Easy Ways To Fix An ATV Tire

Having an ATV means that at some point, you’ll run into tire problems from flat tires to thread punctures from sharp objects like rocks and nails. There are several different ways that you can easily fix an ATV tire. Knowing about the various ways to fix your tires can ensure that you don’t feel helpless when you run into tire problems.

There are many easy ways to fix ATV tires, such as using a tire plugging kit to plug a hole in the tire, repairing a leaky bead seal to ensure that no air goes out of the tire, and using a popular liquid sealant product called TireJect to fix most of the tire problems you may have.

Going for rides on your ATV is a lot of fun but what isn’t fun is the number of problems you can encounter when it comes to your tires. The last thing you want to do is continuously spend money on new tires when you have tires that need fixing. So, what are some easy ways to fix ATV tires?

Plugging An ATV Tire.

Sometimes you’ll find a nail stuck in one of the tires of your ATV, and knowing how to pull it out and successfully plug the tire can save you money. You’ll need a tire plug kit that you can get at any automobile store, soapy water to test the tire plug once you put it in, a side cutter or pliers to pull the nail out, and an air pump to put air back into the tire.

How To Go About Plugging An ATV Tire.

You will want to get everything ready before you start. The tire kit comes with some plugs, glue, a reamer, and a tool that you will use to put the plug into the hole once you pull the nail out. You want the tire that has the nail in to be full of air.

Make sure that you put a little more air into the tire before pulling the nail out. Use the side cutters or pliers to pull out the nail, and once it is completely out, use the tire reamer in the plugging kit to clean the hole out.

You do this by inserting the reamer into the hole and turning and twisting it a few times. Once you feel that the hole is sufficiently clean, leave the reamer inserted in the hole to prevent air from coming out of the tire while you reach for the tire plugs.

You will most likely only need one plug. Put the plug in the push tool and liberally apply the glue on the plug. Pull out the reamer tool and insert the push tool. Do not push the tool in all the way. You want to make sure that it sticks out a little. Leave the tool in to allow the plug to set properly for a minute or so. Once you’re sure the plug is secure, you can pull out the tool.

What To Do After Plugging The Tire.

Allow the glue to dry for several seconds before using the air pump to put back the air that escaped while you were plugging the tire. A neat trick to use to check if the tire is plugged successfully is to use soapy water.

The water has to be soapy because if there is a leak, you will be able to see as the water will make bubbles. Check for leaks by pouring the soapy water on the plug you just inserted and watching for any bubbles. If there aren’t any, the tire has been plugged successfully. This is easy to do if you are at home, but this will most likely be the least of your worries if you’re on a trail.

The last thing to do is use the side cutters to trim the excess material of the plug sticking out of the hole. Using a tire plugging kit is an easy way to get yourself out of the woods easily because the kit is small enough to take with you, and the tire is easy to repair without taking it off.

How Can You Repair A Leaky Bead Seal On An ATV Tire?

Sometimes you’ll notice that the bead on the tire isn’t firmly fitted to the tire. This can be easily fixed at home.

Removing The Rim.

The first thing that you need to do is jack the area of the tire that is faulty. After lifting the tire, you will need to remove the nuts to remove the tire from the ATV. Remove the center hub cap if the tire has one.

Make sure that you set your hub cap and nuts in a safe place nearby because the last thing you want to worry about after fixing your tire is having to look for them after putting back your tire. Once the tire is off of the four-wheeler, you need to break the bead. This is simple to do if you have a bead breaker.

If you do not have a bead breaker, you can get creative. One of the favorite ways to do this is by using a block of wood and driving on it with a heavy vehicle. If you have a tire machine, then the whole process is quick and easy.

Once you have the tire’s bead broken on both sides of the rim, set the tire on a clean floor and start prying the tire off of the rim. You can use tire spoons to do this, but old long screwdrivers work just as well if you don’t have one. Since most tires usually come off on one end, find the side where the tire lifts off the rim so that you don’t struggle to remove it.

Insert the screwdriver in the space between the bead and the tire and pry the tire off around the tire until the tire is halfway off the rim. To ensure that the rim comes right off, sit the tire sideways and use a hammer to hit the sides of the tire where the rim is sticking out. Using a hammer will lead to the tire falling completely free of the rim.

Cleaning And Putting The Rim Back On The Tire Securely.

It is a good idea to clean the rim. You can use a wire brush and clean all the rust and dirt where the bead sits on the tire. You can apply a primer once the rim is clean. This will help seal the tire to the bead better so that there are no open spaces where the air can leak out. If you have a big rust spot on the rim, chances are you need to get a new one.

To place the tire back on the rim, you start by setting the rim on the ground and placing the tire on top of it with the rim in the opening of the tire. Make sure that the tire goes back on the same side it went off. Kneel on the tire and put pressure on it but make sure that the upper lip of the tire does not go below the rim.

Use the screwdrivers to pry the bottom of the tire so that the rim fits back into the tire. Repeat this all around the top of the tire until the rim is settled back in the tire. Once this is done, set the bead on the tire using a method of your choosing so that the tire expands around the bead. Using a strap tightened around the tire is the safest way to do it.

The last thing to do is fill the tire in with air until the tire pops out. Put the tire back on the ATV and place the nuts back on using either your hand or a hand tool like impact.

Using A Sealant Instead Of A Plug To Fix An ATV.

TireJect is a sealant used to repair tires that are still good so that you are saved from the expense of getting a new one. Instead of using a plugging kit, you can use this product. How this product works is that if the tires of the ATV have a puncture, you use the hose that comes with the product to repair the tire.

How To Apply TireJect.

The hose is used to connect the injector to the tires valve stem. TireJect is very thin and watery compared to other products that are thick and almost gel-like. Although there has been some skepticism due to the product’s milk-like consistency, it plugs holes effectively.

The first thing you need to do when applying TireJect is to jack the area around the wheel. Once the wheel is no longer on the floor, remove the nuts and hub cab and place somewhere safe. Remove the tire from the ATV and attach the hose supplied to the valve stem once the valve core has been removed.

Fit a pouch that has the liquid to the other end of the hose and squeeze the pouch so that the liquid fills the tire. This is easier when the tire is sitting with the valve stem at the bottom.

Once the liquid has been injected into the valve stem, remove the hose and use an air pump to put a few pounds of air pressure into the tire. It is important to rotate or turn the tire slowly so that the sealant can coat the inside of the tire and find any leaks. If the puncture is on the side of the tire, the best way to fix it is to lay the tire on its side so that area can be coated.

What To Expect Once The Liquid Has Been Installed.

If you notice the sealant coming through the holes of the outside of the tire once you start rotating it, don’t panic, as this is normal because the TireJect is collecting the fibrous material in the liquid to plug the various holes and punctures. Make sure that you only start rotating the tire after it has been inflated with air so that every surface is coated.

Because there are fibers mixed in the thin watery product when it is poured into the tire, gravity and air forces force the liquid into any punctures, and the fibers clot together to fill the holes and leaks.

This is why you may see bubbles along with the liquid coming out of the tires. Once the bubbling stops, it means that the hole is effectively plugged and the tire has been repaired successfully.

If the hole that you were plugging on the tire was big and you noticed that more of the liquid came out, you can repeat the process of injecting more liquid into the valve stem, filling the tire with air, and rotating it once more to top off what is already inside the tire.

This will ensure that any other punctures that you get while riding will be automatically seal up. It also means that any bead or rim leaks you were not aware of will be taken care of. Once the tire is completely sealed, you can pump in the manufacturer’s recommended air and have a newly sealed tire.

Why TireJect Is The Best For Repairing ATV Tires?

When you use other gel-like plugging products, they only provide temporary fixes and can make changing tires a hassle because the thick substances cling to the rim, making it a messy affair to clean up. You will be saving a lot of money when using TireJect because you don’t need a huge amount to fix tires. Only ten ounces per ATV tire up to a 27 x 9.

What makes it appealing is that it is water-soluble, meaning that it won’t make a mess on the inside of the tires or the rim, and it won’t cause an imbalance when the tires are rotated during rides.  

There is also a tire protection kit where you can preinstall the solution into all of the ATV tires to be protected before they get any punctures. This is beneficial in the long run as it will save you money and time, and you won’t have to worry.

This is a popular and preferred way to fix ATV tires as it is easy and quick to use and effectively repairs any tire problems you have, even bead leaks.

Conclusion

All of the above will save you money on tire repairs, and you can use that money to spend on other fun stuff. Ultimately, it is up to you to choose the best method to meet your needs and budget.

References

Louis Pretorius

As an amateur off-road enthusiast, I have always been drawn to outdoor adventure. I have decided to share all of my learning experiences with you as I dig a little deeper into my new-found passion and wonderful world of off-roading. My mission is to create the Ultimate Off-roading space on the internet in the process. Stay safe and happy Off-Roading!

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