Plugs for Tire Repair: How to Patch a Tire at Home
A tire plug kit patches a nail puncture in a tubeless tire: ream the hole, push a rubber string plug in, trim it, and check the pressure.
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A nail in the tread and a tire going soft in the driveway is the job these kits are made for. Plugs for tire repair are rubber strings pushed into the puncture with a plugger tool, after a reamer cleans the hole, and the kits below carry the strings and the tools for the job.
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Below: how a plug seals a puncture, the steps in order, and the kits that cover the job, from a small off-road kit to a full roadside set.
Rhino USA Tire Repair Kit (86-Piece)
An 86-piece tire plug kit with 60 plugs, metal-handled tools, a pressure gauge and valve stems, with a lifetime replacement.
Pros
- 60 tire plugs for up to 60 repairs
- Metal-handled reamer and plug insertion tool
- Pressure gauge and valve stems included
- Lifetime replacement stated
Cons
- No stated plug size or string length
- 2.13 pounds, the heaviest stated weight here
- Green case color stated only
- No stated cement or glue in the box
Slime 2040-A Tire Repair Plug Kit, Deluxe
An 11-piece deluxe plug kit with a pistol-grip reamer and plugger, tire strings in two sizes and rubber cement, for tubeless off-road tires.
Pros
- Pistol-grip reamer and plugger included
- Strings in two sizes: 3 heavy-duty and 5 extra long
- Rubber cement included
- 1 year manufacturer warranty stated
Cons
- Made for off-road tires, not car tires
- Only 8 strings in the box
- No pressure gauge included
- No valve stems or cores listed
LIBRATON Tire Plug Kit, 78PCS Tire Repair Kit
A 78-piece tire plug kit with a screw probe, insertion tool, pliers, knife, lubricant, valve accessories and a tire pressure pen tool.
Pros
- 78 pieces with valve accessories included
- Tire pressure pen tool included
- Rubber-coated ergonomic T-shaped handle
- Fits cars, motorcycles, ATVs, SUVs and trucks
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No plug count is stated
- No stated weight or dimensions
- No stated cement or glue in the box
CTR Heavy Duty Tire Plug Kit
A 68-piece tire plug kit with T-handle tools, a retractable cutter knife, hex tools, pliers and gloves in a red carrying case.
Pros
- 68 pieces in a red carrying case
- Easy-grip T-handles with a nonslip grip
- Retractable cutter knife included
- Instructions manual included
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No plug count is stated
- No pressure gauge included
- No valve stems or cores listed
Plugs for Tire Repair: How a Plug Works
A plug fills the hole from the inside out. The reamer cleans and shapes the puncture, the plugger pushes a rubber string into the hole, and the string seals it. Rubber cement helps the string seat, and the gauge checks the pressure after.
How to plug a tire, step by step
- Find the puncture. Look for the nail or screw in the tread. Plugs are for tread punctures in tubeless tires, not for sidewall damage.
- Work on flat ground. If the wheel has to come off, lift with a jack and rest the car on rated stands.
- Pull the nail or screw out. Grip it with pliers and pull it straight out of the tread.
- Ream the hole. Push the reamer in and out to clean the puncture and shape it for the plug.
- Thread the string. Feed a rubber string through the eye of the plugger, and coat it with cement or lubricant where the kit includes it.
- Push the plug in. Drive the plugger into the hole until the string sits inside, then pull the tool out and leave the plug behind.
- Trim the excess. Cut the string flush with the tread, using the razor or knife where the kit includes one.
- Inflate and check. Bring the tire to the pressure the manual calls for, and check the plug and the valve for leaks. See our best tire pressure gauge and best portable tire inflator guides.
The kits side by side
| Kit | Pieces | Plugs | What else is in the box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slime Deluxe | 11 pieces | 3 heavy-duty strings and 5 extra long strings | Pistol-grip reamer and plugger, rubber cement |
| Rhino USA | 86 pieces | 60 tire plugs | Metal-handled reamer and plugger, pliers, pressure gauge, valve stems and cores, razor, lubricant |
| CTR | 68 pieces | Not stated | Cutter knife, hex tools, pliers, gloves, instructions manual |
| LIBRATON | 78 pieces | Not stated | Screw probe, insertion tool, pliers, utility knife, lubricant, valve accessories, pressure pen, gloves |
The kits split two ways. The Slime kit is the small one, at 11 pieces, made for ATVs, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers and other tubeless off-road tires. The Rhino, CTR and LIBRATON kits are roadside sets, with a plug count stated only for the Rhino kit, at 60 plugs for up to 60 repairs.
Tire plug kits for the job
The steps above need a reamer, a plugger and strings, and the kits below cover those steps, from the small off-road set to the full roadside kit.
These are scored on the Shop Score, which weighs performance 30, build 20, value 20, safety 15 and warranty 15. No listing here states a safety certification, so all score 0 for safety. The Rhino kit states a lifetime replacement and the Slime kit states a 1 year manufacturer warranty.
| Product | Shop Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhino USA Tire Kit | 9.7 | 30 | 21 | 21 | n/a | 3 |
| Slime Deluxe Plug Kit | 9.6 | 29 | 20 | 20 | n/a | 3 |
| LIBRATON 78 PC Kit | 9.6 | 29 | 21 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
| CTR 68 PC Tire Kit | 9.6 | 28 | 20 | 20 | n/a | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Safety counts only for powered gear or where the listing states safety features; where it does not apply, the score is taken over the remaining 90 points.
Use rated jack stands on solid ground, wear eye protection with power and air tools, keep fuel-burning equipment out of a closed garage, and follow the manual for every tool. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
Common mistakes
- Plugging a sidewall puncture instead of leaving it to a tire shop.
- Skipping the reamer and pushing a plug into a dirty hole.
- Using the Slime kit on a car tire when the listing names off-road tires.
- Forgetting the pressure check after the plug is in.
- Leaving the plug long instead of trimming it flush with the tread.
FAQ: garage tools
Can I plug a tire myself?
Yes, for a nail or screw puncture in the tread of a tubeless tire. Sidewall damage and large cuts need a tire shop, not a plug.
What comes in a tire plug kit?
It varies by kit. The Slime kit holds 11 pieces: a pistol-grip reamer and plugger, 3 heavy-duty strings, 5 extra long strings and rubber cement. The Rhino kit holds 86 pieces, including 60 plugs, a pressure gauge, valve stems and cores, pliers, a razor and lubricant.
How many repairs does a kit cover?
The Rhino kit states 60 plugs for up to 60 repairs. The Slime kit states 3 heavy-duty strings and 5 extra long strings. The CTR and LIBRATON listings state no plug count.
Do plug kits work on any tire?
They are made for tubeless tires. The Rhino kit names cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, RVs and trailers, and the LIBRATON kit names cars, motorcycles, ATVs, SUVs, tractors, lawn mowers, RVs, jeeps and trucks. The Slime kit names ATVs, wheelbarrows, lawn mowers and other tubeless off-road tires.
Do the kits include a pressure gauge?
The Rhino kit includes a tire pressure gauge, and the LIBRATON kit includes a tire pressure pen tool. The Slime and CTR listings state no gauge.
Which kit has a warranty?
The Rhino kit states a lifetime replacement, and the Slime kit states a 1 year manufacturer warranty. No warranty term is stated for the CTR or LIBRATON kits.
Related: our best tire pressure gauge and best portable tire inflator picks, the best emergency jack for flat tires guide, and the engine and shop equipment hub.
