Repairing a slow leak in a car tyre; professional repair only - or are DIY kits good enough?

[Tangledfeet]

Used some leak detection spray to confirm this is where I'm losing one PSI or so a day; I've had tyres repaired several times before but wondering whether its a job for the tyre fitters - or are the DIY kits that use the plugs considered a permanent fix these days?

In fact, do tyre fitters insert the plug externally, or do they remove the tyre from the rim..?

If anyone could personally recommend a decent self-repair kit I'd be grateful.

 

[RWD3M]

That's a bummer, but at least it's bang in the middle so can be repaired, plenty of tread too so worth repairing.

I've never used them, but see no reason why you can't use something like this:

Blackspur - Car Tyre Puncture Repair Kit - 6pc - Black

This kit is ideal for emergencies & will fix all tubeless tyres with a puncture of up to 6mm. Contents: 1 x Filing Tool, 1 x Strip Insertion Tool, 3 x Seal Strips, 1 x Rubber Cement

www.diy.com

 

[bert]

I use this kit for repairing punctures like that.

Car Motorcycle Tire Repair... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B096VL36CK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Done with the tyre still on the rim but fully deflated

 

[optima21]

a few years ago I siliconed a nylon screw into a puncture, that was fine for another 4 years while I still had the tyres.

 

[MoreWellie]

I have had this done on a trailer tyre and it held pressure fine after that

tyre bay direct sell the kits as a temporary repair and national tyres say it is deemed unsafe as nobody inspects the inside of the tyre to see what the damage is like

if you find a local garage the costs aren't too bad. I think I was charged about £20 a year or two ago in the local non chain place

 

[voipio]

That's a bummer, but at least it's bang in the middle so can be repaired, plenty of tread too so worth repairing.

I've never used them, but see no reason why you can't use something like this:

Blackspur - Car Tyre Puncture Repair Kit - 6pc - Black

This kit is ideal for emergencies & will fix all tubeless tyres with a puncture of up to 6mm. Contents: 1 x Filing Tool, 1 x Strip Insertion Tool, 3 x Seal Strips, 1 x Rubber Cement

www.diy.com

The kit in the link might be a bit big for this particular repair. A smaller "wiggly worm" kit should do the job. They're often sold for MTBs but, if they're a snug fit, they will hold for the life of the tyre.

 

[fzr phil]

personally, i'd just get a local tyre place to repair the puncture properly.
i have used the insert type for motorbike tyres before without much worry but they are 'supposed' to be emergency rather than long term
be safe out there

 

[brightspark]

ive used strings for years without any bother balls to paying a garage . used them on my stockcar as well and they get well hot and scrubbed off after a race

 

[barracuda816]

I used to get punctures like this repaired at a tyre place or garage, when it was around a tenner. But nowadays by me they want to charge 25+ or are just interested in flogging a new tyre. Now I just plug them, if it's a steering tyre I'll swap the pair to the back if the others are better. I haven't ever had an issue with the plugs tbh.

edit, by plugs I meant the stringy things.

 

[Erie Fred]

Used the plugs many times, I prefer the stringy type rope ones, and as above, have crawled under and done them in the dirt
whilst still on the vehicle.
It helps to have air leaking out the hole as you swab the reamer in (coat it with glue as well)
and then plenty of glue on the rope.

 

[roblane65]

the kits are good enough got me big van tyres out the Do-Da a few times had never had to touche again , a big hazard ofthe building trade screws & nails

 

[Trevorleach]

I have used the string repairs many times on cars, in fact pretty much every car I have ever owned has a string tyre repair on it at one time or another, including the current one.

 

[Smallfry]

Another vote for strings. I have used them forever and never had a problem. They are supposed to be for temporary repairs only, and I am told it is illegal, but it has never been picked up on an MOT.

BiL has a tyre machine and the stuff to do it properly, but its too much bother. As for paying £20 for some herbert to fix it, just no.

 

[brightspark]

Another vote for strings. I have used them forever and never had a problem. They are supposed to be for temporary repairs only, and I am told it is illegal, but it has never been picked up on an MOT.

BiL has a tyre machine and the stuff to do it properly, but its too much bother. As for paying £20 for some herbert to fix it, just no.

i have a tire machine only use it for tires with inner tubes or changing tires

 

[Ross365]

What is a "string" repair ?

 

[gaz1]

its easy when you know how

fit a 4x3 onto a board and use 2 clamp over so you can pull the tyre sides down so you can wire wheel the tyre itself or sand whatever you want to call it

put on the tyre glue and also glue the spike tahts going through the tyre and then pull it through now use a roller to roll out all of the air and so it sticks to the tyre

yeah ive done it before often

 

[brightspark]

What is a "string" repair ?

 

[voipio]

What is a "string" repair ?

The puncture repair is made using a "string" made of a strong rope impregnated with an extremely sticky goo. It's threaded through the end of an insertion tool, smeared in rubber cement, and pushed into the hole, that's been roughened using essentially a reaming tool. Basically a double thickness of string is pushed into the hole, the tool is twisted and then the tool pulled out, leaving the string in a sort of knot of string inside the tyre, with the strands passing through the hole. The video above, posted as I was typing this, shows the repair kit in action. For on the road repairs, a pair of needle nosed pliers is very handy for pulling the offending screw/nail/ out. The method has the advantage of being capable of being performed whilst the tyre is under pressure. Yes, a few PSI will be lost, but the time to re-inflate will be much reduced.

 

[beebee]

I've often string soaked with bitumen pushed in to the hole from the outside to repair punctures,.. usually holds up ok

 

[skotl]

My new car had 300 miles on it when I picked up an allen key (not one of mine - mine are all black and this one was silver) on sodding Christmas Day to really rub it in.

Called the automotive assistance because, of course, there's no spare and I didn't want to ruin it with the tin of gunk. He fitted one of these plugs shown above and strongly recommended that I get my own kit - he said "it will last you two days or two years". I'm 20 months into it now and it's been rock solid.
Given the nail in the middle of the OP's tyre, I'd defo give it a shot.