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How To Fix A Flat Tire At Home - A Definitive Guide

Having a flat tire is quite literally one of the worst things that could happen to you. They are unpredictable, messy, and often require a lot of time and effort to fix. But luckily for you, there are a couple of foolproof ways you can conduct a successful flat tire repair at home.


close-up of parked car with a flat tire
Having a flat tire can ruin anyone's day. Since 2018, almost 30% of new cars did not include spare tires.

First, Find The Source Of The Tire Leak


Fixing a flat tire doesn't have to be super elaborate. Most punctures are caused by small leaks in the tire itself. So, before you can fix the problem, you need to find its source!


Step 1: To find the leak you need to inflate the flat tire first. Fill it up with air until it reaches the right pressure.


Step 2: After this, you can inspect the tire for any cuts or openings that might be the source of the puncture. If none of these methods works, you can even douse your tire in a mixture of bubbly, soapy water.


Pro Tip: This has a variety of benefits since it's not only going to clean your tire but will also create bubbles near the leak and tell you where it is.



Here Are Some Ways You Can Fix Your Tire At Home


Here are some tried and tested methods of repairing your tire at home, without any hassles.


Method 1: The Tire Plug Kit


If you want to get the full tire repair experience, it’s a good idea to get a tire plug kit. This includes a set of standard instruments including a tire iron to break lug nuts, a jack to elevate the car, a pair of pliers to remove offending items from the tire, and a rasp tool.


Step 1: After locating the leak, make a ream hole that prepares the puncture for the plug


Step 2: Insert the plug in the space of the hole! You need to apply pressure


Step 3: Trim of the excess plug material and you are all done!


Now, this might seem a little complicated, especially if you've never tried it before. So you'll need to give it a couple of tries before you can successfully use a tire plug kit on your own. This is also a tiring job since you'll have to remove the flat tire, fix it, plug the tire with an insertion tool, and then reinstall it.


Method 2: Use a Puncture Sealant


If you don’t like the idea of investing in a whole toolkit, you can always go for the quick fix! For this, you can also use puncture sealants as a temporary solution to your problem.


Step 1: Before you start working with the sealant, you need to remove any objects that have punctured your tires. These include sharp nails or any other offending item that has caused you the pain of a tire puncture.


Step 2: After doing this, you need to turn the wheel of your car until the valve is at the top of the wheel. After this, you need to open your valve cap and put the sealant inside.


Step 3: Be sure to drive your car around for a bit so that the sealant distributes evenly inside your tire as it moves. Sadly, sealants aren’t a permanent solution. So your tires are probably going to get damaged again.



But as fun as the repair process sounds, it can get a little tedious. Why worry about fixing flat tires when you can hire mobile tire services like Tire Needs On Wheels to do the work for you? Our mobile tire is currently serving drivers in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain. And is the answer to all your flat tire woes.


Just call us at 1-888-280-9119 or book your appointment online and have us deal with your flat tire for you.



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