Repair ATV Tire With a Bolt?

[Big Barn]

Most of the hole will close up when the spike is pulled, if it was me, I'd clean the puncture and put in a plug. Cut the plug off flush with the inside and put a round patch over that. That will give a separate air seal from the plug, which is primarily to keep water away from the inner tire structure. Get a can of Rema cement and some patches and you should be good to go, and prepared for the next time.

I too, would try this FIRST. For my JD Gator tire it didn't work and consequently the bolt/washer did. Keep in mind speed isn't a safety concern with a Gator.

Terry

 

[The kid]

Put a heavy boot inside over the hole and tube it.

 

[BKBoiss]

I worked at a tire shop when I was in high school. The manager was old school, always out in the heavy equipment bay and taught me a ton. The assistant manager while a very nice guy was a by the book only guy. He is manager now and we have to bring some of our tires back to the shop and do stuff ourselves because he won't. Rabbit trail aside I would do exactly what the other guys said. Pull the spike out some glue on a 1/2 plug cut it off level inside and put a good patch over it.

 

[dieselcrawler]

I would try plugs/patch first... if that doesn't work, try the bolt and washer... use rubber cement on the bolt/washer if you try that... I wouldn't hesitate to try that, I've done worse!

Years ago (15+), on my 3/4 ton chevy, I had a set of 38" Super Swamper TSL tires... 3 good ones, one with a gash in the sidewall about 3" long. First attempt was drill holes along the edge of the gash, about 1/2" apart, in pairs opposed each other, and zip tie the snot out of it. Duct tape inside, stick a tube in there, air it up to about 10 psi, and go mudding. Lasted most of the day. That night, things got serious. A piece of sheet metal inside, round head screws and nuts, and bolt it to the sidewall. Patch the tube, where it blew out the gash when the zip ties let go. This time, a piece of milk jug was included in the duct tape covering things inside, reinstall tube, air it up, go muddin the next day. That lasted longer, almost got home before it blew out... geesh, the things Captain Morgan, MaryJane, and I have done...

 

[seaneastok]

Plug patch..I have used them several times over the years for large punctures in spendy tires.
Available online or a tire dealer will get them for you,it's amazing how many tire shops don't know they exist..Depending on how large the hole is it's worth a shot.

Regards
Sean

 

[LD1]

First I would try the plugs. No need to dismount the tire. Buy a $5 kit and be done.

Have you ever tried to dismount a ATV tire. Thats gonna be a trip to a shop for any other suggestions here. Tube, Patch, your bolt.....all require tire dismount. Try the easiest first.

Tractor rear tires are low pressure. ~8 PSI. I have a couple of plugs in the old L3400, one in the sidewall that was punctured when the tractor was almost new 8-9 years ago. IT still holds.

Also have a plug in my AT101 tires on my ZTR, and those are only 10-12PSI as well.

 

[Ford850]

I've plugged an old ATV tire with a couple plugs to fill the hole. It started leaking again next to them so I added another 1 or 2. The plugs were all bunched together to seal the large hole and it worked fine.

 

[Rocky J]

I used to install the plug patch on Semi truck tires, like the one that seaneastok showed you. The plug itself is bigger then the hole and you pull on the rubber tail very hard to stretch it out to fit into the hole and when you let it go it swells back up very tight and fills it solid. there is a arrow on the patch part face that says bead ,you aim it at the tire bead, this lines up the reinforcement in the patch and the cords in the tire so they do not fight each other and come off from two different flexing s. They make them for Radial and Bias (diagonal) ply tires and should buy accordingly. The newer MTD Ride on lawn mowers use a piece of indoor outdoor carpet laying inside the tire to cover the tread area before putting in the tube, when the thorns and nails poke into the tire they lift up the carpet and prevent tube punctures, almost to simple to trust but garbage trucks use similar sticky mats inside to protect the tube. As far as the tire slipping on the rim you can drill holes in the rim bead area and screw the tire and rim together like the dragsters use to do.

 

[ovrszd]

I would try plugs/patch first... if that doesn't work, try the bolt and washer... use rubber cement on the bolt/washer if you try that... I wouldn't hesitate to try that, I've done worse!

Years ago (15+), on my 3/4 ton chevy, I had a set of 38" Super Swamper TSL tires... 3 good ones, one with a gash in the sidewall about 3" long. First attempt was drill holes along the edge of the gash, about 1/2" apart, in pairs opposed each other, and zip tie the snot out of it. Duct tape inside, stick a tube in there, air it up to about 10 psi, and go mudding. Lasted most of the day. That night, things got serious. A piece of sheet metal inside, round head screws and nuts, and bolt it to the sidewall. Patch the tube, where it blew out the gash when the zip ties let go. This time, a piece of milk jug was included in the duct tape covering things inside, reinstall tube, air it up, go muddin the next day. That lasted longer, almost got home before it blew out... geesh, the things Captain Morgan, MaryJane, and I have done...

Amen Brother.

 

[Maxify55]

Just slap a 4X4 patch on the inside.

Put about a gallon of Slime in it and keep on motoring.

You can make a mountain out of it or leave it a mole hill. Then get back to work.

The choice is yours.