Tire flats happen. Nails, screws and other sharp objects puncture tires. Since Scottish inventor John Dunlop invented the pneumatic rubber tire (air-filled) in 1888, people have been repairing them. Before the tubeless tire (a rubber tire designed for use without an inner tube), people patched the inner tube, removed the offending item from the tire and put the tube back in. Patches were used on vehicle, bike tire, any inflatable toy, and any item that can hold air.
As inner tubes joined the buggy whip in museums starting in the 1950s, tire repairs got more creative. Tires have been plugged from the outside using a rope-type material or rubber plug on tubeless tires. These often work for a quick and inexpensive repair.
After repairing the tube, the air needs replacing. A tire pressure gauge is used to measure the tire pressure of a car, motorbike or any vehicle that uses inflated tires.
Gauges offer accurate and reliable readings and come in both standard or digital formats. Vehicle tires need the correct manufacturer’s pressure specifications to work correctly.
On the right (top) is a picture of a patch on a tire. On the left (top) is a tire gauge. The left picture (bottom) is a cutout of a tire with a patch and clamp applying pressure to the patch until the glue dries.
At right (bottom)is a picture of a tubeless tire being repaired.