Roadside punctures: inner tubes, tubeless and checking the repair

First stop and inspect

Do not continue to ride on a flat tire to a comfortable bench. Reduce the speed controllably and move away from the trajectory. For repairs, choose a stable place where other road users can see you. If the group has stopped, do not lay out the tools across the passage.

Check the sidewall, sideboard, rim and wheel position. A hernia, a damaged side, a cracked rim or a noticeable violation of its shape are reasons to stop the trip, and not just pump up. The camera inside the destroyed tire does not restore its supporting structure. In case of serious damage, arrange a return without riding on this wheel.

What kind of repair kit do you need

Before the trip, check the size of the spare chamber, the type and length of the nipple, the compatibility of the pump and the ability to remove the wheel with your tool. TPU and latex cameras have their own requirements for patches and handling: the usual patch for a butyl camera does not automatically fit. The tubeless kit is supplemented with a compatible harness tool and an approved consumables.

Practice removing the wheel once and installing the spare at home. This allows you to detect a too tight side, a missing key or a short nipple. It is difficult to count on an unknown tool in the rain if its capabilities have never been tested. In Park Tool manual the removal of the tire and the procedure for installing the camera are shown.

If a camera is installed

1. Remove the wheel according to the instructions of the bike. At the disc brake, do not press the handle when the wheel is removed without the provided spacer.
2. Completely release the air and release one side with suitable mounting. Do not use a screwdriver or knife.
3. Remove the camera and match the leak location with the tire and rim. Inspect carefully: a sharp object may remain in the rubber.
4. Check the tape, the inner surface and the side. Fix the cause if possible without damaging the parts.
5. Slightly shape the spare camera, install it without twisting and close the side without pinching the camera.
6. Apply some air and check the fit on both sides. Then bring the pressure to a suitable one for your system and repeat the inspection.

If the camera appears between the side and the rim or the landing line is uneven, release the air and fix the installation. Do not try to hide the distortion by high pressure. The order of boarding and inspection is also available from the Park Tool at the link above.

If a tubeless camera is installed

Look at where the air is coming from: a puncture of the tread, valve, sideboard area or damage to the sidewall require different solutions. A small hole can close a working sealant. If the leak does not stop, apply the repair tool only to the type of damage and tires for which it is intended. Do not enlarge the hole with an arbitrary object.

The harness does not fix the damaged side or rim. If the installation of the camera is permissible, you need to remove the tubeless valve and check if there are any other sharp objects inside. Some systems with an insert require an additional disassembly order; unknown compatibility cannot be found out by force.

Schwalbe explains the possibilities and limitations of sealants. For slow regular leakage after the trip there is a separate Tubeless diagnostics. It does not replace the decision about a suddenly damaged wheel on the road.

When the patch fits

A small puncture of a serviceable camera can be sealed with a compatible kit according to its instructions: surface preparation and operating time of the composition vary. First, find the cause of the damage, otherwise the repaired camera will again be at the same point of contact with the glass or tape defect.

Park Tool distinguishes between a patch on the camera and a protective insert for a damaged tire. These are different consumables. Temporary insertion under the cut does not make the damaged tire new; a large gap, damage to the side and the inability to hold the shape require stopping the ride.

Five checks before proceeding

• The board sits flat, there is no hernia and a protruding chamber.
• The pressure is maintained after the control pause and is within the system.
• The wheel is fixed according to the instructions, rotates freely and does not touch the frame.
• The brake works; it is checked at low speed before leaving the repair site.
• The tools were removed, the old camera and garbage were taken with them.

After returning, inspect the repair again. If the cause remains unknown or the damage is in doubt, show the wheel master. The purpose of road repair is to restore a wheel suitable for movement, and not to reach the original route at any cost.