How to Repair Tires on a Big Truck

Repairing the tires on your own big truck can save you time and money.

A flats or slowly leaking tire on your big truck tire obviously is no fun. Although products like "Fix-a-Flat" provide you a short-term solution, the problem remains. It's easier--and safer--to address the problem by removing the tire and pinpointing the leak. This enables you to fix your big truck's tire and be back on the road in about 30 minutes

Things You'll Need

• Lug wrench
• Jack
• Portable air tank (possible)
• Bucket of soapy water
• Scrub brush
• Needle-nose pliers (possible)
• Tire plug kit

Instructions

1. Break the lug nuts on your big truck using the lug wrench.

2. Lift the truck with your jack, remove the lug nuts and remove the tire.

3. Locate the hole in your tire. If your tire is completely flat or very low, you will need access to a portable air tank. If you don't see an obvious sign of puncture like a nail, dip the scrub brash into the soapy water and run it across the tire. The escaping air from the leak will cause the soapy water to bubble.

4. Prepare the tire plug kit. The tire plug kit consists of a a hand tool with a small handle and a long, slender piece of protruding metal, along with several plugs. The end of the metal on the hand tool will have an eye hole resembling the end of a giant sewing needle. Slide the tire plug through the hole. Have this tool handy when you remove the cause of the puncture.

5. Remove the cause of the leak. It may be a piece of glass. However, most tire punctures are usually caused by nails. If you have difficulty pulling the nail out, use the needle-nose pliers.

6. Jam the long slender end of the tire plug tool into the hole, working it in slight circular motions. Pull it out quickly, insert the tire plug and then jam it back into the hole and quickly withdraw it again. This should embed the plug firmly in the hole.

7. Replace tire and lug nuts and lower the jack.

References

• Changing a Tire
• Flat tire repairs