ATV Tires - Basic Maintenance Tips

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ATV Tires - Basic Maintenance Tips

Saturday, July 12th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

It matters not whether you are a novice ATV rider or a professional sports rider, anyone can experience a flat tire on the trail. Although having a flat tire is not a scheduled event, you do need to be prepared and ready for when it happens - as it surely will sooner or later.

All-terrain vehicles, just like any other wheeled vehicles, can experience a flat tire. When this happens, there is no cause for panic, since flat ATV tires are easy to fix. This problem can be handled by most people without any great difficulty.

One of the most common occurences of flat ATV tires is caused by air leakage. When this happens, rest assured that all kinds of flats can be repaired, even on the trail. However, bear in mind that severe flats should always be removed and changed by a professional.

Fixing An ATV Tire

You can keep working on a flat ATV tire and ride it all through the day. However, be aware that you still need to get it fixed to avoid any future problems. There are a few items you will need to fix your ATV tire. So that you are always prepared for tire problems, you should store these items of equipment in a safe place where you can use them, any time and anywhere.

To fix your ATV tires, you will need a plug insertion tool, a reamer, tire plugs, tire pump, tire repair glue, and an air gauge. The air gauge is the most important tool you should always keep to hand.

A flat tire usually indicates that there is an air leak. Once your tires become flat, the first thing you need to do is to find the source of the leak. To do this, first put air in the tire. Then, you should look for certain objects that may have caused the leak – for instance, nails, sticks, screws and other harsh elements.

If you found nothing, try slowly rotating the damaged tire while listening for leaks and looking for possible cuts. It is recommended to use some water or a puddle to check for bubbles made by the escaping air which will allow you to see the source of the possible damage. You should also check to see if the valve stem or seal is broken.

Once you have successfully found the hole in the tire, use the reamer to roughen the hole’s edges to ensure that the plug will hold effectively. You should then thread the plug by applying a little amount of glue to it. Check to make sure that the plug will stay in place.

The art of repairing ATV tires can take a while to master, owing to the fact that different scenarios need different kinds of plugs. However, do bear in mind that, regardless of hole size, you should always allow the glue to dry before riding your ATV again. With this simple procedure, you can continue to ride your ATV in the meantime and have a permanent repair carried out later at a more convenient time.

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