Car Tire Size / Tire accessories / Repair kits
Tire repair kits
A plug kit closes a small puncture in the tread, such as a nail or a screw, so you can get home or to a tire shop without changing the wheel.
What to check before you buy
- Plug kits are for small holes in the tread. Have a tire shop look at any damage near or in the sidewall.
- A kit holds a reamer, an insertion tool and plugs; some add sealant or a small inflator.
- If you use a sealant can, tell the tire shop: it changes how they repair the tire.
- Keep the kit with a gauge and an inflator: after a repair, the tire needs air.
How to use it
- Find the nail or screw and mark the spot; pull it out with pliers.
- Push the reamer in and out of the hole a few times to clean it.
- Thread a plug through the insertion tool, push it in until about a third sticks out, pull the tool straight out.
- Trim the plug, inflate to the door sticker pressure, and check for bubbles with soapy water.
- Drive gently to a tire shop to have the repair checked.
Good to know
- A proper puncture repair fills the hole with a rubber plug and seals the inside of the tire with a patch; tire industry guidance says a plug alone is not an acceptable repair.1,2,3
- Repairs are limited to the tread area, and the hole can be no larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm) across.2,4
- Some tire makers limit or do not allow repairs on run-flat tires, so check that maker's policy.1,5
How we checked this page
Checked on October 16, 2026. We kept a fact only when two independent sources agree, and each one is numbered to its sources below. We never write a price: the listings come straight from eBay and show what sellers ask. This page was written with an AI assistant and checked against the sources below.