Emergency Tire Patch / Repair Kits

[goatman2]

OK. Thanks all for replying. Makes sense not using it until absolutely required. That’s more like what I had in mind.

Got a three day trip out to Big Bend Ranch State Park next month. Pretty remote. It seems like a fairly small (to carry along) backup for the spare.

Any specific brands to recommend?

Speaking from quite a bit of experience with Jeeps and rock buggies. And 2X2's. Plugs are definitely worth carrying. Get the long brown plugs, the short black plugs are mostly useless, as are the short brown ones. If it's a small hole, a couple of plugs works fine. Mostly don't bother with any glue, just the plugs. If the hole will take more than a couple plugs, or if you can get it in there, tie a knot in the first plug that goes in and insert the knot end first. This will help keep multiple plugs from coming out. Trim the excess plugs sticking out fairly close to the hole, not flush, but kind of close, which will help them not to pull out so easily.

Also, if you really want to be prepared for the worst, carry some mechanics wire. A pretty big tear in the sidewall can be sown with wire and then the gaps filled with plugs. The wire can't actually be sown, but one piece of wire at a time can be pushed through at the edge of the cut, then both ends pulled through the cut and twisted tight. Actually not hard to do, and it works.

Might not be you who needs it, might be someone you're with. Invaluable when the situation needs it.

Sponsored

 

[EveryDayBronco]

Only useful with a means of re-inflating the tire.

That’s not really true.

I’ve plugged many tires and if there’s still air in the tire you can pull the screw or nail and insert a plug without losing more than a couple pounds.

I’ve done this many times.

I only got a compressor after getting a tire completely deflate from a road hazard. But that only happened once, all my other nails were plugged as soon as the tire sensor light up.

For 4x4 tires skip the cheap kits and get heavy duty kit that includes the lube like the ARB tire kit,
https://www.amazon.com/ARB-10000011...te+plug+kit,aps,221&sr=8-31&wIndexMainSlot=57

I’ve been using these kits for 30 years, they work and yes get a compressor.

 

[FstFrd00]

Not TPMS safe

 

[BulldogBear]

For 4x4 tires skip the cheap kits and get heavy duty kit that includes the lube like the ARB tire kit,
https://www.amazon.com/ARB-10000011-Speedy-Repair-Universal/dp/B075CR4J3W/ref=mp_s_a_1_31?crid=3CTXF175MZ3ZS&keywords=tire+plug+kit&pscroll=1&qid=1664001627&sprefix=tite+plug+kit,aps,221&sr=8-31&wIndexMainSlot=57

I’ve been using these kits for 30 years, they work and yes get a compressor.

The ARB kit is good but not great IMO; the reamer works great, but don't use too much pressure trying to insert the plug - my plug insertion tool bent quite easily right below the handle just doing a simple repair on a standard road tire . There are about 10-15 knock-offs/virtually identical kits on amazon, and they all look they're probably manufactured by the same company in that really large country that's not the U.S. - I wouldn't be surprised if the ARB is made by them as well.

Goatman is right - the longer plugs are better.

Also, depending on what climate you live in, you need to replace the unused plugs every couple of years (same with the lube in the ARB kit). Here in AZ the plugs either dry out or become so stuck to their packaging they're worthless, and the lube either melts away or dries out.

 

[EveryDayBronco]

The ARB kit is good but not great IMO; the reamer works great, but don't use too much pressure trying to insert the plug - my plug insertion tool bent quite easily right below the handle just doing a simple repair on a standard road tire . There are about 10-15 knock-offs/virtually identical kits on amazon, and they all look they're probably manufactured by the same company in that really large country that's not the U.S. - I wouldn't be surprised if the ARB is made by them as well.

Goatman is right - the longer plugs are better.

Also, depending on what climate you live in, you need to replace the unused plugs every couple of years (same with the lube in the ARB kit). Here in AZ the plugs either dry out or become so stuck to their packaging they're worthless, and the lube either melts away or dries out.

I’ve never bent one but my kit has spare needles. It’s not ARB but looks just like it.

I used the cheap $7 kits for years and never had any issues until I tried plugging a kO2 tire. Thats when I bought the heavy duty kit and it’s better.

If the location of the nail makes it difficult to plug then take off the wheel!

 

[66Fan]

A little off-topic, but I saw it mentioned that you need a good inflation source.
CO2 isn't the best long term inflation source, but a small 5lb tank (with the proper regulator and fittings) can be a life saver in any remote situation. It will fill several tires.
Something along the lines of:
https://kegco.com/collections/co2-t...minum-co2-tank-with-electric-red-epoxy-finish
... or the likes.

 

[GroovyGeek]

Bumping an old thread because there is no point in creating a new one on the same topic. I see two versions of the Boulder kit

A $35 one that is labeled as "heavy duty"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E635PGA/

And a $25 one that is labeled "compact" and seems to contain the exact same tools
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SBFGMDB/

For my emergency kit I really like the compact molle pouch rather than the bulky and somewhat pointless plastic case. Anyone know if the reamer, insertion tool, and plugs are somehow different?

 

[BulldogBear]

Bumping an old thread because there is no point in creating a new one on the same topic. I see two versions of the Boulder kit

A $35 one that is labeled as "heavy duty"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E635PGA/

And a $25 one that is labeled "compact" and seems to contain the exact same tools
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SBFGMDB/

For my emergency kit I really like the compact molle pouch rather than the bulky and somewhat pointless plastic case. Anyone know if the reamer, insertion tool, and plugs are somehow different?

The tools look identical to me… and the business ends of the tools look identical to the ARB kit (though ARB has fancier handles). Same with the lube container. I might pick up the compact version to carry on board all the time.

 

[BostonSasquatch]

After a plug-repaired puncture, do you recommend having a tire shop pull the tire apart and put a patch inside? For how big a puncture would that be appropriate?

 

[BulldogBear]

After a plug-repaired puncture, do you recommend having a tire shop pull the tire apart and put a patch inside? For how big a puncture would that be appropriate?

I've plugged so many holes tires over the years on my fleet vehicles, from nail holes to large screw holes to torn sidewalls. Once it's plugged, I basically leave it as is, unless I see that it's losing pressure over time.

With any hole the tread, (not the sidewall - tire needs to be replaced), if you do get a decent plug in it, you should be good to go. I plugged a large screw hole on my Bronco about 8 months ago, still holding steady. YMMV.

 

[userdude]

I see nobody's recommended the expanding foam stuff. I used that once and the Discount Tire I went to gave me a stern talking-to because they had to "clean it out of the tire and rim". I sat there for like four hours. Might have been one of the only times it wasn't in the sidewall and was fixable, according to DT. 9/10 they've said the tire had to be scrapped.

 

[351W-Bronco]

ARB kit, or Safety Seal kit. I have the Safety seal kit, augmented with replacement valves and a stem puller.

Herb

 

[ac360]

Bumping an old thread because there is no point in creating a new one on the same topic. I see two versions of the Boulder kit

A $35 one that is labeled as "heavy duty"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E635PGA/

And a $25 one that is labeled "compact" and seems to contain the exact same tools
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SBFGMDB/

For my emergency kit I really like the compact molle pouch rather than the bulky and somewhat pointless plastic case. Anyone know if the reamer, insertion tool, and plugs are somehow different?

I'd bought the $25 kit with the carrying pouch. Although not having had to use it yet, if I have to do it all over again I would get the "heavy duty" version just for the plastic case.

The pouch version is a pain to work with. Every time the pouch is unzipped, things fall out. Putting everything back and zipping up is messy and time consuming as things keep wanting to fall out.

 

[Mdozier]

Boulder Tools - Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit for Car, Truck, RV, SUV, ATV, Motorcycle, Tractor, Trailer. Flat Tire Puncture Repair Kit

Got 2 of these and use them all the time. Also got a smaller (cheap) reamer tool from "oh-really". It helps open up the hole if the offending object is small diameter.
Patching 35's and up are a bit of effort but certainly do-able.

 

[Mdozier]

When in a remote location and in a bind, are these kits useful?

Absolutely worth while. Most of the time you'll see a slow leak because the dastardly item is still in the tire. Remember to get everything ready and leave the offending object in place until the last moment. Then yank out and stuff in the reamer, then do the plug. With some practice and a bit of luck you can keep enough air to limp somewhere if you don't have a compressor.

I have to "practice" this all the time. The whole damn town is under construction and our vehicles have an uncanny attraction to bolts, screws, nails, you name it.

Sponsored