Essential Off-Road Tyre Repair Guide

While quality tyres, careful driving and managing tyre pressure will reduce puncture frequency, if you spend enough time offroad you’re likely to get a puncture. This quick and safe approach will get you going again in under 20 minutes.

Move the vehicle to a safe, firm and level location

Carefully move the vehicle to a safe location and level area, ideally with a firm base around the offending wheel. Your first challenge will be positioning the jack securely. Use a timber block if you have one, or be resourceful with a flat rock, shovel blade, recovery board or even a book. You may also need to dig under the jack position to provide enough room under the axle to fit the jack or dig under the replacement tyre to help it fit.

Ensure the vehicle is in park/gear with the handbrake firmly applied. Chock one or more wheels using rocks, timber, tools or recovery gear. Get all passengers out of the vehicle and at a safe working distance (especially children).

Position your spare wheel under the side-step as a backup in case the vehicle drops off the jack and position the jack in such a way that you can safely lift and lower it without remaining under the vehicle. Using a second jack may also help.

Replacing the punctured tyre and wheel

Slightly loosen the wheel nuts before lifting the wheel off the ground. Before lifting think about how the vehicle weight may shift once the wheel is off the ground. Refit the new spare tyre and wheel and tighten the wheel nuts evenly. Position the removed wheel under the side-step for safety. Then after checking all is clear, lower the jack very gently without lying under the vehicle as you do so.

Firmly tighten the wheel nuts and recheck tension after 50km. Inflate or deflate tyre to desired pressure.

Check if the tyre is repairable

In most offroad locations there’s a reasonable chance that the tyre will not be repairable by the time you stop. But in the rare event that it’s not, you may be able to repair it yourself.

Reinflate the tyre and check for leaks. It could be the valve, tread, sidewall or even the tyre bead if you were running at low pressure in mud or sand.

Punctures through the tread area (rocks, nails, screw and so on) can usually be repaired using a simple tyre repair kit. Sidewall cuts/bruises should not be repaired as this will likely result in a dangerous blow out.

As a last resort you can use sidewall patches and a tube, but you’ll need to first remove the tyre from the rim using tyre levers and use a good dose of soap/detergent to aid the process and reduce bead damage. Replace the tyre at the first opportunity as it will not be legal/roadworthy.

Repair the tyre

1. Remove the cause of the puncture
2. Use the reaming tool to clean out the hole. A cordless drill may also help
3. Lubricate the hole with tyre lube
4. Insert the tyre plug using the plug tool
5. Repeat as often as necessary to seal the leak
6. Cut off any excess tyre plug
7. Reinflate the tyre to check repair has worked (add further plugs if needed)
8. Check that valve is properly seated

If the tyre has broken the bead there are various tricks to get it to reseal. The best is a high-volume air compressor with a reserve tank that can build up pressure and provide it in a sharp burst. Removing the tyre valve will also help with faster airflow. A ratchet strap around the tyre may force the bead to widen or you could try rolling the tyre as you inflate it or anything else that puts pressure on just the right spot.

Be prepared

Carrying two spare tyres fitted to matching rims is still the best insurance against having to do your own bush tyre repairs. But you’ll still need to change them and be ready with what you need to do it quickly and safely.

Tyre repair packing list:

• Quality spare tyre(s) mounted on rim(s)
• Tyre gauge
• Jack and handle
• Wheel brace
• Alloy wheel lock nut (if fitted)
• Centre cap tool (if required)
• Timber blocks/recovery boards
• 12V Air compressor
• Tyre repair kit
• Spare wheel nuts and wheel studs
• Tyre levers / bead breaker
• Soap/detergent

Next steps

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