How to patch a tire tube

Name required. Mail will not be published required. Website by thelastpistachio. Life from an outsider's perspective… How to patch an inner tube the right way. Posted on mayo 15th, Dr. Leslie Dean Brown. This is why you should always have at least one spare inner tube handy when you go on a ride. Wash your hands.

Get all the air out of the tube. The aim is to get the inner tube as flat as possible. Repairing tubes with air still in them is not the best way to do it… the patch usually crumples when the air is out. Clean the whole area of the tube with isopropyl alcohol Isocol to get the butyl rubber residue off.

Most people use waaaaay too much glue. A rough guide is that one of those tiny tubes of rubber cement should last about patches depending on the size of the patch. To give you some idea, start with an amount equal to the size of a split pea.

This is easily the most critical step, so pay attention here. Always wait until the glue is dry before applying another coat.

When you can feel the glue starting to become tacky, stop smearing. Remember to apply less glue next time. Be sure to evenly cover the entire surface of the patch, taking care not to omit the edge zones. Done that way, the patch should stick to the tube almost instantly. Having said that, resist the temptation to stick the two together.

Let the glue partially dry. Not every tube can be patched, however. That is why Kubly recommends keeping a supply of replacement tubes on hand. After removing the tube from the tire, inflate it to allow for easier examination. Certainly a puncture wound will make itself known right away. But the tube could have failed from a stress crack caused by a wrinkle that may have happened when the tube was first placed in the tire.

Also look for any scratches, nicks, or stretching; any of which could weaken the tube and cause an opening. Deflate the tire before patching. Use scissors to cut rounds, or buttonholes, out of each end of an injury.

Doing so will prevent tearing along the crack in the future. Pour the prebuff cleaner over the injury and the entire area that will come in contact with the patch. This cleaner is formulated to remove dirt, grease, silicone, and calcium chloride for effective bonding.

Allow the cleaner to sit for up to 15 seconds before scratching the entire site with a tire scraper. You should cover the whole patch and some of the tire. This makes sure that there will be absolutely no leaks!

Let it dry. It should only take a couple of minutes. While you are waiting, use a pair of side cutters or scissors and cut the stem of the patch to be flush with the top of your tread. Part 4. Lubricate the bead. Go around bead of the tire the inner ring that seals to the rim and lubricate it with dish soap. Slide the tire back over the rim.

Use the tire spoons to pry one side of the tire open and slide it back onto the rim. Once you have the first side on, repeat the same procedure for the second side. Put in a new valve stem core. It is best practice not to reuse the valve stem core and to simply replace it anytime it is taken out.

Pressurize the tire. This pressure will force the tire into the correct place on the rim and seal the bead. Re-install the wheel. You should slide the wheel back onto the wheelbase and thread the lug nuts on tight enough to hold wheel in place while the car is still on the jackstands. Remove the jackstands. Use the floor jack to remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground..

Tighten the lugs to the specified torque. Once the weight is back on the wheels, use a lug wrench or impact wrench to tighten the lugs to the proper torque specifications in your service manual. Be sure to tighten lugs in a star pattern. Drive your car. As long as the patch was successful, the repair will last as long as your tire is in use. Never repair on the side wall because too much flexing occurs when driving the vehicle. Talk to a professional for help with this repair.

Not Helpful 2 Helpful Don't use a patch when the tire tread is worn out, and never use one on the side wall. Not Helpful 4 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. If you have access to a tire mounting machine it will save you a lot of time separating and rejoining the tire and rim. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2. Do not attempt to patch holes on the sidewall of your tire. Helpful 3 Not Helpful 3. This is meant for small holes only. Do not attempt to patch any holes that are long or irregular. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2.

You Might Also Like How to. How to. Expert Interview. About This Article. Co-authored by:. How to patch a tire tube. Decide whether to repair or replace: Rema patches are by far my favorite, but just about any will get the job done. Roll patch and tube between thumbs and forefingers. How do you patch a hole in a tire tube? Steps to do that are here.

Inflate the tube, place it into its tire and put the tire back on the rim. Here are the typical steps for patching a tire tube:. These are usually caused by not running enough air pressure in the tire. What can you use to patch an inner tube? Instead, the patches carry a strong adhesive. Center patch to hole and lay patch on tube.