Tire Repair
REPAIRS THAT LAST
Tires can become damaged for a variety of reasons. Punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, and bulges often end the life of a tire well before wear becomes an issue. Many, however, can be repaired and safely returned to service. Tire Repair Center specializes in a type of repair called vulcanization. Nail hole patches or simple boots can be insufficient in many cases; not offering tires the support needed and separating as the tire flexes during operation. Vulcanization provides a more robust solution that allows major injuries to be repaired, not just patched. TRC’s vulcanizing process returns these tires to service, allowing problem-free operation and significant cost savings over replacement with a new tire.
Follow our process
Inspect & Grade
A crucial step in our process is the inspection of the tire to find all defects and injuries. During this process, we determine if the tire can be safely returned to service after repair. Technicians evaluate the injury location, type of tire, and the extent of the injury. If the technician determines the tire should not be returned to service, it is removed from our inventory or returned to the owner.
At Tire Repair Center, we stand behind our products. The thorough tire inspection and cautious acceptance into our repair process is the first step in returning a quality product to operation.
Cut out the Injury
Once it is determined that a tire’s condition warrants continuing in the repair process, technicians work from the outside and the inside of the tire to cut out all breaks or separations in the rubber. Injured or broken cords are trimmed to ensure no loose material remains in the repair area. Splits or gaps allow an injury to grow as the tire flexes. Therefore, all damage must be completely removed to ensure a repair that will last the life of the tire.
Cut out the Injury
Reinforcement Preparation
After all damage has been removed, the inside of the tire is prepared for the reinforcing patch. The size of the reinforcement is determined by the location and size of the repair area as well as the type of tire. The reinforcement is centered on the injury and the placement area is marked. The marked inner liner of the tire is removed to allow the reinforcement to adhere to the core rubber of the tire. All loose material is removed from the inside of the tire to prevent contamination. The inside and outside preparation areas are thoroughly cleaned with solvent to allow for full cement and reinforcement adhesion.
Installation of Reinforcement
Uncured rubber is applied to the tires inside injury area where any cutout was necessary to build that area flush with the surrounding reinforcement area. Using adhesive cement on the patch and tire, the reinforcement is placed in the cleaned preparation area and mechanically compressed until no air gaps remain. Edge sealer is then applied around the perimeter of the patch.
Rebuild The Injury
The outside injury, after being chemically treated to allow for bonding of the uncured rubber, is built up to fill the injury area. The uncured rubber is stiched or mechanically tamped to ensure no air pockets. Uncured rubber is added and compressed in layers until the repair area is above that of the surrounding area. The uncured area is again chemically treated and covered to prevent contamination.
Cure the repair
After the injury has been rebuilt, the repair materials must be cured. The injury is exposed to heat and pressure to cure the reinforcement and new rubber . During the vulcanization process the repair becomes a part of the tire.
Restore, Clean, & Inspect
After the repair is cured, excess rubber is removed to restore the area to the profile of the surrounding area. During the restoration process, the repair is inspected to ensure proper curing of the rebuilt area and the interior reinforcement. If the repaired area is in the tread of the tire, the original tread pattern is restored.
Tire Repair Center is proud of our products. We guarantee every tire we sell for a period of 30 days from defect in fit, form, or function.
