I have a pretty generic nail puncture. Is it possible to fix this flat using a through the tire repair kit? This is a tool which looks like a giant needle. One puts a piece of soft sticky rubber strip on this needle and push it into the nail hole. When the needle is extracted, the tacky rubber piece lodges and plugs the hole. Is the repair permanent?

I live in an area where there's a lot of new construction. This is the second nail I've picked up this week. Had the first fixed at the Wheel Works. I hate waiting 2 hours in line to fix a flat tire.

 

When NTB fixed a flat in my snow tire (long metal shrapnel), they used some sort of adhesive and plugged the hole with a solid rubber looking piece. I've seen some of the kits in auto shops and it isn't that ropey material they have. I guess it all depends on the size of the puncture though. I guess for a clean punctured nail, it wouldn't take much to plug it up. Mine was so bad that a can of "fix-a-flat" did not fix the leak and I had to put on the spare.

 

You can fix it with a plug kit as long as the nail isn't in the sidewall.

 

Yeh, real easy. There are two types that I know of. One is a self sticking one. File the hole, thread the patch through, push it in, pull out and clip. There are also ones that need adhesive. A little trick to these is immediately after removing, put a match to it, lighting it on fire. Just for a few seconds. Makes it bond quicker and better.
The closer they are to the edge of the tire, the more trouble you could potentially have. But overall, they hold pretty good. I've done some agressive driving with one in and had no problems.

 

Yes, it's permanent as far as I can tell. I cut the plugs in half if they're long, down to about 1.5" or so (can't recall). It doesn't really need to be that long and will just add weight which might goof up the wheel balance.

Ok for punctures not near the sidewall - if it is on the edge close to the sidewall it's toast and no one will fix it.

Beats taking it to a garage

 

It may also help to make the hole bigger before you try to put in the plug. At the shop I worked at, they had a screwdriver looking thing that was actually a file that you jammed into the puncture hole to make it a little bigger. This makes it easier to get the plug in. Also make sure the tire is inflated completely before you try to put the plug in.

 

I've done this 8 times on 3 different cars. In addition to the sticky plug there usually is some glue you put on the hole.

Only once did the plug start leaking again so I removed it and replugged it. The plugs are perminate but I wouldnt go racing on tires with a bunch of plugs.

And as said, never patch a hole in the sidewall or bigger round than a pencil.