Tire Repair Kits: What has worked for you?

I was offroading yesterday and thought briefly about how much if would suck to have to replace a tire on a cold, windy ascent. Fortunately, there were no issues at all. But it did make me think about what would be the best tool for fixing a leak/flat if I needed to do so. Does anyone have experience with a kit that has worked well for them?

 

i have these in my tool kit, but haven't needed to use them yet...

$17 TOOLUXE 50002L -35 Piece Tire Repair Universal Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit with Plugs, Fix A Flat Tire Repair Kit, Ideal for Tires on Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV Roadside Emergency, Tire Plug Kit

https://www.amazon.com/Tooluxe-5000...2366716&sprefix=tire+patch+kit,aps,150&sr=8-5


https://safejacks.com/collections/b...ack-bottle-jack-recovery-kit-with-bottle-jack


https://ironman4x4america.com/air-champ-3-2cfm-12v-portable-air-compressor/

 

The one we use at the shop is safety seal brand and the handles are heavy helps you get the job done fast

 

Thanks! Do you know if the air compressor allows you to deflate tires? It doesn't look like it on the product page and I am not sure how much hard core rock crawling we will be doing, just wondering.

 

Thanks! In your experience do you replace the tire valves at all or do the valves rarely if ever fail/break off? The reason I ask is that I am thinking about going with the Safety Seal product but wonder if I should also buy valve replacement kits or if that is not something that is likely to be a problem.

 

This is what I have. I used it on my nitto grappler, drove a couple hundred miles, and now that tire is my spare and still holding air just fine

Ranger Stork Tubeless Tire Repair Kit Set Tool Bag for Motorcycles & Atvs, Lawn Mower, Truck, RV, Tractor Flat Tire Plug Kit and Car Emergency Kit

Tubeless Tire Repair Kit Set Tool Bag for Motorcycle, ATV, Truck, Tractor Flat Tire Plug Kit

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GBXHRWC?_encoding=UTF8

 

are you talking about the inner core valve ?

if your off-roading and deflating pressures and inflating a lot the inner core valve had a seal that gets worn always good to have replacements . But the rubber that the valve sits in requires you to break the bead to replace

 

Had a flat in the garage with the sequoia (slow leak) a nail.

The tread was to worn for tire shop to patch, but I decided to practice plugging the hole with the repair kit.

It’s not as easy as I thought it would be. Took three attempts and different plugs to get the rubber rope to insert properly. I nearly broke the plastic/metal tool.

I suggest you get the kit with the all metal handle design and practice on an old tire.

I had the tire/wheel removed from vehicle and spare on. It was still difficult with a straight leverage angle getting the patch/plug in.

Once I did get the plug in it held air just fine. I suspect it would have been more difficult plugging the hole with the tire/wheel still installed on the vehicle.

 

It doesn’t, it’s just for inflating my tires. I use this to air down…


ARB ARB600 E-Z Deflator with Bar/Psi Gauge Include Recovery Gear Bag
by Trends Auto
Learn more:

$56 ARB ARB600 E-Z Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI 0-4 BAR Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Down for Offroad Include Recovery Gear Pouch

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004P9DQHQ

 

Got it, thanks again.

 

This is good info. I think I am going to go with one of the more heavy duty kits that is all metal like you suggest. Hopefully I never need to use it but with kids I would be super annoyed if the tool busted while using it in a real life situation.

 

That sounds like a good plan. If and when I set out on a long road trip, I would probably replace my cheap kit with a better one.

 

This is what I did. My long-term goal is to get the ARB twin, but I have a nice Northern Tool cheap alternative for now, that I plan on handing down to any one of many buddies who don’t have anything at the moment.

 

I have the safety seal kit. Only used it once but it worked like a charm. It's a bit pricier than the others but it's supposed to be higher quality.

 

Yeah, I am pretty sure that is the route I will go. The guy who said they use it in his garage really sold me. For something like a leaky tire I don't want to be caught with a repair kit that won't work. No bueno.

 

That was my thinking. For an extra $25 the peace of mind is worth it to me.

 

Good recommendations here. Anyone have a preferred link for the safety seal kit?

Also, I never knew I needed a 300 dollar bottle jack kit….sigh

 

got it for cheap on OFFER UP. used, but cheap

 

As was mentioned, you would have to dismount the tire in order to replace the valve with a rubber one, they pop in from the back. I found this a few months ago, I now keep it in my 4Runner with the tire repair stuff. These are emergency valves, you can insert them in the wheel from the outside. If you have TPMIS the sensor will rattle around inside the wheel until you can get it properly fixed, but it will get you off the trail and home.

Colby Valve Emergency Valve Stem Replacement (Black)

$28 Colby Valve Quick Emergency Valve Stem Replacement Kit for Tubeless Tires | No Tools Required for Install | No Need to Remove Tire | Tire Valve Stem Kit Made in USA from quality 360 brass components

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NARX3H8

I also carry the whyskey tire repair kit from AMZ, which seems to be very high quality and similar to the safety seal, just comes with a few more accessories and pieces. I took it out of the plastic case and put it in a nylon molle pouch to save space. I also have the maxi track air compressor from Napa, it's a twin cylinder beast, and with AAA discount it was $104. Haven't tried it on my 4Runner yet, but it pumped up the tire on my Volvo XC70 from near flat to 35 PSI in about 40 seconds.

 

Thanks, I picked up the Colby valve replacements. Those look really good and have great reviews. How did you get the AAA discount on the Napa air compressor?

 

I ordered the compressor and a few other things online, with pick up and pay at the store. When I got there and paid, they're good about asking about AAA, so he asked me and applied the discount. If they don't ask at your NAPA, I would ask for it. If you have AAA that is, haha.

 

This is the one I carry. I also printed the pictures showing how to use it. You can’t miss them in the reviews. They are numbered. I laminated them and put them in the box.

$17 TOOLUXE 50002L -35 Piece Tire Repair Universal Heavy Duty Tire Repair Kit with Plugs, Fix A Flat Tire Repair Kit, Ideal for Tires on Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV Roadside Emergency, Tire Plug Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I52RG0?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

Those valves are super clever, huh? I was really impressed when I saw them, I had never heard of them till somebody in a group that I'm in mentioned them as being a good thing to add to the emergency kit. I bought them right away too, with the TPMS valves being hard mounted with no give, breaking or damaging is something that it really concerns me.

This is the tire kit that I bought, btw:
WYNNsky Heavy Duty Tire Repair Tools Kit - 54 Pcs Set Truck Tool Box for Motorcycle, ATV, Jeep, Truck, Tractor Flat Tire Plug Kit

$28 WYNNsky Heavy Duty Tire Repair Tools Kit - 54 Pcs Flat Tire Plug Kit for Motorcycle, ATV, Jeep, Truck, Tractor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06X15JJ4F?_encoding=UTF8

I ditched the case and put everything in Maxpedition pouch.

 

Dude I have the same compressor, and it is indeed Orange Godzilla.

 

One of the best suggestions I have seen here in awhile. Im getting new tires on my wife's Highlander and I was already planning on bringing a tire home to turn into a practice tire.

The trail is certainly NOT the place you want to be performing this for the first time..... that said if you can get two or three under your belt, its the faster way to get back on the trail as opposed to doing a tire switch (In most cases anyway)

 

I had an ARB kit.

I’m sure they all come out of the same factory in China.

 

I've used this plug kit to plug tires on a trailer ranging all the way to my quad-axle dump truck, the only time it did not work was a screw hole in the corner of a tire by tread face and sidewall on a car. So about 90% sucess rate. the "shrader valve" core rarely needs to be replaced, with the exception if you use a fix-a-flat sealant like Slime or etc. I have pretty good faith in the plug kits, but they are only a 'crutch' until you can get to a place to properly fix it.

 

Haven’t had to use it yet, thankfully.

 

I found steady leak due to wire punched small hole on the tread. I used basic kit and it worked like a charm. It is as easy as it looks on multitude of videos. Buy any brand in any budget range as long as tools have T-handle design because you might have to use some force if your tires 6 ply or more.

 

Posted this before but I have plugged 3 tires using this Wynnsky tire plug kit:

$28 WYNNsky Heavy Duty Tire Repair Tools Kit - 54 Pcs Flat Tire Plug Kit for Motorcycle, ATV, Jeep, Truck, Tractor

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06X15JJ4F/

The lube is handy for getting the plugs into the tire. The pliers are handy for pulling nails out of tires. The kit comes with spare valve cores. I dumped everything into a canvas medical pouch and trash canned the box.

For airing up tires, I've been really impressed by my Viair 300P. I use it on weekly off road trips. It is fast! Can go from 20psi to 40psi in a couple minutes per tire.

$150 VIAIR 300P - 30033 Tire Inflator Portable Offroad Air Compressor for Truck & SUV, 12V On/Off Road Tire Pump Air Compressor Portable Heavy Duty 150 PSI

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X90YUO/

For airing down tires, I use this Viair Tool. It is basically the same tool that is on my Viair compressor w/o the long hose.

$24 Viair 00032 Air Down Gauge

https://www.amazon.com/VIAIR-00032-Air-Down-Gauge/dp/B000FPXS04/

Review (not mine)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5njFu4MTiw