A nail in your tire doesn't have to end your trip. With a tire plug kit and ten minutes, you can seal most tread punctures on a tubeless tire and drive safely to a tire shop. Here is how to do it correctly, and when not to try.
Can this puncture be plugged?
A plug kit is designed for small punctures in the tread (the part of the tire that touches the road). Do not plug the tire, and call for help or fit the spare instead, if:
- The hole is in the sidewall or the shoulder where tread meets sidewall.
- The hole is larger than about 6 mm (1/4 inch), or it is a cut or tear rather than a round hole.
- You drove a long distance on the flat tire and the sidewall is damaged or the tire came off the rim.
- The tire is not tubeless (most modern car tires are tubeless; bicycle and some older tires are not).
What you need
- A plug kit with a reamer (spiral rasp tool), an insertion needle and plug strips. Our 42-piece tire plug kit includes all three, plus glue and gloves.
- Pliers to pull out the nail or screw.
- An air source: a portable tire inflator or a gas-station air pump.
Step-by-step
- Park safely. Pull well off the road on a flat surface, switch on hazard lights and apply the parking brake.
- Find the puncture. Look for the nail or screw. If you can't see it, spray soapy water on the tread and watch for bubbles.
- Remove the object with pliers. Mark the hole with chalk or keep a finger on it so you don't lose it.
- Ream the hole. Push the reamer straight in and pull it out several times. This cleans and shapes the hole so the plug seals.
- Load the plug. Thread a plug strip through the eye of the insertion needle until it is centred. If your kit includes rubber cement, coat the strip.
- Insert the plug. Push the needle into the hole until about 1 cm (half an inch) of the plug remains outside. This takes firm pressure.
- Pull the needle out straight and quickly, without twisting. The plug stays in the tire.
- Trim the excess plug flush with the tread.
- Inflate to the pressure on the sticker inside the driver's door, then check the repair with soapy water. No bubbles means it is sealed.
After the repair
A plug is an emergency repair. Drive at moderate speed and have the tire inspected by a professional as soon as you can. Many shops will install a permanent plug-patch from inside the tire. Check the tire pressure again the next day.
Be prepared before it happens
Keep a plug kit and a portable inflator in the trunk. A cordless inflator works anywhere, while a 12V digital inflator runs from your car's power socket and stops at the pressure you set. Browse everything in tire & emergency.