Toyota RAV4 Forums banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Tire plug repair questions

Tags
flat flats tire plugs tires
Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 29 Posts

Templeton

· Registered
Joined
·
748 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I was reading the tire plug thread. I am somewhat familiar with plugs for bicycle tires, but not so much for auto tires.

I have a spare in my rav, but is using a plug in the case of a flat something that can be done as a field repair by the side of the road (if l have a pump), or must it be done at home or in a shop? If doing the repair myself, what are good printed or online resources to learn everything l need to know to do an excellent repair? What are good plug repair kits or materials? Any other suggestions? Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
SLS Artemis said:
They are pretty easy to do and straight forward. I have only done it once on my wife's horse trailer. And it held up fine. I just bought a repair kit at the local auto parts store. I did remove the tire to do it.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

But there is no way l would be able to remove and reinstall an auto tire (off and on the rim) by the side of the road or even at home. So how do people do this?
 
#5 ·
Templeton said:
Thanks.

But there is no way l would be able to remove and reinstall an auto tire (off and on the rim) by the side of the road or even at home. So how do people do this?
Click to expand...
You don't remove it off the rim. When I said remove, I meant I just pulled the tire off the car. It is basically a round rubber piece that you put on a tool that comes in the kit. Like a small piece of licorice for lack of a better explanation and then coat it with a glue and stab it in the hole and pull it back out. And then trim off the excess. If that makes sense.

Removing and reinstalling an automotive tire off the rim without that tool used in tire shops would be difficult if not impossible. I have done riding lawn mower tires by hand and it was a PITA.

 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
SLS Artemis said:
You don't remove it off the rim. When I said remove, I meant I just pulled the tire off the car. It is basically a round rubber piece that you put on a tool that comes in the kit. Like a small piece of licorice for lack of a better explanation and then coat it with a glue and stab it in the hole and pull it back out. And then trim off the excess. If that makes sense.

Removing and reinstalling an automotive tire off the rim without that tool used in tire shops would be difficult if not impossible. I have done riding lawn mower tires by hand and it was a PITA.

Click to expand...
Yes, l understand plugs generally. Beyond what's in the kit, what other tools or materials are suggested? Like a blade to trim the excess plug? Better/more glue? Does the kit have good directions? Good to know about the wheel, as just removing the wheel off the car is no problem. Is this repair kit something that you carry in your rav? Or do you only do this repair at home?

Also whether at home or by the side of the road, if it is not visually obvious, how does one find a leak on a full size rav4 tire?
 
#7 ·
Templeton said:
I was reading the tire plug thread. I am somewhat familiar with plugs for bicycle tires, but not so much for auto tires.

I have a spare in my rav, but is using a plug in the case of a flat something that can be done as a field repair by the side of the road (if l have a pump), or must it be done at home or in a shop? If doing the repair myself, what are good printed or online resources to learn everything l need to know to do an excellent repair? What are good plug repair kits or materials? Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Click to expand...
My strategy is if I am on a busy highway, I will plug the tire quickly to get off the road if the tire is able to be plugged. I will then drive to a safer place to swap to the spare. I will have the tire repaired with a internal patch at a tire place ASAP.

For me, its all about getting off the side of the road on a busy highway quickly. Frequently someone is killed where I live on the side of the highway. I also have a safety vest and safety triangles.

As far as learning how to use a tire plug, there are many of You Tube videos that show you have to do this. Just Google, using a tire plug kit. Here is one video,



Here is the plug kit I purchased. Perhaps there are better ones but this one seemed to fit the bill for my needs.

TOOLUXE 50002L -35 Piece Tire Repair Universal Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit with Plugs, Fix A Flat Tire Repair Kit, Ideal for Tires on Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV Roadside Emergency, Tire Plug Kit - Hand Tool Sets - Amazon.com


Check the air pressure in your spare every six months or so. They do loose pressure and you want it to be ready if you need it.

You also want to consider purchasing an air pump. Even if you plug a tire on the side of the road, it most likely will be way under inflated.

You have three different choices for an air pump.

One that plugs into a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket. I do not recommend this type as some will blow fuses.

Here is an example,
Campbell Hausfeld Mighty 150 PSI Lightweight 12V Portable Inflator with Safety Light and Inflation Accessories AF010400 - The Home Depot

One that connects directly to the car's 12 volt battery. I like this type but it does take extra time to use.

Here is example,
Amazon.com: VIAIR 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable Onroad/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V On/Off Road Tire Pump Air Compressor Portable Heavy Duty 120 PSI, Alligator Clips, Twist Chuck : Viair: Automotive

One that uses a cordless tool battery. I like this type because it is quick to deploy but can be slow filing a tire and one needs to remember to charge the battery. Some also are able to be powered as a back up by a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket. If you already one cordless tools, check to see if your manufacture makes an air pump so you have extra batteries.

Here is an example,
www.ridgid.com

18V Digital Inflator | RIDGID Tools

The 18V Digital Inflator features a Rotating Digital Dial, a Quick Connect Air Chuck, and Auto-Shutoff.
www.ridgid.com www.ridgid.com
 
#9 · (Edited)
Toyoga said:
Good needle nose pliers, to pull out the nail or screw that caused the puncture.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I recommend a Leatherman tool for someone who does not carry a tool kit. This way they have a needle nose, knife, Philips head ect.

www.leatherman.com

Rebar Multi-Tool | Leatherman

Constructued with 100% stainless steel and optimized for strength, the Rebar will sure to be an instant hit on job sites and home projects the world over.
www.leatherman.com www.leatherman.com
 
#10 ·
Templeton said:
Yes, l understand plugs generally. Beyond what's in the kit, what other tools or materials are suggested? Like a blade to trim the excess plug? Better/more glue? Does the kit have good directions? Good to know about the wheel, as just removing the wheel off the car is no problem. Is this repair kit something that you carry in your rav? Or do you only do this repair at home?

Also whether at home or by the side of the road, if it is not visually obvious, how does one find a leak on a full size rav4 tire?
Click to expand...
99.9% of the time it will be obvious where the tire is leaking. I only did it at home being the repair was outside of where a tire shop would typically be willing to repair the tire. And I noticed it flat at home. It could be done on the side of the road if you had a way to pump up the tire. It worked fine with zero issues. Everything in the kit is all that is needed and the instructions as I recall were easy.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Excellent info and watched the video, thank you.

Looks incredibly simple, although far easier to do with the wheel off the car. Yes, l totally agree about getting off busy roads. So it looks like, in many cases, a plug repair can be done in the field in a safe location, correct? Assuming you have a repair kit, a multitool, and a pump.

I know we have spare tires in our rav4s, but do most of you carry a plug repair kit anyway kind of as a backup or 2nd line of defense?
 
#12 ·
Templeton said:
Excellent info and watched the video, thank you.

Looks incredibly simple, although far easier to do with the wheel off the car. Yes, l totally agree about getting off busy roads. So it looks like, in many cases, a plug repair can be done in the field in a safe location, correct? Assuming you have a repair kit and a multitool.

I know we have spares in our rav4s, but do most of you carry a plug repair kit anyway kind of as a backup or 2nd line of defense?
Click to expand...
I don't carry anything in my RAV4. I don't even carry an extra tool kit. This goes for all of my vehicles. I could throw something in there if I were on a long road trip. If I were to get a flat on a road trip I would just throw on the spare and drive to the next available tire shop. I do maintain my vehicles meticulously however. So I feel ok about everything. Some may feel differently.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Variman said:
My strategy is if I am on a busy highway, I will plug the tire quickly to get off the road if the tire is able to be plugged. I will then drive to a safer place to swap to the spare. I will have the tire repaired with a internal patch at a tire place ASAP.

For me, its all about getting off the side of the road on a busy highway quickly. Frequently someone is killed where I live on the side of the highway. I also have a safety vest and safety triangles.

As far as learning how to use a tire plug, there are many of You Tube videos that show you have to do this. Just Google, using a tire plug kit. Here is one video,



Here is the plug kit I purchased. Perhaps there are better ones but this one seemed to fit the bill for my needs.

TOOLUXE 50002L -35 Piece Tire Repair Universal Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit with Plugs, Fix A Flat Tire Repair Kit, Ideal for Tires on Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV Roadside Emergency, Tire Plug Kit - Hand Tool Sets - Amazon.com


Check the air pressure in your spare every six months or so. They do loose pressure and you want it to be ready if you need it.

You also want to consider purchasing an air pump. Even if you plug a tire on the side of the road, it most likely will be way under inflated.

You have three different choices for an air pump.

One that plugs into a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket. I do not recommend this type as some will blow fuses.

Here is an example,
Campbell Hausfeld Mighty 150 PSI Lightweight 12V Portable Inflator with Safety Light and Inflation Accessories AF010400 - The Home Depot

One that connects directly to the car's 12 volt battery. I like this type but it does take extra time to use.

Here is example,
Amazon.com: VIAIR 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable Onroad/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V On/Off Road Tire Pump Air Compressor Portable Heavy Duty 120 PSI, Alligator Clips, Twist Chuck : Viair: Automotive

One that uses a cordless tool battery. I like this type because it is quick to deploy but can be slow filing a tire and one needs to remember to charge the battery. Some also are able to be powered as a back up by a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket. If you already one cordless tools, check to see if your manufacture makes an air pump so you have extra batteries.

Here is an example,
www.ridgid.com

18V Digital Inflator | RIDGID Tools

The 18V Digital Inflator features a Rotating Digital Dial, a Quick Connect Air Chuck, and Auto-Shutoff.
www.ridgid.com www.ridgid.com
Click to expand...
I was looking at your repair kit. Looks good, but does it include glue? Is the glue in a container that will prevent the glue from drying out after years of storage in your rav?
 
#14 · (Edited)
Templeton said:
I know we have spares in our rav4s, but do most of you carry a plug repair kit anyway kind of as a backup or 2nd line of defense?
Click to expand...
I carry a spare factory donut. Perhaps one day I will replace to a full sized spare.
I carry a plug kit and air pump.
I carry a can of Slime as a last line of defense. The slime will have to be cleaned out of the inside of the tire, rim, and perhaps the tire pressure monitor so I will only use as a last line in a dire emergency.

Tire Sealants | Slime – Slime Products

No More Flats! From your car/truck/SUV tires, to your bicycle, mower, ATV/UTV, & other off-highway vehicle tires, Slime has a sealant to repair your flat tire!
slime.com slime.com

I also carry tools, emergency flares and triangles, a cross wrench for a little more leverage and versatility,

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com: EPAuto 14" Heavy Duty Universal Lug Wrench, 4-Way Cross Wrench

Amazon.com: EPAuto 14" Heavy Duty Universal Lug Wrench, 4-Way Cross Wrench
www.amazon.com
 
#15 ·
Templeton said:
I was looking at your repair kit. Looks good, but does it include glue? Is the glue in a container that will prevent the glue from drying out after years of storage in your rav?
Click to expand...
Thats a good question. Perhaps I need to check the tackiness of the plugs every once in a while or purchase new tire plugs. I believe the glue on the kit I purchased is already applied to each plug. Some use separate glue. The container is a lubricant in my kit.
 
#17 ·
I carry a paintball co2 canister with a regulator attachment I bought from Lowes years ago. It can fill a truck tire in about a minute from total flat. I once got a sidewall puncture on my Nissan Xterra on a busy highway on a business trip. I found a stick close to the diameter of the puncture and whittled shape like a barb in the end and pushed it into the hole. Inflated the tire and limped along the shoulder until a safe place.
I always carry multiple cheap plug kits from Harbor Freight in the cars. That rubber cement really doesn't help the seal it helps to insert the plug. Try inserting a plug without it!
www.harborfreight.com

Tubeless Tire Repair Kit, 9-Piece

Amazing deals on this 9Pc Tubeless Tire Repair Kit at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
#18 ·
If I'm in town I'm not getting out of my car, I am only a mile in any direction to a tire shop.
Or...
I will call AAA.

In my MX-5 Mazda I have no spare so I carry everything.
Including fix-A-Flat. I can give a guy some extra money for the mess.

If on the road.
Plug kit with T-Handles
Air pump
Slime
Fix-A-Flat
Make sure the spare is aired up.
Tire gauge
They make several brands of air pumps that look like drills & are battery operated, mine is a Ryobi from Home Depot.
I don't care If I ruin a tire, if I have to. Safety is paramount.
 
#19 ·
Templeton said:
Excellent info and watched the video, thank you.

Looks incredibly simple, although far easier to do with the wheel off the car. Yes, l totally agree about getting off busy roads. So it looks like, in many cases, a plug repair can be done in the field in a safe location, correct? Assuming you have a repair kit, a multitool, and a pump.

I know we have spare tires in our rav4s, but do most of you carry a plug repair kit anyway kind of as a backup or 2nd line of defense?
Click to expand...
I've carried plug kits and a compressor in our vehicles for over 40 years. I also carry them on my bike whenever I take an extended ride. Knock on wood, I've never had to use them on one of our personal vehicles yet. I have plugged several other people's tires and 2 different motorcycle tires that were pulled over on the side of the road. I've also plugged numerous truck tires & farm tires over the years. Of course like with everything else there's a huge difference in quality & performance in these kits. I use Blackjack brand & have always had good luck with them.
 
#20 ·
I keep this in my truck for emergency repairs when Auto Club is not available and I don't want to replace the wheel/tire on my 3500 truck, Travel Trailer, or boat trailer....

I also keep a Viair 88P in the truck

www.harborfreight.com

Heavy Duty Automotive Tire Repair Kit

Amazing deals on this Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
1 - 20 of 29 Posts
About this Discussion
28 Replies
14 Participants
Last post:
PRR
Toyota RAV4 Forums
posts
1.1M
members
174K
Since
2004
Rav 4 World is the internet's largest Toyota Rav4 SUV and EV online forum community. Discuss towing, modifications, and more.
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
4.3 General 4.3 Mechanical 4.5 RAV4 Hybrid (except Prime) 4.5 RAV4 Prime 4.3 Exterior