Unfortunately, there are still many repair shops using this antiquated technique to repair their customers’ flat tires. But let’s face it: There are less and less drivers fixing their tires on Sunday morning in their driveway. Tire plugs are still available today and sold as a temporary tire repair kit. This repair is considered temporary primarily because it does not seal the inner tire liner. The key word here is temporary, as this style of repair was meant to get you safely off the side of the road, and originated from a time period when some had the skill to be able to repair their own tires, on-site.

A gooey-coated plug made of a multitude of materials such as rubber and leather strips is then forced into the hole as a temporary repair. The old-school plug repair technique leaves the tire mounted on the wheel. What’s the difference between the two most popular tire repair techniques, a tire plug and a tire patch? And did you know one is illegal? Well, it’s sort of illegal. But I want to do it properly and that requires more than the five minutes that they have allotted.

While I am eager to introduce myself and my services to new customers, I’m afraid I aggravate many of them by refusing to repair their tires. Often, the ask involves inflating their tires or performing a hasty repair on a tire puncture. I am fortunate that my business is located on a major thoroughfare, which most of the time leads to a steady stream of potential new customers.

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