Chances are that when you have a flat tire on the side of the road, you will need a tire repair kit. In case of a flat tire, you basically have three options: you can call a tow truck, install your spare tire yourself or repair your flat tire on the spot. A tow truck may seem the easy way out, but it can be a very expensive option. You may have to wait a very long time until it arrives too or you may not be able to call one because there’s no cell phone service. Because many new cars don’t carry spare tires anymore, that may not be an option either. That’s why, in many cases, a tire repair kit is the quickest and least expensive option to get you back on the road in no time.
In this article, we’ll explore the world of tire repair kits, discuss what they are, what they should contain, when to use them, and the different types available. Additionally, we’ll delve into the pros and cons of each type and provide valuable insights on what to consider when purchasing the best tire repair kit for your needs.
Check out the tire repair kits we recommend:
Different types of tire repair kits
A tire repair kit allows drivers to fix a tire puncture on the side of the road, without the need for professional assistance. The most popular tire repair kits are cans or aerosols, repair fluids and tire plug kits.
Can or Aerosol
This repair-in-a-can solution is probably the most popular and most used of the three types of repair kits, or should we say solutions? It’s the most straightforward option by far: just remove your tire’s valve stem cap with the puncture on the lowest point of the tire, screw the can’s nozzle on the valve stem and empty the can. The can contains repair fluid that will seal the leak and it holds enough pressure to inflate your flat tire and get you back on the road in minutes.
This is only a temporary fix to get you to a tire repair service where they can patch the puncture from the inside.
A downside of any tire repair fluid, is that in some cases it may damage your tire pressure sensor (TPMS), which then may have to be replaced (although several brands claim that their product is TPMS safe).
Also, tire repair shops don’t like repairing a tire that has been treated with a tire repair can because they need to clean the inside of the tire before they can patch it. Some tire shops may even refuse to repair the tire.
PROS:
- Quick and easy; anyone can do it
- Compact and easy to store
CONS:
- Only a temporary fix
- Some tire repair shops refuse to repair a tire that has been treated with a repair can
- Generally, tire repair cans must be stored below 120°F
Inflator Pump with Sealant
This type of tire repair kit consists of a tire inflator pump with an integrated container of sealant fluid. The inflator can be plugged into a 12V cigarette lighter outlet and can generally be used with or without the sealant fluid, which is a big bonus in our opinion. The sealant fluid container is normally replaceable, meaning the unit can be reused.
It’s as easy to use a tire repair can, but with the inflator pump you have total control over the tire pressure. Remove your tire’s valve stem cap with the puncture on the lowest point of the tire, screw the inflator’s nozzle on the valve stem and inflate the tire using just air or combined with the tire sealant. The kit’s repair fluid will seal the leak and the pump produces enough pressure to inflate your flat tire and get you back on the road in minutes. Again, with most kits, the inflator pump can also be used separately, which can come in handy when you need to adjust your tire pressure.
Just like a tire repair can, this is only a temporary fix to get you to a tire repair service where they can patch the puncture from the inside.
PROS:
- Quick and easy; anyone can do it
- Compact and easy to store
- Most kits can be used to adjust tire pressure too
CONS:
- Only a temporary fix
- Some tire repair shops refuse to repair a tire that has been treated with a repair can
Repair Fluid
Repair fluids come in a container that connects to the valve stem after the tire has been completely deflated. For most repair fluid kits, the valve core must be removed. After the recommended amount of fluid has been inserted, the valve stem core needs to be screwed back in place. Then, the tire needs to be inflated, because the repair fluid container is not pressurized and will not inflate the punctured tire.
These repair fluid kits can be used to repair a tire puncture, but they are mainly designed for vehicles that are constantly at high risk of tire punctures like off-road or heavy-duty vehicles, ATV’s… Because the product stays liquid inside the tire, it immediately seals new punctures. It works as a preventive measure. It is not intended for highway use though, because at high speeds the fluid can cause imbalance, uneven wear and vibrations.
PROS:
- Designed to be a permanent and preventive solution
- Seals new punctures immediately before they cause a problem
CONS:
- Not for highway or high speed use
- The valve stem core needs to be removed to insert the fluid
- Does not inflate your tire
Tire Plug Kit
A tire plug kit is the old-school way of repairing a flat tire. It still works great, but requires a little more elbow grease. This type of tire kit usually consists of a tool to clean and slightly enlarge the puncture hole after removing the object that caused the puncture with pliers. This T-shape tool is called a reamer. It’s a round file that can be inserted a few times to prepare the puncture hole for the repair. Glue and rubber plugs are also included to plug the puncture hole using the included T-shaped insertion tool. Finally, the sharp knife that comes with most sets is used to cut off the excess plug material.
The big advantage of this type of repair is that, if performed correctly, it can be more durable than a repair using a can sealant. With this type of repair, there’s no risk of causing wheel imbalance or messing up the TPMS either, contrary to repair fluids. The downside is that although it is not difficult to do, it does take some elbow grease and you need compressed air to inflate your tire.
PROS:
- More durable fix than liquid sealants if properly executed
- Does not cause wheel imbalance or mess up the TPMS
- Compact and easy to store
CONS:
- Some elbow grease needed
- Only a temporary fix
- Does not inflate your tire
Now that we know the differences, lets check out our favorite tire repair kits:
Best Overall
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Best Overall
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Specs:
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- Type: Inflator Pump with Sealant
- Ease of use: Easy
- Single or Multiple Use: Single (but Sealant Refill Cartridge is available)
We chose Slime’s Flat Tire Puncture Emergency Kit for our “Best Overall” because it is the most versatile tire repair kit with fully adjustable tire pressure. It combines the ease of use of a tire repair can, but with a built-in inflator pump that can also be used to correct tire pressure.
Anyone can use this kit blindfolded: just screw the inflator’s hose onto the flat tire’s valve stem, select with or without liquid sealant and inflate or deflate the tire to the desired pressure with the push of a button.
The “Slime” repair fluid container can be replaced with a new one after use.
This kit is standard equipment for many new cars that have no spare tire, which speaks for the user-friendliness and reliability of the product.
Customers like the fact that you can also use the inflator to adjust tire pressure without sealant. They say that if your valve stem is recessed and hard to reach, you will inevitably lose pressure when trying to unscrew the inflator hose. In that case, they recommend adding about 5 psi to compensate for pressure loss when disconnecting in “Air Only” mode and to keep the inflator running while disconnecting. However, DO NOT keep the inflator running while disconnecting in “Air + Sealant” mode.
PROS:
- Quick and easy; anyone can do it
- Compact and easy to store
- Can be used to adjust tire pressure too
- Can be stored in the trunk in all weather conditions, hot or cold
CONS:
- Only a temporary fix
- Some tire repair shops refuse to repair a tire that has been treated with a repair can
- Sealant Refill Cartridge is expensive compared to what the whole set costs
Best Budget
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Best Budget
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Specs:
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- Type: Tire plug kit
- Ease of use: Medium
- Single or Multiple Use: Multiple (5)
Why did we select this set for our “Best Budget”? Well, for less than a “Sawbuck”, you get a tire plug kit that fixes 5 flats. That’s about $2 a pop. That’s a whole lot of bang for your buck… And it works great too…
This set is simple, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to: it fixes a flat. Contrary to most competing tire plug kits, this set includes a tube of decent rubber glue. It also packs a T-handle reamer, a T-handle insertion tool, 5 rubber plugs and a knife. You might want to add pliers though, to remove any foreign object that caused the puncture, because they are not included.
Customers say that this is a nice “I hope I never need to use it” kit that gives them peace of mind. They state that it comes with everything you need and it’ll get it to hold air until you can get to a shop and get it fixed properly.
PROS:
- A whole lot of bang for your buck
- Fixes 5 punctured tires
- More durable fix than liquid sealants if properly executed
- Does not cause wheel imbalance or mess up the TPMS
- Compact and easy to store
CONS:
- Some elbow grease needed
- Only a temporary fix
- Does not inflate your tire
- Does not include pliers
Easiest Tire Repair Kit
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Easiest Tire Repair Kit
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Specs:
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- Type: Can
- Ease of use: Very Easy
- Single or Multiple Use: Single
Fix-a-Flat aerosol tire repair kit is the fastest and easiest way to go when you’re out in the sticks with a punctured tire. The fluid sealant fixes your air leak regardless if you’ve removed the nail or other object that caused the puncture. At the same time it pressurizes your tire enough to get you safely to a tire repair shop for a permanent repair.
Customers say that they love the simplicity and think it’s a very quick, affordable fix. They do rightfully state that you cannot use the can a second time.
PROS:
- Quick and easy; anyone can do it
- Compact and easy to store
- Inflates the tire too
CONS:
- Only a temporary fix
- Some tire repair shops refuse to repair a tire that has been treated with a repair can
- Can must be stored below 120°F, because it is pressurized
- Only for single use
Best Tire Plug Kit
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Best Tire Plug Kit
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Specs:
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- Type: Tire Plug Kit
- Ease of use: Medium
- Single or Multiple Use: Multiple (9)
This awesome repair kit from Rhino USA is the tire plug set with the most value for money on the market today, if you ask us.
We love the T-handle reamer, which has an extremely efficient filing profile with a sharp, pointed end that easily penetrates tiny punctures as well as big ones. This T-handle, as well as the one on the penetrating tool, allows for a firm grip because of its finger indentations and in extreme temperatures, the black hard plastic handle won’t freeze or scorch your hands like a metal handle would. It’s even got a tire pressure gauge and a box cutter along with 9 rubber repair plugs.
The set has the typical cool brand design with the recognizable green color from the small American-owned family business which we know and love. It comes with a cool set of Rhino USA stickers too.
It’s super compact and easy to store in your glove box. We would have loved to have pliers included in the set to remove a nail or any other object from the puncture hole. We do recommend adding pliers to this set to make it complete.
Customers like this product’s performance and ease of use. They say that it’s easy to deploy and that it is great quality for a good price, super compact and that it works very well.
PROS:
- Most value for money
- Fixes 9 punctured tires
- More durable fix than liquid sealants if properly executed
- Does not cause wheel imbalance or mess up the TPMS
- Compact and easy to store
CONS:
- Some elbow grease needed
- Only a temporary fix
- Does not inflate your tire
- Does not include pliers
Best for Heavy Duty / ATV / UTV / Off-Road / Trailer
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Best for Heavy Duty / ATV / UTV / Off-Road / Trailer
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Specs:
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- Type: Tire Repair Fluid
- Ease of use: Easy
- Single or Multiple Use: Multiple (lasts the life of the tire)
If you run Heavy Duty equipment, a UTV or a 4×4 in areas or on job sites where there’s a high risk of punctures, FlatOut can save you time and money by automatically repairing a puncture before it causes significant pressure loss. It’s a simple, yet very efficient, permanent fix that lasts the life of the tire. The product contains Kevlar fibers and stays liquid once inside the tire, and it will seal all future punctures without you even noticing. The Kevlar-infused fluid simply clogs all punctures, again and again.
To insert the product, you just completely deflate the tire and remove the valve stem core with the included tool, screw the product’s nozzle on the valve stem and squirt the recommended fluid volume in the tire. That’s all there’s to it!
This product is NOT recommended for passenger vehicles, because the liquid in the tire(s) may cause imbalance, vibrations and uneven tread wear at highway speeds.
Customers recommend getting the right type that is suited for your application and you will be happy, they say.
PROS:
- Designed to be a permanent and preventive solution
- Seals new punctures immediately before they cause a problem
CONS:
- Not for passenger vehicles, or use at highway speeds
- The valve stem core needs to be removed to insert the fluid
- Does not inflate your tire
Comparison Table of the Best Tire Repair Kits
| Brand | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Slime | Flat Tire Repair Kit |
| Best Budget | SINGARO | Tire Repair Kit with Plugs |
| Easiest Tire Repair Kit | Fix-a-Flat | Aerosol Emergency Flat Tire Repair and Inflator |
| Best Tire Plug Kit | Rhino USA | Tire Plug Kit for Flat Tire Repair |
| Best for Heavy Duty / ATV / UTV / Off-Road / Trailer | FlatOut | Off Road Tire Sealant |
Final Thoughts
It’s pretty straightforward to choose the tire repair kit that works best for you between the 5 “Best” tire repair kits we’ve selected:
If you run Heavy Duty equipment in a professional or agricultural setting or drive a UTV or ATV with high risk of punctures, a permanent, preventive liquid sealant is what you need. However, this is NOT suited for highway use or passenger vehicles.
If you’re just looking for peace of mind but you’re on a tight budget, our “Best Budget” recommendation is all you’ll ever need. It’s the ideal “I hope I never need to use it” kit. It’ll get you out of trouble should you ever run a flat, for less than a “Sawbuck”.
Not the neighborhood handyman? No worries, we’ve got you covered! To use our “Easiest Tire Repair Kit”, no skills are needed. Two left hands will do.
If you are kind of the neighborhood handyman and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty to get better results using the best tools and technique, our “Best Tire Plug Kit” will make the difference. It’s the old-school way of doing things, and that’s not a bad thing, is it?
Looking for the ultimate solution to keep your vehicle’s rubber shoes pressurized, even in case of a puncture? Look no further: our “Best Overall” allows you full tire pressure control under all circumstances.
For more in-depth information, visit our posts about how to fix a nail in your tire and how to check tire pressure.
Happy cruisin’!
Be safe!
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