How to patch up a flat tire on a bike?

A

AntDU

New member
No. Unless you are in a serious bind, you should use a patch kit - or replace the tube. Patch kits are only $5 or less and contain multiple patches so there is no need to use "stuff" to fix the tire.

If you are in a bind and need to get out of a bind, you can use tape and will hold for a short period of time.

1: find the hole. and place a small piece of tape over it.
2: You then will need to blow up the tube to about 1/3 its PSI and then wrap tape around the hole - overlapping each other about a 1/2" to each side multiple times
3: Install tire, fill to a higher PSI. You don't want to much slack in the tube because the tape will come loose.

This will get you a few miles and allow you to get home or to a point where you can properly fix your tire. The tire will likely have a "bumpy" ride over the fixed area because the tape will likely have be thinner then the rest of the tube.

Again, don't be foolish and try to this for a long term fix. Its one of those "I am stuck its all I can get my hands on" type of fixes. But the problem will be solved if you carried a spare tube in a seat pack.
 
A

answer

Member
no. patch kits have rubber cement, rubber patches, and sandpaper. If you have rubber patches, then you can just buy some rubber cement, and sandpaper, but if you don't have rubber patches in your house-hold items, then you will need a patch kit to get the rubber patches.
 
Top