What Are the Ways to Fix a Car's Punctured Tyre?

Although a flat tyre is a common occurrence for drivers, it can cause significant problems. A common cause of this problem is a sudden on-road obstacle like a small nail or stone chips that come in contact with the tyre. Driving with a flat tyre damages the rim and can also lead to an accident. 

Replacing a faulty tyre can be done with relative ease by anyone who is prepared for the task and possesses a little know-how. Cars are equipped with everything needed to change a tyre, including a spare wheel. However, many people do not know how to fix a punctured tyre themselves or avoid it altogether.

Taking your car to the garage is not always necessary when repairing a puncture. Fixing the tyre yourself can save you time and hassle and allow you to come out of an unlikely situation. Therefore, if you are setting out on a highway or in a remote lane, it is good to carry a car repair kit in your four-wheeler. This can help you fix a flat tyre if you get stranded midway.

There are two types of tyres, tubed and tubeless. Tubed tyres contain an air-filled tube with a valve which helps air to come inside. When the tyre punctures, it causes a massive burst of air and the car might lose its motion.

Tubeless tyres, as the name suggests, does not contain any tube. Instead, the air is held between the rim of the wheels and the tyres. If it punctures, the air comes out of the tyre slowly, and the driver does not lose control over the motion of the car.

• You need to deflate the tyre’s tube and rim.
• Remove the bead from the rim and slide out the inner tube.
• Inspect the tube for punctures and also check the inside of the tyre for objects that can cause damage to the tube.
• After locating the punctured spot, patch the tube. 
• You might find a few tools useful: tyre levers, sharp scissors for trimming a patch to size, and a sponge for wetting the glue before applying it.

The following steps represent the ways to repair a flat tubeless tyre on your own –

1. Locate the Leak Area

The foremost step in repairing a flat tyre is locating the puncture. To do this, you must inspect the outside of the tyre. Further, you can use the following ways to locate the affected area. 

• Look for a nail or other sharp object that has punctured it. 
• You can also listen very carefully for a hissing sound while the tyre is under pressure.
• If you were unable to locate a puncture in either of these ways, you can use soap and water to create bubbles on the inside of the tyre. 
• Those bubbles will reveal where the puncture is located. Mark that area with tape so that you can patch it easily.

2. Loosen the Wheel Nuts

The lug nuts must first be removed to dismount a tyre. This can be accomplished with a lug wrench or an impact wrench. The step should be completed before you jack up the vehicle. If you remove the wheel while it is still attached to the axle, it can rotate dangerously during the time of removal.

3. Jack Up the Car

To get a car's wheels off the ground, you have to raise the car (or rather remove the weight of the wheels off the ground). You could place the car on a flat and stable surface and use blocks of wood or metal or jack stands to hold it up. Another option is to use a hydraulic jack, which will be much easier but requires a solid surface for you to work on. Once you are sure your car will not fall over and hurt anyone, you can begin removing the wheel.

4. Take Out and Clean the Lug Nut Holes

Free the wheel of lug nuts entirely, and then remove the wheel by dismounting it from the car's wheelbase. Clean the leaking area by inserting a rasp tool into and out of the punctured space several times.

5. Attach the Plug

• To install a tyre puncture plug, thread an insertion tool with a plug attached to its end inside the hole.
• Next, use a rubber cement or an adhesive to lubricate the plug to push it easily into the hole.
• Let the adhesive set for at least a minute.
• Then cut away the excess plug protruding from the tyre's surface, leaving only part of it inside the tyre.

6. Inflate and Check

In the last step, you'll want to inflate the tyres to the proper pressure to ensure the smooth operation of your car. Re-install your wheel, remove the floor jack, and then attach and tighten the lug nuts to the appropriate torque.

Following are some simple tips that one can implement to avoid a punctured car tyre –

• Avoid driving in places where punctures are likely to occur. This includes roads with debris and construction sites or places with broken glass pieces spilt over.
• Keep tabs on tyre treads as a worn-out tyre is more likely to succumb to punctures.
• Always check the tyre pressure of a car before every ride. An underinflated tyre will wear out faster due to high friction, while overinflated tyres are likely to get damaged from potholes and bumps.
• Avoid bumping into the curbs as it can damage a tyre's sidewall, thus weakening the structure and leading to punctures.
• Steer clear of driving on rough patches and stay alert to avoid potholes and obstacles with sudden impact when driving in the dark.
• Avoid overloading as it puts the car tyres under greater strain and can easily lead to punctures.

Fixing punctures are tiresome and can pose a safety hazard if you drive with one. Use this guide to learn what to do when you get a flat tyre and how to fix a punctured tyre so that you can safely finish your trip. Moreover, you should know that repairing your tyre is not a permanent solution. Take it to the shop to have it repaired by professionals. However, you need to carry the necessary tools and solutions at all times to use your knowledge whenever the need arises.