Did you drive over a nail and now have a punctured tire that is leaking air? If so, know that there is a way to repair your tire so that you don't have to buy a new one. Here are some tips for plugging a tire. 

Purchase A Tire Repair Kit

Your local auto parts store sells tire repair hits, which contain all of the tools and materials that you need to get this job done. It will contain the tool used to clean out the hole, the plug for the tire, and the tool used to insert the plug. 

Locate The Hole

The only way to fix a punctured tire is if the hole is in a place that can be fixed. Nails that are located in the sidewall of a tire are unable to be plugged, and you'll, unfortunately, need to replace the entire tire. If you have a hole in the tread of the tire, then you will be able to fix the tire with a simple plug.

You'll need to remove the nail from the tire, which can be done by using pliers and simply pulling it out with a bit of force. It will also help to circle the hole with a grease pen once you remove the nail since it can actually be hard to find the hole again if you lose track of it. 

Clean Out The Hole

There is a tool designed for cleaning out the hole, which looks a little bit like a drill bit with a handle on it. You'll want to repeatedly insert this tool into the puncture hole to smooth out the rough edges and make it big enough for the plug to fit. If the tool is difficult to insert, know that you can use some lubricant to help make it a bit easier to do.

Plug The Hole

The plug can be inserted through the threading tool, which looks like a large part of a needle where you stick the thread in. You do the same thing with the plug, with it being halfway through the loop. You then use some force to press the plug into the hole, inserting the tool about halfway into the tire. Then pull the tool back out, which should rip through the plug material.

You can trim the excess plug material from the tire, but it doesn't need to be trimmed perfectly. Driving on the road will cause that excess material to smooth out on the tire surface. 

For more information on tire repair, contact a professional near you.