to the correct specification for your vehicle.
- The correct pressure will be listed on a sticker usually found on the edge or sill of the driver’s side door or in the owners manual. Do not use the max pressure listed on the tire sidewall it is the maximum allowed and will be overinflated.
Trim the plug ends flush with the tire.
Recheck for leaks with window cleaner or soapy water.
Reset your tire pressure to the correct specification for your vehicle.
The correct pressure will be listed on a sticker usually found on the edge or sill of the driver’s side door or in the owners manual. Do not use the max pressure listed on the tire sidewall it is the maximum allowed and will be overinflated.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Cancel: I did not complete this guide.
One other person completed this guide.
Author
with 1 other contributor
Eric Essen
Member since: 06/04/2010
17,473 Reputation
8 Guides authored
Badges:
35
+32 more badges
Team
iFixit
Member of iFixit
Community
141 Members
15,769 Guides authored
