heavy truck tire repair

How to Proceed for Truck Tire Repair?

Every time your truck’s tire turns, it runs the risk of getting punctured by a foreign object. An average tire will go through millions of revolutions over its lifecycle, you may never know when you may get a flat tire. When it comes to truck tire repair, it is important to ensure proper procedures are followed and specific precautions are taken.

Find out how to proceed with repairing a heavy truck’s tire and ensuring the best results.

Precautions to take before repairing truck tires

Getting Started

It is recommended to carry out all heavy truck tire repair procedures according to the guidelines set by the RMA and TIA. You should carry out repairs only when the puncture injuries are limited to just 1/4 inch or 6mm. Repairs should not be attempted when the injury damage extends to the shoulder or belt edge area or at an angle and into the shoulder area.

Things to Avoid

Not all flat tires are repairable. There are even official recommendations when you shouldn’t attempt repairing your truck’s tire. The tire must be removed from the wheel or rim assembly and completely inspected internally before performing a repair. You should not try to repair the tire in the following scenarios:

  • When the tread puncture measures more than 1/4 inch
  • When a tire has an existing repair that doesn’t comply with the RMA regulations
  • When the tire is worn to the tire treadwear indicators or there is only 2/32-inch of remaining tread depth in any part of the tread

It is also important not to use only a plug or only a patch alone for truck tire repair. You must use a proper vulcanizing material or rubber plug and apply a patch to the innerliner. The radial tires should never be inverted and excess spreading of the tire/tire beads should be avoided. It is also important to avoid buffing the innerliner too deep leading to the exposure of the tire casing body cords.

Steps to Repairing the Flat Tire

When it comes to fixing a flat tire, you should follow the standard procedure followed by a licensed truck tire repair shop. The main steps involved in the procedure are as follows:

  • Locate the tire injury and use a tire crayon to circle it. Avoid inverting the radial tires.
  • Remove any visible foreign puncturing object and probe the injury using an awl to find the angle of penetration.
  • Use cleaner fluid and a scraper to clean the area around the injury.
  • Wear eye protection and use a low-speed drill and a 3/16-inch tapered carbide cutter to ream the injury along the angle of injury from the inside.
  • Use a wire puller to hook the stem and coat the plug using self-vulcanizing cement. If you are using a single-piece repair unit, make sure the patch section is also coated.
  • Push the wire puller into the injury from the inside while the cement is wet. Grasp holds the wire and creates a steady pull until a half-inch of the gray rubber on the plug gets exposed on the outside.
  • Cut the plug from the inside 1/8-inch above the innerliner. Avoid stretching the plug when cutting it.
  • Place the proper-sized repair unit over the injury while keeping the bead arrows pointing to the beads. Use the tire crayon to outline an area half-inch larger than the repair unit.
  • Buff the plug and the innerliner area outlined earlier with a low-speed buffer and buffing rasp. Avoid buffing through the innerliner.
  • Remove the buffing dust using a vacuum.
  • Use the cleaner fluid to apply a light coat to the buffered area. Scrape the area clean and let it dry.
  • Apply the self-vulcanizing cement over the buffered area creating an even coat. Let the cement dry until it becomes tacky. Wait for the cement to get dry.
  • Remove the poly backing partially. Leave just enough poly backing to hold the unit in place. Press the repair unit over the area and completely remove the backing.
  • Stitch the unit firmly, working from the center to the outside and before removing the top cover film.
  • Apply the repair sealer over the overbuff area and the edges of the repair unit.

Once you have completed the truck tire repair, apply the bead sealer to the tire’s bead. Inflate the tire and cut the plug stem flush maintaining it with the outer tread area. Now the tire is ready to be used for service.

If you find the procedure too complicated or time-consuming, it is best to get the help of a truck tire repair shop such as TMS TruckMasters.