And, how much do the products cost?

Properly maintained tires are a key component of safe driving. Good tire maintenance includes inspecting the treads for adequate depth and abnormal wear patterns. A common tire defect is a puncture resulting in loss of air pressure and deflation of the tire. This article reviews the principles of radial tire repair for cars and light trucks recommended by the 2011 Tire Industry Association Tire Service Manual, and discuss the products and supplies needed for repair as well as current (2016) price estimates.  Nails and screws are some of the frequent objects that cause penetration of tire treads. It is important to dismount the tire from the rim using a (tire changing machine) to perform an internal inspection, and if necessary, a repair if a full thickness penetration is noted. There are limitations on the types of damage that can be repaired. For most tires, the maximum defect that can be safely repaired is ¼ inch or 6 mm on the center zone of the tread, which is about 1 to 1 ½ inches from the shoulder of the tire, or the zone between the first major grooves in the tread.

The tire inspection should be performed using a Tire Spreader with a bright light these usually cost about $500. In addition to checking for full thickness defects, the tire bead and lining should be inspected as well. The defect is marked with a white paint stick. If a defect has been detected that fits within the repair guidelines, the inner liner surface is prepared with a pre-buff cleaner or Cleaner Buffer is a solvent which dissolves grease and contaminants from the liner surface. This product costs about $11 for a 32 oz. can. The liner surface is then scraped with a scraper over the area of the injury. This helps to remove foreign material which may impede good adhesion. A scraper costs about $7.00. Next, the injury channel is cleaned with a carbide cutter tip on a low-speed drill. This process helps to cut the damaged tire belts. An adjustable low speed drill, buffer costs about $100.

It is recommended that a one-piece or two-piece repair be done with a rubber stem that fills the puncture void. This will prevent moisture from entering and damaging the cords. Vulcanizing cement is used to secure the stem in place.  Prior to placing cement on the inner surface, the surface must be prepared with a buffing wheel on a low speed buffer to create a smooth surface. A wire brush is used to clean the surface, followed by a vacuum to remove contaminants. Next, a thin coat of vulcanizing cement can be applied to buffed surface and allowed to air dry. The patch unit is carefully placed, and is painted with inner liner sealer; about $18 for a 16 oz. can. The excess stem on the outside of the tire is trimmed. The tire is then remounted and balanced using a tire changer and a wheel balancer.