6 Best tyre repair kits to buy

An Annoyance

 

But flat tyres are still a very real risk, even with the best technology and materials at work. There are quite a few dangers with low tyre pressure as well. The problem is further compounded by the development of run-flat tyres, which allows many manufacturers to dispense with the added weight of spare wheels, spanners and jacks altogether – this is good for emissions ratings, but less so when replacement costs are considered. It's worth considering bubbles on a tyre as well.

Related: Understanding a car's tyres

 

Instead, those manufacturers usually supply a can of tyre sealant and (at most) a small compressor to re-inflate leaking tyres. Or maybe they’ll drop a space-saver spare wheel into the boot, and expect you to plod along through the Karoo at 80 km/h with a Marie biscuit instead of a full-sized wheel. If only there was some way to effect a temporary repair to that flat tyre...

 

 

Various tyre repair kit types

 

Tyre sealant canisters are only one of a myriad of tyre repair accessories, most of which are available from spares retail outlets (and even from your local garage). The traditional method of repairing tyres involved removing the tyre from the rim, and applying a special heat-treated patch to cover the puncture. This has fallen out of favour in recent years, however, because of the availability of aerosol canisters with tyre sealant, and because push-in plugs have become easier to apply. Here are some ballpark figures to get a tyre repaired.

Plugs are really the preferred way of fixing a puncture caused by an errant nail or other sharp object. However, they’re only to be used for very small punctures in the centre part of the tyre tread. Putting a plug in a tyre’s sidewall is very dangerous, however, because doing so will further weaken a critical safety factor of the tyre – the sidewall carries that wheel’s load, and any damage to this area could lead to a catastrophic failure. It’s also not very convenient to have to insert a plug into a tyre in the dead of night on a dark desert highway, so this option is best left to the experts.

 

Aerosol-based tyre sealants are much easier to use, though. The canisters contain a synthetic foam or liquid, which spreads around the tyre’s inner wall, finding and (temporarily) sealing any small leaks along the way. In many cases, there will also be enough pressurised propellant in the canister to partially re-inflate the tyre, so this is a much more convenient way of getting mobile again. Once back in civilisation, you should then take the wheel in question to a tyre shop, to perform a more permanent repair.

 

 

Run-flats versus traditional tyres 

 

The functioning of run-flat tyres is perfectly described in their name: in the event of a puncture, these tyres will allow the car to keep mobile (albeit at a reduced speed), until a tyre shop can repair the leak. However, just as with normal tyres, driving with a run-flat will quickly destroy the tyre itself. Yes, it will get you to safety, but it will also punish you with an astronomical tyre replacement bill. In this case, using a can of tyre sealant may just save the tyre itself, because it won’t be placing all of its load on the sidewalls. It’s much better than waiting for the roadside assistance to arrive, at any rate.

Traditional tyres don’t have this ability, because their sidewalls aren’t designed to allow them to run without air. Consequently, driving on a deflated conventional tyre will quickly shred the sidewalls, leading to rapid and total tyre destruction. Cars with this type of tyre will generally have a spare wheel of some sort, though, but that would mean stopping next to the road and going through the whole process of fitting the spare. This could be extremely dangerous, as punctures often occur on the freeway or when driving near dangerous areas. 

As with run-flats, a lot of this drama could be prevented by using a temporary tyre repair or sealing kit, which could help you get mobile again pretty quickly. But, even if you have the appropriate tyre repair kit at hand, it may not be able to solve the problem – some damage simply falls outside of any repair kit’s abilities.

 

 

Where would a tyre repair kit be effective?

 

Sidewall damage cannot be repaired at all – no patch, plug or liquid sealant will be able to plug a torn or cut sidewall, and large-scale damage to the tyre tread (such as could occur by driving over a brick) is also too risky.

 

However, when you’re dealing with something small, like a roofing screw or a nail in the tyre tread, any of those methods will most likely work. In order of labour intensity, an internal patch will involve the most effort, with a plug being easier and tyre sealant being the easiest - i’s almost as simple as applying deodorant in the morning. Keep in mind that tyre sealants aren’t meant to be permanent repairs, but rather see them as an easier stop-gap assistant to continue your journey.

 

What makes for a good tyre repair kit?

 

• Any repair kit is only as good as the tools with which it comes. In the case of a plug kit, that means you’ll need a T-handle applicator to insert the plug, along with the sealing glue the plug requires to be effective. In the case of an aerosol kit, it only entails the canister and its connecting tube.
• It should also be easy to use. This includes comprehensive operating instructions, to assist even inexperienced operators to perform the repair.
• Packaging also makes a difference: if the tools and materials aren’t kept together as one set, a missing critical component may just render the entire kit useless. Plugs should come in a neat little box (containing the tools, plugs and glue), and aerosol sealants should have the connecting tube securely attached.

 

 

A selection of reputable tyre repair kits

 

Almost any spare parts outlet or tyre fitment centre will have a wide variety of tyre repair kits on sale. There isn’t much difference between the various brand names, because they all do the same thing, using the same methods. We nonetheless scoured the internet to find you some examples of reputable tyre repair kits.

 

 

1. Shield Tyre repair kit 

 

Available from Game stores, this is as simple and cheap a kit as you could find, but it comes with only 5 repair plugs and rudimentary tools. You’ll also have to supply your own carry case for this kit.

2. Midas 17-piece Tubeless tyre repair kit 

 

This is a complete tyre plug kit, which meets all the requirements for good tyre repair equipment. It’s available from Midas (and other retailers), and will be sufficient for at least 5 puncture repairs.

3. Stop&Go Tyre repair gun

 

This is a new take on the rubber plug insertion issue, and uses an innovative mechanism to remove lot of the manual labour out of the process of inserting a plug. Contact No More Punctures for more info about this product.

4. TrailBoss 45-piece Tyre repair kit 

 

Available from Outdoor Warehouse, this is a serious kit which is intended for heavy duty applications such as off-roading. Packed into its handy (if bulky) carry case, you’ll find everything you need to repair up to 20 punctures.

5. Holts Tyreweld 500 ml Emergency tyre repair kit 

 

Also available from Outdoor Warehouse (as well as most spares shops), Holts Tyreweld was one of the pioneers in the field of temporary liquid tyre sealant kits. Its latex-based sealant is safe for use with the tyre’s rubber composition, and will get you back to civilisation with a minimum of fuss.

 

6. Wynn’s Tyre Fix 

 

Another reputable brand, Wynn’s has a long history of quality motoring products, and is available at most spares outlets. This aerosol-based liquid repair kit will affect a temporary fix to small punctures, which should be enough to help you reach your nearest tyre shop.

 

In Conclusion

 

These are but a few tyre repair kits on the market, and digging around some more will show up even more variations on the same theme. In the end, it doesn’t really matter how you get home, just as long as you can keep moving!

 

• Disclaimer: Due to the safety-critical nature of tyre repairs, it’s important to always consult with a tyre specialist regarding tyre repairs or possible replacement. 

Tyre damage can be more severe than it appears at first glance, or the location of a puncture may prevent a repair kit from functioning properly. In either case, this may lead to dangerous operating conditions, which may put your life and those of other road users at risk. AutoTrader SA accepts no responsibility for any damage or loss which may occur due to the use of any of the products mentioned in this article, which is intended to merely guide consumers regarding their various options.