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Sometimes we drive over things that aren't exactly healthy for the tires on our cars. Glass, nails, screws etc...The cost of paying someone to repair the tire is almost never cheap. There are alternative means of fixing the problem. Did you know that fixing your own tire is a simple task, and it can be done in your own garage or carport? Even the most inexperienced person can repair a flat tire.
The first thing you should do is Assess the damages. Determine if you have a puncture or a tear. A tear in your tire will most certainly require a professional's assistance but a puncture can be an easy fix. You can purchase a plug kit at any auto shop around, and they run about five dollars. A kit contains the plugging tools and has a rasping tool, which is used to roughen the edges of the puncture. There is a needle, which must be threaded by the plug, and pushed through the hole. And of course, it contains the actual plugs. All the things you need for the repair to go smoothly are contained in this kit.
Most people feel like the plug is not going to work. You will be surprised. They are a tried and true form of doing it yourself! Besides, it is so much better to spend the few dollars on the kit, and a few minutes on the tire rather than a few hundred on a new tire. If your tread is still in good condition, try to plug it. Don't waste the good tire.
Words of warning! Do NOT try to plug your sidewall if it has a hole in it. If you do plug this part of your tire, it could result in a blow out. The side walls of the tires are under a different type of pressure or strain that the treaded section. If you do get a hole in your sidewall, take it to your local auto repair shop. Spending a little extra money on this is worth it in the long run, and it can eliminate the possibility of an accident.
