How to fix a flat tire?
A flat tire is one of those situations that never seems to happen… Until the day it really happens it is in these situations that any driver should be warned. In this article we explain how to repair a flat tire and what precautions you should take in this procedure.
Flat Tire
No one’s immune to a flat tire! When driving on the road on sharp objects such as glass, nails and screws there always a probability of a pierced or torn tire. If you are lucky, the object can be housed in the tire not allowing the air to escape.
The poor road conditions may be another reason to a flat tire. Holes can lead into in a tire puncture soon.
What can you do to keep the tire from getting punctured?
To avoid any tire damage, you should take some precautions:
- Check tire pressure regularly.
- Check tire wear;
- Keep your direction alligned
- Avoid road imperfections
Puncture proof tire
The main objective of a puncture proof tire is the possibility to drive a few kilometers to the nearest service station or workshop without having to stop.
The puncture proof tire is reinforcement on the sides to not be crushed with the vehicle weight.
Despite being a valid option, puncture proof tire are more expensive than traditional tires.
Tire repair: How to do?
If you encounter a puncture in the tire, we recommend that you follow one of the following steps:
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Replace the flat tire with a spare tire
A fat tire with a nail? In cases like this, replacing the tire is the simplest option.
But how can you change a flat tire? Or how can you repair the puncture? That’s easy. Most cars have a spare tyre and a tool set in the trunk, including a hydraulic jack and a wheel wrench, so you can remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare one.
Here are the steps you should take to replace a flat tire:
- Lift the vehicle with the hydraulic jack.
- Remove the tire nuts with the wheel wrench;
- Remove the flat tire.
- Place the spare tire;
- Tighten the nuts in the same place.
- Put the jack down.
How to change a flat tire on the side of the road
If you need to change a flat tire on the side of the road, we suggest you take some care:
- Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
- Place the signal triangle at a regulated distance.
- Dress the safety vest.
When you check that all the safety conditions are met to replace the tyre, you can do it.
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Repair the hole of a tyre with a tire repair kit
If you have a tire repair kit you can repair it and drive smoothly to the nearest service station.
We remind you that whenever you immobilize the vehicle on the side of the road, you must consider the safety conditions referred to in the previous point.
There are two types of tire repair kits: the tire repair spray and the tire repair kit.
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Tire repair spray
The spray fits the tire from the inside out and fills it with enough pressure so that it can move to the nearest service station. This spray does not work for holes larger than 5mm or tire side tears.
How much does a tire repair spray cost?
It costs around 10 euros and can be purchased at any auto parts and accessories store.
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Tire repair kit
The tire repair kit is used to apply seal strip plug to the puncture site so that it fills space and does not allow air to come out. To be able to repair a puncture in a tire you must follow the following steps:
- Locate the puncture and use the kit drill to clean the puncture;
- Fix the seal strip plug to the puncture until it reaches half its length. If a seal strip plug is not enough, two should be glued to fully occupy the puncture.
- Carefully remove tool used to apply the plug
- Cut the excess seal strip plug.
- Fill the tire with an air compressor or with the mini air compressor inside the kit.
How much does a tire repair kit cost?
The price of a complete tire repair kit is around 40 euros and can be purchased at any auto parts and accessories store. The prices can change depending on the number of seal strip plugs on it and whether or not an air compressor is present.
How much does it cost to fix a punctured tire?
The price is around 10 euros. It fluctuates depending on the puncture severity and where it is located.
Has a tire side tear resolution?” It depends, but in the worst case scenario you have to buy a new tire.
When it is impossible to repair the puncture, we advise you to replace both tires on the same axle so that both have the same wear allowing a smooth and safe driving.
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