Punctures - How do you fix yours?

Interceptor

I was whizzing through the wilds of Mayo yesterday and it dawned on me that I didn't have anything packed to fix a puncture if I got one. What is the best thing to carry (apart from an AA membership card) on a long spin? my tyres are tubeless - I presume you can get repair kits, but whats best?

'cptr

nednedned

tyreweld is the most common.most auto places stock it.i heard of ultraseal.
you pour so much into each tyre.and it seals as you go.but you will loose
some tyre pressure until it seals.claims one 700 ml bottle will do 3 tyres.
or you can buy rubber plugs and insertion tool.say you got a nail.and small
cans of gas to inflate the tyre.

cheers............

Garibaldi

Is that Ultraseal stuff not supposed to go in *before* you get a puncture? I thought it was supposed to be a preventative measure.

Krusty_Clown

Yes, the ultraseal is a preventative measure...
From their blurb:

Ultraseal is a special blend of 24 chemicals in a viscous liquid state which coats and clings to the inner wall of the tyre. Utraseal is a "permanent" puncture preventative and tyre life extender/conditioner. Ultraseal is not a get you home product, it is applied before the puncture occurs, and permanently seals puncture after puncture in the tyre as they occur.

Some swear by it..

If I'm on a long trip I'll bring some of that tyreweld foam stuff. Otherwise, it'll be a call to the Mrs to bring help..

Hotblack Desiato

I tried tyreweld on the bike once and it was completely useless

Odysseus

I have had AA cover for the past two years as I have an 80k commute each way. Two weeks ago got a puncture on my way home on a Saturday night, took an hour for the van to come as the had to rig it for a bike, and it was pi$$ing. Dropped me home and were to drop the bike off at the local bike shop on Monday. However, for the first time the bike shop now closes on Monday, so did not get my bike back til Tuesday. Think I need to review my puncture plan. Three days without the bike:mad: , and two days off work;) .

murphaph

Do the AA do bikes then? Didn't know that!

johnnyrotten

get one of these
Picture on Right is the kit for tubeless tyres.

I had one whe i was a biker:(

Used it twice. Got me outta trouble.
Remove offending screw/nail .
Clean out hole with rasp.
Thread rubber wedge into eye of rasp.
Cover wedge with glue solution.
Insert into hole and pull out.
Trim off excess.
Inflate using adaptor and CO2 canisters.
Ride home.

saobh_ie

Punctured my rear tire... or was it the front... rear I think, in two places half way to Cork in Janurary. Came back to Dublin on it pulling into every garage en route to put air in it, of course I was back inside Co. Dublin before I found a garage where the pumps worked.

And two weeks ago I found a garage where the gauges work. And guess what, they're even reasonably accurate.

I got a set of new tires with ultraseal in. Not a problem since. On my second machine theres a puncture repair kit under the seat but god knows if I'll have the where with all to figure it out at the side of the road in the dark. =]

Elfish

johnnyrotten wrote:

get one of these
Picture on Right is the kit for tubeless tyres.

I had one whe i was a biker:(

Used it twice. Got me outta trouble.
Remove offending screw/nail .
Clean out hole with rasp.
Thread rubber wedge into eye of rasp.
Cover wedge with glue solution.
Insert into hole and pull out.
Trim off excess.
Inflate using adaptor and CO2 canisters.
Ride home.

Second this type of tool. Mine was simpler, just 2 tools: similiar rasp + eyed screwdriver + tarry 6inch threads
Only difference is you used rubber plug, I used tarred strips of rope from shop to plug hole.

Fixed tubeless sports tyres plenty of times.

Fixed an almost brand new sports tyre, around 6-7k miles,speeds +140mph
Never any problem.

Just remember to double up the plug twice, better fit that way even though its harder to get in.

Also don't try fixing cuts, or holes in side of tyre.;)

Drax

Ultraseal is the way to go. Although it wont seal huge gaping holes, but then you are probably better off replacing the tyre if that happens.

There are a couple of places that do it (Blakestown Tyres) but you can also buy in some bike shops. I know that Hein Gericke in Newry stock it. Its well worth the few bobs and you dont have that puncture paranoia on longs spins.

Hotblack Desiato

Should have mentioned the things that HAVE worked for me.
Used the soft rubber plugs a couple of times and they work well except on very large holes. The CO2 cartriges aren't enough to inflate a large rear tyre and the CO2 will diffuse out of the tyre overnight, so pump it up properly with air asap. The tube of rubber solution tends to dry up after it's been opened, and you can't use these plugs without it.

I've seen the string used a couple of times and it works well on average sized screw/nail holes. Might not work on very large holes (?)

I have Ultraseal in the back tyre of my GPz, because it's an 18" rim and tyres in that size are very hard to get. The last rear tyre on it was destroyed by a 6 inch nail and it took nearly 3 weeks to get a replacement tyre, so I got Ultraseal put into the new one just in case.

Wallbanger, H

Used tyreweld a few years ago on the bike, worked fine.Used similar product,cant remember name when got puncture on trailer carrying bike on Naas dc. Made it to Tipperary in the end.Well worth carrying a can imho.

Interceptor

Thanks for the replies - I had the older version of Ultraseal in my RD350 years ago and I didn't think it would still be available. The one time I used tyreweld, I hadn't noticed the tyre wasn't sealed along the bead and blew the foam out onto the ground. I heard from a couple of folk that tyre places charged extra if they had to clean up after tyreweld was used - anyone ever come up with that problem? I'm going to get me some Ultraseal next weekend...

'cptr

Garibaldi

Ah yes, the extra charge for cleaning Tyreweld out. I have come across that problem, and even one place that refused to carry out repairs once they heard Tyreweld had been used. :rolleyes:

Krusty_Clown

Don't most garages have machines to remove the tyreweld at this stage?

Johnnyrotten/ninja: For these kits, do you need to remove the wheel or tyre?
Also, are they a temporary fix? The blurb suggests 400kms max, at 60km/hr.

Might be worth an investment if they're straightforward enough..

Hotblack Desiato

The soft rubber plug kits are claimed to be good for 80 km/h. But there are people who go circuit racing with them so go figure

I wouldn't worry about Ultraseal or similar causing hassle at the tyre replacement stage. Basically because of the way it works it should all be flung out into the tread, not sticking to the rim. OTOH tyreweld is basically nasty goo that sticks to everything in sight... wouldn't blame a tyre fitter for complaining but it can't be that big a deal to clean up.

Tyre removal not required to use rubber plugs or string. If the tyre is coming off then it should be getting a permanent patch on the inside. With Ultraseal all you have to do is remove the puncturing object, ride a couple of miles then pump the pressure back up to normal.

darkbeatz

on the subject of aa cover, if you are insured with carrolle nash you automatically have emergency breakdown assistance included in your policy. a lot of people dont know this

tamzed1

i used tyreweld a couple of weeks ago, while i was riding to the garage to check pressure it was leaking out the puncture all over my bike and i cant get it off my plastics or exhaust, never will i use it again, help any suggestions how to remove.

dubtom

I got two new tyres at blakestown tyres last week with ultraseal,€35 extra. My old tyres had some ultraseal in them which he just wiped off with a cloth.I too found a kit under my seat which has had me confused, two air canisters,V small, and a tube of what I think now is glue. Reading this thread I realise that it's probably missing a few bits. I'd better restock,I have a 4000K round trip coming up. Does the AA bike cover france and spain btw?

Hotblack Desiato

35 euro per wheel or for the pair?

You need to take out extra AA cover if you're going beyond the UK - in fact you don't need to be a member at all to take out their temporary European cover. Not cheap but cheaper than needing it and not having it!
Carole Nash include European breakdown cover.

Garibaldi

darkbeatz wrote:

on the subject of aa cover, if you are insured with carrolle nash you automatically have emergency breakdown assistance included in your policy. a lot of people dont know this

Even fewer people realise that you're only covered up to a maximum of three callouts. Nice.:rolleyes:

kildarejoe

The rubber threads / plugs are very good. I use them all the time on bike's and car. I find stuff like the ultra seal tends to run to the bottom of the wheel (unbalancing the wheel) if left sitting up for a long period (maybe over winter) I have 4 bikes so tend to use 1 or 2 and only take the "children" out the odd time. Ultra seal fine for commuting or courier where bike is regularly used.

Odysseus

I'm not sure about the three call out from the AA, last time I asked I was told its five and was also told that they are not too strict on that. What has peoples experience of the breakdown service from Carroll Nash? I been told by a few people that outside of Dublin it was ****e, so I would be interested in hearing from people.

lord lucan

AON include breakdown cover with their policies now too;)

dubtom

ninja900 wrote:

35 euro per wheel or for the pair?

You need to take out extra AA cover if you're going beyond the UK - in fact you don't need to be a member at all to take out their temporary European cover. Not cheap but cheaper than needing it and not having it!
Carole Nash include European breakdown cover.

For the pair, thanks for the info.

Jomcc

Have had Ultraseal in tyres for a few years. Never got puncture so didn't know if it works. Saw it on stands at bike shows but it seemed too good to be true.
Some weeks ago had a puncture in small car trailer tubeless tyre on a Saturday evening. Nowhere to get it fixed. I found a small bit of Ultraseal in bottle which was leftover from bike tyres and put it into punctured tyre. Fixed it instantly. Incredible stuff. I'll never go anywhere without it again......which reminds me, I need to buy a bottle.