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Can You Deal With a 4x4 Tyre Puncture Yourself
29 September 2016


This is one of the questions we often get asked at 4SITE 4x4 tyres. And one that has several answers. Warning: First and foremost, it’s important that wherever possible, you replace your punctured 4x4 tyre with a spare. That is the guaranteed way for you to ensure that your vehicle is safe to drive. However, we know that that isn’t always possible. Only when there is no spare to hand and there are no professional tyre fitters available should you consider a temporary repair the puncture yourself.

In extreme cases where no professional tyre fitters are at hand however, it might be impossible to avoid repairing a tyre. In circumstances like this, it is crucial to remember the importance of swapping over to a brand new set of tyres, as soon as possible.

There are also some other factors to consider before you set about temporarily repairing a 4x4 tyre puncture. It will depend on the extent of the damage caused to the 4x4 tyre, the tools you have to hand, and whether you’re confident enough to patch up the tyre on the road. Only with the right tools and expertise should you temporarily replace your damaged tyre.

Different Types of Puncture

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer a 4x4 tyre puncture while off-roading, the first thing you’ll need to do is check how bad the puncture is and how much damage has been caused to your off-road tyres. If you see any damage to the tyre’s sidewall, it is highly unlikely that the puncture can be repaired, and in this situation it is best to be safe and swap the damaged tyre out for a spare off-road tyre, or call a breakdown service to your rescue.

If the damage appears to be on a smaller scale, for example, a hole or a small cut in the tread of the tyre, this is something that can be temporarily dealt with. With the right tools, equipment and skills, the majority of small punctures are temporarily repairable, until you can get a replacement 4x4 tyre.

Getting The Right Tools For The Job

For basic 4x4 tyre repair on the road, you will need a repair kit that is specifically intended for temporary 4x4 tyre puncture repair. This is because the materials provided in a good 4x4 tyre repair kit will provide you not only with the puncture repair cord needed to plug up the hole, but also the reamer and rasp tools that will make the entire process a lot easier. If you’re looking for a 4x4 tyre repair kit for the best value, try to make sure that the one you choose has both tools provided and the largest amount of puncture repair cord and sealant available. In a good 4x4 puncture repair kit you should find the following:

  • Puncture repair cord
  • Adhesive/sealant
  • Lubricant
  • Reamer tool
  • Rasp tool

Temporarily Repairing Your 4x4 Tyre

To temporarily repair your 4x4 tyre, start by removing the stone, nail or debris that has punctured your tyre. Then, ream the puncture with your reamer tool. This will expand the hole further in order to more easily insert the puncture repair cord.

Get your repair cord and flatten a section ready for inserting into the tyre. Cover the repair cord in adhesive, and then plug the puncture with the cord using your rasp tool – this will make the insertion of the cord a lot easier. Now take out the plugging tool, leave the adhesive to dry around the cord, and cut any excess cord off. Once you’ve pumped up your tyre again to the correct pressure, you are ready to get back on – or off – the road.

Remember, this fix is a temporary solution – it is important to swap your damaged 4x4 tyre as soon as you can in order to have the safest and most reliable solution for a punctured tyre, and to adjust your tyre pressure as soon as you’re back on any public highways.

Replacing Your Weakened 4x4 Tyre

When you come to replacing your damaged tyre, it is important to remember that both tyres on the same axle MUST match. Preferably, all tyres should be the same. If you are looking for high quality off road tyres to replace your damaged ones, come to 4SITE 4x4 tyres and view our range. We have on road and off road tyres suitable for a huge range of 4x4 vehicles, all fitted by our expert technical teams at our approved tyre centres across the UK.

Use our tyre selector to find yourself a suitable set of 4x4 tyres. Or browse our range of high quality tyres from industry leading 4x4 tyre manufacturers including BF Goodrich, Goodyear, Michelin, and more.


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