Everything You Need to Know About Tubeless Tyre Repair
Repairing a tubeless tyre puncture is a simple and quick process that doesn’t require a mechanic’s assistance. As the name suggests, a tubeless tyre does not have an inner tube and fits directly onto the rim or alloy wheel. This design makes car tyre puncture repair much easier compared to traditional tube tyres.
One of the biggest advantages of tubeless tyres is that the puncture can be fixed without removing the tyre from the rim. In most cases, if the puncture spot is easily accessible, even the wheel doesn’t need to be removed from the car.
To repair a tubeless tyre puncture, a tubeless tyre puncture repair kit is typically used, which includes a reamer, insertion tool, and rubber plugs. The process involves locating the puncture, removing any debris, reaming the hole, inserting the rubber plug, and sealing it properly. Overall, tubeless tyres are not only safer and more reliable but also much easier to repair in case of a puncture.
To fix a tubeless puncture, all you need is a tyre puncture repair kit. The kit comprises a rasp or smoothing tool, rubber strips, and a strip insertion tool. You can buy a puncture repair kit at any tyre or car accessory store, or you can even order it online for car puncture repair at home. You will also need a pair of pliers and a blade or knife to complete the tyre repair. Lastly, you may need an air compressor or a portable tyre inflator to fill the air in the repaired tyre.
Note: To fix a puncture on the rear tyres, you need to remove the wheel from the car. For that, you need a jack to lift the vehicle.
Inspection of Tyre
Before you get your hands dirty, thoroughly examine the tyre to locate the puncture. Pour water on the tyre to pinpoint the cause of air leakage. It can be frustrating to learn that there is more than one puncture after you have fixed one.
Tubeless Tyre Puncture Repair Procedure
Fixing a tubeless tyre puncture is easy, and it hardly takes a few minutes, provided you have all the necessary tools. Below are the steps to repair a tubeless puncture.
- Step 1 - Park your car in a safe and well-lit area. If you are driving, then park the car on the side of the road away from the traffic.
- Step 2 - Locate the puncture. If the puncture is on the front tyres, there is no need to remove the wheels as you can turn the steering wheel left or right to access the inside or outside part of the tyre. If the rear tyre is punctured, you need to use a jack to lift the car and remove the wheel to fix the puncture.
- Step 3 - Once you have found the puncture location, remove the nail/sharp object from the tyre with the help of a pair of pliers.
- Step 4 - Next, use the rasp/ smoothening tool to smooth the hole created by the nail. You might have to insert and remove the tool multiple times to make a hole to accommodate the rubber strip. Once done, do not remove the smoothing tool from the hole.
- Step 5 - Insert the rubber strip halfway into the insertion tool. The process is similar to threading a needle.
- Step 6 - Remove the smoothing tool from the hole and insert the tool with the rubber strip, and push it all the way. After a second, pull out the insertion tool as the rubber strip will fill up the hole.
- Step 7 - Use a knife or blade to cut the strip that is protruding outside the tyre.
- Step 8 - Fill up the air in the tyre using a portable tyre inflator/air compressor and check for any air leakage from the fixed puncture.
As mentioned earlier, the tubeless tyre puncture repair procedure is simple and can be an interesting DIY.
When Should You Not Fix a Puncture Yourself
Although fixing a tubeless tyre puncture is a simple DIY job, there are certain circumstances where you would be better off with a professional doing it. The following are five such situations when it is advisable to get your car serviced by a professional:
1. Sidewall Damage:
If the cut or puncture is in the sidewall of the tyre, don't attempt to repair it at home. The sidewall must endure an enormous amount of pressure and movement, and any repair that is done here may not be long-lasting. It can be hazardous to drive over a puncture in the sidewall, and in most instances, the tyre must be replaced.
2. Several Close Punctures:
If punctures are close to each other and there are multiple of them, the application of more than one rubber strip can weaken the tyre. It can also cause air loss again in the future. It is advisable in this situation to have the tyre inspected at a repair shop.
3. Tyre Near End-of-Life:
If the tyre is already worn out, with shallow tread or cracked, it's not worth patching a puncture. An old tyre might catastrophically fail even if repaired. Rather than experience a breakdown or accident, it is best to replace the tyre.
Tubeless Tyre vs Tube Tyre: What's the Difference?
Don't know how tubeless tyres differ from normal tube tyres? Look at a quick comparison to make you aware of the main differences between the two:
Feature | Tubeless Tyre | Tube Tyre |
Air leakage | Gradual | Sudden |
Ease of repair | Easy - can be done immediately | The difficult tyre needs to be taken off |
Safety | High doesn't deflate quickly | Moderate deflates quickly |
Tools needed | Basic repair kit | Tyre levers, tools to take the tyre off |
Inner tube | No inner tube | Has an individual inner tube |
Fuel efficiency | Better - less rolling resistance | Slightly lower |
Cost | Slightly more expensive | Usually cheaper |
Factors to Consider while Repairing a Tubeless Tyre Puncture
There are a few points that you need to keep in mind while repairing a puncture.
- Never use a puncture kit that is older than two years, as the rubber strip will get too hard, and it will be impossible to insert the strip inside the hole.
- Another critical point is that you can only repair small punctures caused by sharp objects using puncture repair kits. If there is a big cut or the tyre has torn apart, you cannot repair such a tyre, and you may need to replace the tyre itself.
- Lastly, fix the puncture by yourself only if you are confident that you can handle the tools. If not, it’s better to take your car to a puncture repair shop because you may end up damaging the tyre if you do it incorrectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
